Out & About: Everyone's an artist at The Westmoreland's Public Art Day

With a piece of chalk and a sidewalk, anyone can be an artist.

The parking lot, sidewalks and terrace were the canvas as visitors of all ages created chalk masterpieces during Public Art Day on Aug. 19 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

Erik Greenawalt, “The Chalking Dad” from North Huntingdon, led the way, creating a stack of vivid orange basketballs that took on a 3-D appearance from the nearby vantage point of a pair of chalk footprints.

Greenawalt got his start chalking cartoon characters in his driveway for his two daughters. He now is a certified master chalk artist in the Florida Chalk Artist Association, creating art at festivals, museums, special events and workshops around the world.

Visitors also could watch artist Stephanie Oplinger of Hempfield as she painted a new Community Art Exchange Station that will be installed outside the Greensburg museum’s north entrance. When it’s installed, people will be able to leave small works of art in the box or take any that have been left there.

Oplinger said her design incorporates “starry night” elements with vines and birds that suggest the theme of “community.”

Information on more of the Greensburg art scene was available from Marti Haykin and Marc Snyder, owners of StopWatch Gallery & Studio, and brothers Phil and Steve Harrold, who operate Green Beacon Gallery with their friend Kevin Carpenter.

Seen: Samuel Oplinger, Shannon Faulhaber with kids Estella and Elias, Elle Marshall with son Sage Ross, Lyz Marshall, Maureen Ciedro with granddaughters Ama, Catherine and Elizabeth Ciedro, John and Rachel Orr with daughters Annika and Abigail, Dan and Deanna Querio with grandkids Konrad and Emma Querio, Brynn Denny, Georgia Denny-Greathouse, Katie McLay and, representing the museum, Silvia Filippini-Fantoni and Hannah Vincent.