What happened: The City of Midland’s annual Chalk the Block took place this Saturday, Oct. 17, with incredibly talented artwork, fun local booths, and fun and games for all ages. While this years colder weather affected attendance numbers, the event itself was just as dynamic and impressive as previous years.

The big picture: Chalk the Block doesn’t feel big until you show up and realize how much talent is hiding in Midland. The professional, high school, and family pieces were unbelievably impressive. I asked one of our artists how they discovered a talent for working with a medium as niche as chalk. “I’ve always liked to make art and I love to experiment with different mediums,” the artist replied, comparing chalk with charcoal and soft pastels. The event clearly spoke to the talent of the artists, who created pieces so elaborate and beautiful while in-keeping with this years theme of ‘America’s 250th’.

The colder weather left some art blocks, vendor booths, and corners of the event empty, and performers played to a mostly empty house. This, however, did not impair the overall quality of this event. The great lawn was filled with yard games for all ages. It didn’t feel like a classic fall activity, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and even appreciated the cooler weather for an outdoor event. This year, each booth was asked to provide an activity for kids, and they delivered. One to mention was the development and planning booth, which laid out a soft city mat with cars and blocks for kids to play with.

The winners: Overall the judging clearly came down to skill level and relevance to the theme.

Midland’s top stories. One quick email. Free, every Friday.
Get Midland Wrapped, our free weekly email for busy Midland residents. Each Friday, we break down the week’s most important local stories — what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next — so you can stay informed without the noise.

Family category
The new family competition had four entries. One didn’t show, and one was a clear winner. The Aldrin family created a beautiful representation of the American theme while incorporating every member of the family in the process. Their final piece had obvious vision, intention, and effort behind it.

High school category
First place paid $500, second $300, and third $150. Cori McDowell took first with a picture of an Uncle Sam-themed dragon. When asked what inspired it, she said, “Well, I really only know how to draw dragons so I made it Uncle Sam to fit the theme.” Second place went to Pennelope Liendo for a lovely portrait of a Native American woman surrounded by native florals. Third was McKayla Galindo with a USA-themed abstract piece.

Adult category
The adult category showed particular talent. The winner was clear from both the design and the skill behind it. Rachel Ramirez produced an incredibly lifelike portrait of an American child, which she amplified by including children’s doodles around the finished work. The artwork spoke to the importance of the next generation and a reminder of where every American started. The runner-up was Anna Celeste, winner of the 2024 Chalk the Block and program assistant for the West Texas Recording Library. Her piece was especially well done, with a great amount of technique and detail. The people’s choice award went to Daniel Rendon with 116 votes for his self-portrait.

Personal favorites
Every artist took the theme of America’s 250th and incorporated it well. One of my personal favorites was Sierra Jones who recreated the picture of U.S. soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima in tones of pink. Ryan Jojola created what looked like a representation of American transportation through the years, with particularly impressive detail work.

The bottom line: Chalk the Block was a blast, and I sincerely encourage everyone to attend next year. It’s a day of outdoor festivity, city connection, and a real celebration of the arts and Midland talent. Whether you come for the full day or stop by toward the end to see the finished pieces, the event has plenty to offer at any stage.