9/1/2010 Guerrilla Chalking in Allston Friday, 03 September 2010 01:58 Written by Nicklebones

Allston, Massachusetts, September 1st. Perhaps the craziest day of the year in a neighborhood filled with the most transient population. Translation: Moving Day. Which means U-Hauls blocking driveways, endless piles of discarded furniture, free stuff for the taking all around, and of course a fresh, captive audience for some fun chalked messages.

7/5/2010 The Mystery Jar Friday, 02 July 2010 17:22 Written by Nicklebones

Pursuant to our eternal quest to seek new methods of creative expression, we recently decided to try a new approach for passersby to use as they help us cover the pavement with color.  Instead of just giving them a stick of chalk and letting them run free with ideas, we filled a jar with little pieces of paper, each of which had a short pre-written prompt which they could use as inspiration.

We avoided simplicity and straightforwardness in our prompts, opting instead to leave ample room for interpretation and creativity.  So, for example, rather than writing simply "a purple monkey," we might re-phrase it to something like "a simian enraged by his frustrating evening commute."

6/8/2010 Urban Canvas at the Figment Festival Thursday, 24 June 2010 23:08 Written by Nicklebones

Cambridge's FIGMENT festival, held on Memorial Drive next to the Charles River, celebrated its first year by hosting several area artists in an interactive, commercial-free environment.  Urban Canvas was invited to bring our chalk and decorate the (temporarily car-free) roadway.

4/4/2010 A Chalking Easter "Egg" Hunt Sunday, 04 April 2010 23:48 Written by Nicklebones

Late into the Saturday night before Easter, a team of our artists descended upon the streets of Boston to create a sort of "virtual" Easter Egg hunt.  Instead of actual eggs, we used our favorite tool - colorful chalk - to draw the pastel ovoids on the sidewalk...