Miranda Dyson, Children’s Education Associate
We encounter and create beautiful things every day that don’t last very long. Sunsets, birds taking flight, bubbles, or those little abstract paper sculptures you make at restaurants from your straw cover. While so much beauty is fleeting, artists are dedicated to capturing these moments and preserving their work so it can be appreciated as long as possible.
Art patrons travel the world to see works carefully preserved behind glass and stanchions. Many people describe an art experience as moving, because they were in the presence of a work made centuries ago. The preservation and restoration of art gives us snapshots of history and insight into the techniques that influence artists today.
While the decay of materials is something that all artists have to accept as inevitable, ephemeral artists dedicate their career to embracing the temporary. Ephemeral art is defined as a work that is intentionally temporary, only occurs once, and cannot be embodied as a lasting object that could exist in a show or a gallery. It covers a range of art types, including performance, installation, and outdoor pieces. Some artworks might be installed for a short amount of time and then removed, others are made from natural materials and decay over a period of time. You might recognize The Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson, and artists like David Popa, Hannah Bullen-Ryner, and Andy Goldsworthy create works that weave together nature and brevity. Evidence of these works is captured by photos, film, and being present as the art piece is created. Ephemeral art, though it’s gone quickly, might have months of preparation behind it, and no less care than a piece intended to last decades. Anyone who’s made a detailed sandcastle or igloo can relate to the feeling of commitment and attention that an ephemeral artist has.
On July 12th and 13th, 2025, The Fort Wayne Museum of Art hosted the 25th annual Chalk Walk in downtown Fort Wayne! Since 2000, artists have participated in this outdoor celebration of expression, inviting thousands of community members gather and enjoy! Aside from the works of art being created on Main Street, creative vendors welcomed visitors to their tents. The music, crowds, and gradual unfolding of artists’ visions made this a wonderful event to attend!
Artists registered with the museum to create 4’x4′ or 8’x8′ images out of chalk. The event covered the mornings and afternoons of Saturday and Sunday, with visitors eager to see images come to life in real time. Some artists arrived at their square the Friday evening before to start planning out their image, sketching contour lines and testing colors.
There were nine categories that artists could work within for consideration of an award!
- Best Use of a Street/sidewalk Blemish
- Trompe l’oeil (Tromp-LOY, deceptively realistic)
- Favorite Art Genre
- Main Street Motors
- 25 for 2025
- Dino Walk
- Fantasy Fiction
- People’s Choice
- Best Square by an Artist Under 12
The reality that these works were ephemeral was emphasized by the forecast of unwelcome rainstorms! Creators were prepared with plastic and tents to preserve their work throughout the weekend. Thankfully, the storms held out and the artists were able to complete their work uninterrupted.
Did you visit the 25th annual Chalk Walk? What was your favorite ephemeral work? These were the top nine of dozens of incredible pieces of art! We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to this celebration of art and community. Here’s to another 25 years of creating!
While supplies last, swing by the FWMoA Paradigm Gallery to purchase the Chalk Walk 25th anniversary T-shirt, featuring the 2024 Favorite Art Genre winner!
The Fort Wayne Museum of Art would like to say a big thank you to our Chalk Walk sponsors, especially our Title, Activity Tent, and Water Bottle Sponsor, Partners 1st Federal Credit Union.
Street sponsors:
If you’re interested in participating as a Chalk Walk sponsor in 2026, please reach out to VP & Chief Development Officer, Amy Hanna at amy.hanna@fwmoa.org