Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Chalks It Up: Chalk Murals by Local Artists to Appear in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls This Summer

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio:  Artist Ron White kicked off ‘Chalk It Up in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls’ last week with a mural on the side of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center.  White spent the day on Thursday chalking a girl blowing heart-shaped bubbles, each bubble containing a fun activity one can do in Cuyahoga Falls.  Despite the heat, spectators and passers-by stopped to watch him work.  Kids and adults alike took advantage of the free chalk provided by the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center to those who felt inspired by White’s piece. White was selected as the featured artist this year by the organizing committee, which includes the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership, the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, and Collide: Cuyahoga Falls.

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership Executive Director Abby Poeske hopes this initiative will bring more people to Downtown Cuyahoga Falls and is encouraging visitors to stop into businesses to purchase snacks or drinks while they watch the artists at work.  Additionally, Poeske is encouraged that Chalk It Up will get the community excited for more permanent public art in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls in the near future.

For the next 5 weeks, a new mural will appear somewhere in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.  Local artists, who have been commissioned through an open proposal process, will be contributing each week.  The community is invited to Downtown Cuyahoga Falls to watch the artists at work and see the final product. The names, dates, and locations of each artist can be seen in the below map.

“Now more than ever, our community needs art to bring healing and unity. Chalk It Up is a unique opportunity to showcase local artists and inspire people to visit our downtown. Each artist chooses to express themselves through elements of color and design. We knew this event deserved our support as it certainly provides something for everyone,” says Kathy Romito, Vice- President of Collide: Cuyahoga Falls

Chalk It Up is an initiative resulting from COVID in lieu of the Chalk the Block festival that had been planned for this May. The organizing committee hopes to host Chalk the Block, a community chalk festival and competition, in downtown Cuyahoga Falls next summer. In the meantime, the organizing committee hopes that this initiative will bring vibrancy and color to the Downtown district, support local artists, and keep the community engaged in downtown in a socially-distanced way this summer.

“We are proud to support local artists to ‘Keep The Art Flowing’ this summer here in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls,” says Cuyahoga Valley Art Center Executive Director Danielle Dieterich. “We are excited to see this event grow next year.”

This project was spearheaded by the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership and has been made possible by a partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center and Collide: Cuyahoga Falls, as well as sponsors METRO RTA and Right Brain Design Group.

For updates and more information, follow Downtown CF Partnership on Facebook or visit www.downtowncf.com/chalkitup

The Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership works to revitalize and sustain historic Front Street and its riverfront as a vibrant, year-round destination by promoting economic developing and enhancing the downtown district. For more information, visit www.downtowncf.com.