Cornelia Peckart orchestrated the creation of a 250 meter long chalk artwork called “A line is a line is a line….” on November 13, 2009. Over 100 participants were encouraged to draw a continuous line on the sidewalk, to visually link the north-south access of the James Street North Art Crawl.

Simple materials and instructions allowed the artist to gain the audiences trust and involvement. Ninety treat bags containing pencil-top erasers were used to buy participation, creativity and interest. Over a two hour period, the performance spanned a distance of 250 meters along James Street North to Mulberry Street in front of the Armory.

Beginning at Wilson Street and James Street North in Hamilton, the Artist/Art Director/Art Carney/Educator/Mom, began the performance by writing ‘A line is a line is a line…’ in chalk on the sidewalk.

Within a minute, Cornelia the Artist recruited a young man to help continue the line North along James Street. As he worked Cornelia Peckart became Art Director and recruited groups of 3-5 friends to add to the line. Participants advanced the chalk lines forward. Strangers worked together adding a swing to a tree, notes on a scale, or flourish to a straight line.

Cornelia as Art Carney was able to pull the drawing north, maintaining momentum through challenges and promises of reward. Words of encouragement and positive critiques were interjected by Cornelia the Educator. The ever-organized Cornelia as Mom, had a basket of treats ready to hand out as the participants artwork was complete.

The Artist stopped the performance by writing “A line is a line is a line”. The compact arrangement of the materials allowed the artist to disappear quickly, leaving a colourful creation which lasted for days along the sidewalk.

This artwork explored ideas on applying what you know to ‘art’. Sales, education and nurturing come naturally to the artist and are areas which can be exploited for materialistic gain, or in this case, experiential enlightenment. Without the funding of an institution, the role of the artist/art instructor became blurred. This questions the notion that Art Institutions are helping Artists by employing them to represent their institution through similar activities involving audience participation.

Visitors to the Art Crawl became engaged and participated(familiar materials may have played a factor), few people asked anything about the project or why it was happening. Once a crowd formed, it was easy to engage people in the project , even if the reward or “loot bag’ was small. There was reward in the act of assisting an artist, participating in the Art Crawl and being responsible for changing the street scape of James Street North.

The legacy of this project is that it has encouraged others in the arts to create interactive works that elevate the viewer’s experience. Events such as this monthly Art Crawl must become more accessible and engaging if they are to grow and attract a more diverse audience.

* Treat System-Part One was held during Nuit Blanche in Toronto on October 3rd and a spontaneous chalk wall mural was created by over 90 participants. Similar reactions by participants led the artist to explore what one can do with such an available audience.