Creating Together Builds Community at Berkley Street Art Fest
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 24, 2021)
Berkley, MI – When Sheila Serio came to participate in the annual Berkley Street Art Fest sidewalk art contest, she brought with her Hope and Faith – her daughters.  Each of them claimed a section of Coolidge to use as their canvas, making a family day of the event.  Mother Serio came from Memphis, MI and was proud that Faith had won in a previous year.
“Hope is good at photographs, and Faith goes to CCS [Center for Creative Studies].  We always loved doing art together,” she said as she blended shades of yellow chalk together to get perfect shading on nose of her black-chalked toucan.  Daughter Faith Serio recently was commissioned to paint boats and nautical scenes in the windows of Port Huron storefronts.  “I’m so proud of them and I’m glad we do this every year.”

Ken Vance of Royal Oak has been chalking up some fun at Berkley Street Art Fest for the past four years, also making it a family thing with offspring Taylor and Kira working on a pair of swimming koi and an overall-clad character carrying flowers. In the middle Dad made a chalky sugar skull.
“We really just do it for fun,” he said.  “We’re not artists.”  Not only did they get to enjoy a day out together, the Vance’s also made some time to practice at home.  “It’s a good thing to show kids, that it helps to practice.”

Victors for the chalk art competition can be found on the Berkley Street Art Fest website. Among them was Cameron Briones and Jennifer Clotfelter who won the team category with their portrayal of monkeys in the tropics.
Tim Cory won first place in the adult category for his 3-D looking, giant-clawed T-Rex. Lacy Soria and her desert-backed alpaca won second. And a majestic gray-scale tiger by Olivia Swords took third.
Allie Fundaro’s scene of a girl and boy heading off in a hot air balloon took first place in the youth category. A rainbow-winged tree frog by Olivie Forte took second, and third was an abstract sunburst by Nathan Forte.
People’s Choice went to the Homanick Family for their team project of butterflies, and Ben Strajda’s duck earned People’s Choice for youth.
In addition to the chalk drawings, the event had space for artists and vendors, and a mural being painted live at the back of the Folio building at 2838 Coolidge.

The Berkley Street Art Fest is made possible by the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by the MSU Federal Credit Union. Learn more by visiting berkleystreetartfest.com.
 
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