Artists weren't afraid to get their hands dirty on Main Street at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art Chalk Walk, and Freimann Square became an artist's playground at Art in the Park on Sunday.

About 200 people registered for the annual event, said Charles Shephard, the art museum's executive director. He said this was the first time it rained on opening morning.

“But it didn't stop the artists,” he said. “People waited for everything to dry up and just started again.”

Rhonda Bennett comes out every year with her family and creates a piece of art based on a design they find on art.com and add their own style.

“We take something we can make, and we like adding our own edge,” she said.

Kellie Adkins took the opportunity to be more personal by creating a portrait of her mother, who passed away three months ago.

“We have done this every year together, and this year we can't,” she said. “If she were here, she'd be proud.”

Larry Davis was lying on his side, chalk in hand, working on a pair of sneakers. He said he was driving through Fort Wayne and realized everywhere he looked there were shoes. An idea was born.

A variety of monetary prizes are given each year based on themes, Shephard said. This year's money-winning themes are trompe l'oeil (tricking the eye to create a depth of perception), memories of Robison Park, Apollo 13 and significant women of the 20th century.

A people's choice award is given based on the most popular piece of work.

“We have a lot of very talented artists that come out here,” Shephard said. “It's a chance to merge art and education together.”

See last year's winners on the museum's Web site, www.fwmoa.org and click on Chalk Walk.

No matter the artistic medium, artists gravitated to Freimann Square for Art in the Park.

Many artists came to make a sale or two and showcase their work.

Vendor and artist Deb Wofford from Noblesville has participated for eight years and said each year is usually a good show.

Wofford had a lot of traffic at her tent from people taking a peek at her friendship spoons. She carves intricate designs into wooden spoons with a small knife.

As people wandered in and out of each tent, admiring the crafts, Angele Judd sat on a bench and admired the scenery.

She said she enjoys people-watching at Art in the Park and comes out every year to check out the new art.

Daniel Denielt was standing on a ladder in a walkway. He made his own plywood wall to create a mural. Denielt is deaf and uses abstract art to communicate to his audience.

Denielt said there aren't any hearing aids strong enough to help him, so he paints his murals as a metaphor for confusion and the struggles of communication.

“It can be a conservative crowd, so this art can be too overwhelming, but I can communicate better this way,” he said.

Whether artists are trying to speak to the public or share their craft, the Chalk Walk and Art in the Park are the best voices, said Davis, the sneaker-drawing Chalk Walk artist.

“These events are the best things for artists in town,” Davis said.

“It's a great way to showcase yourself and be a part of the community.”

Here are some excerpts from our Three Rivers Festival blog that can also be found under Online Specials at www.news-sentinel.com:

“Walking downtown today was an art lover's dream. Main Street was full of artists on their sides, stomachs and elbows with pastels in their hands. They were creating a masterpiece on a concrete canvas at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art Chalk Walk.”

♦♦♦

On the Dog 'n' Suds Hotdog Eating Competition: “Josh Cranfill of Dog 'n' Suds told me 20 trays of 15 hot dogs and three large cups of water awaited competitors. … Enter James Shook of Huntertown, a man who sat quietly at the end of a row of 14 other competitors before eating was to begin. He said he's always enjoyed eating and didn't have any set strategy for the task at hand. But he must be doing something right: He took second-place honors at a preliminary round by downing five hot dogs in three minutes. … First: Danny Lothamer, 14 1/8 hot dogs eaten, winner of $500; Second: James Kellar, 12 1/8 hot dogs eaten, winner of $250; Third: James Shook, 12 hot dogs eaten, winner of $150.”