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Chamblee arts commission weighs street closures, pro artists for Chalk Walk
Summary
The Public Arts Commission discussed expanding the Chalk Walk to include more professional chalk artists and possible temporary street closures to create contiguous artist blocks; commissioners raised logistics for vendor flow and accessibility concerns.
The Chamblee Public Arts Commission on March 2026 discussed plans to expand its annual Chalk Walk by increasing professional artist participation and using additional roadway space to create contiguous artist blocks.
Tanisha, the commission liaison, told members that the DeKalb chalk‑art manager, Zach, wants larger, contiguous squares for professionals and suggested a “hard shut” of part of Peachtree so the road surface could be used for larger pieces. “He was particularly interested in the street that’s right out here,” Tanisha said, noting the commission will need to weigh pavement condition and accessibility when choosing spaces.
Commissioners flagged practical concerns: a one‑way vendor path to ease setup and breakdown traffic, placement of vendors on Bridal and Broad, and the need to avoid isolating solo artists. “If someone needs to go to the bathroom, there’s two other people there to watch the stuff,” Tanisha said, explaining a preference that artists be grouped in at least three squares rather than scattered alone.
Angela Zagora, a commission member, suggested documenting the ephemeral artwork with time‑lapse or drone photography so finished pieces can be shared on social channels and preserved beyond the event. “Is there any sort of way that we can capture what happens to help it kinda live beyond the day?” she asked; Tanisha said the commission could leverage last year’s photographer and the marketing budget to support limited time‑lapse setups.
The discussion did not adopt a final decision on closures. Commissioners asked staff to return in June with more detailed logistics and a budget check; Tanisha said contracting and permit discussions (including coordination with police for closures) will be part of next steps.
The commission also noted accessibility tradeoffs when considering sidewalk versus roadway locations and asked staff to prioritize an arrangement that preserves wheelchair access while enabling larger works.
