Fun

15 Photos of Epic Mormon Chalk Art You Have to See to Believe

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 On a dreary or chaotic day, a splash of color can lift spirits and instill optimism in a way that goes beyond words. Though evanescent, chalk art transforms dull sidewalks into works of art, creates lasting impressions, and reaches thousands in a way more conventional styles of art cannot. No wonder many Mormon artists have found chalk to be a powerful way to share their beliefs.

Union Square, New York

Mormon Chalk Art in New York

Photo courtesy of Aaron Potter and Brad Witbeck
Missionaries with Mormon Chalk Art in New York

Photo courtesy of Aaron Potter and Brad Witbeck

While proselytizing in New York City, Elders Aaron Potter and Brad Witbeck preached the gospel in many unique ways. From setting up free shoe-shine stations to singing on the subway to building an enormous snow sculpture of the temple, these elders kept busy as they used their creativity to accomplish missionary work.

One such project received international attention: a chalk art masterpiece sprawled across Union Square, representing the plan of salvation.

On October 18, 2013, the project took an entire zone of 20 missionaries over an hour to complete, but the missionary work that resulted from the project spanned years. “We figured people who were interested enough to look might be interested enough to listen,” Potter and Witbeck say. After a ward member created a YouTube video showing the creation of the artwork, news stations began picking up the story across the nation. The two elders even created a blog about the project called Reach My Gospel—one that gained interest and comments of people from seven continents.

Later, the missionaries were inspired to create a chalk art drawing of the tree of life in Washington Square Park with the help of several wards in the area. “It was amazing to see how much it got people excited to share the gospel in ways that would be unique and personal to them,” Potter and Witbeck share. “We learned that the Spirit can guide us in ways we may have never anticipated.”

Missionaries with Mormon Chalk Art in New York

Photo courtesy of Aaron Potter and Brad Witbeck

Nuremberg, Germany

Moroni Mormon Chalk Art in Germany

Photo courtesy of Emily Hyatt

“I believe it’s important to be yourself as a missionary because God sent you to a certain area because of your specific personality and gifts,” says Emily Hyatt, a returned missionary who served from 2014 to 2016 in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. Sister Hyatt’s mission president encouraged that belief, challenging missionaries to use their specific talents to share the light of the gospel.

“I wanted to find a way to use my talents to spread the gospel,” Hyatt says. That’s why she and other missionaries in her area decided to put on a chalk art street display in the open square of Weisser Turm in Nuremberg, Germany. Because she wanted to capture something specific to her religion, Sister Hyatt created an intricately detailed picture of Moroni burying the gold plates that took over six hours to create.

“The drawing of Moroni made it really simple for us to explain the Book of Mormon to people who had never heard of it,” Hyatt explains. “We got the chance to talk to people who may never have
stopped otherwise.”

New York City, New York

Plan of Salvation Mormon Chalk Art in New York

Photo courtesy of Mark Hedengren

While walking along the hectic streets of New York City, professional photographer Mark Hedengren stumbled across a striking chalk art drawing he instantly recognized: the plan of salvation.

Though standing outside a busy subway station, Hedengren stopped for a moment as he allowed the significance of this image that captures so much of our beliefs to set in. “I don’t remember where I was traveling to at the time, but I remember the image made such an impression that I had to go back to my apartment and get my camera,” he says.

Though he doesn’t know the author of the work or even the exact day or place he discovered it, Hedengren still recalls the impact such a simple image can have. “[Chalk art] is such an interesting art form because it’s only around for a brief moment, but it creates a unique way to express yourself and your beliefs,” he says.

Aliso Viejo, California

Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Ayde Juarez

Chalk art by Aydé Juárez from Guadalajara, Mexico, who took 1st place in the 2016 Christmas Chalk Walk adult category; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman
Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Ever Galvez
Chalk art by Ever Galvez from Santa Barbara, California; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman

For three years, the Laguna Niguel Stake in Aliso Viejo, California, has put on a Christmas Chalk Walk that has grown from 35 participating artists to 150. In fact, the 2016 event saw such success—with 5-year-olds to professional artists from all over the world participating and over 3,000 visitors attending the two-night event—that the city of Aliso Viejo decided to team up with the stake in creating and promoting the 2017 Chalk Walk.

But Kristen Kamerman, the event organizer for the past two years, knows that the success of the event lies not just in the talent of the artists but in creating inspiration and drawing others closer to the Savior. “I [have] witnessed endless faith-building opportunities, tender mercies, personal revelations, unity, and more. The Spirit [is] present at all times. We all help light the world at this very special time of year,” she says.

The event helps those from all faiths celebrate their beliefs and a shared love of Jesus Christ. In 2015, a professional artist named Gabriela from Guadalajara, Mexico, created a breathtaking image of an eye with the temple reflected in it. Kamerman remembers the surprise she felt when she learned Gabriela was not a member of the Church.Mexico, created a breathtaking image of an eye with the temple reflected in it. Kamerman remembers the surprise she felt when she learned Gabriela was not a member of the Church.
“I asked, ‘What made you decide to do the eye with the reflection of the temple?’” Kamerman recalls. “[Gabriela] said, ‘I’m doing that for you. I’m doing it for all of you.’” Around the picture, Gabriela wrote a quote from Elder Gary E. Stevenson, “You are never lost when you can see the temple.”

Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Willi Zin

Chalk art by Willi Zin from Long Beach, California; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman
Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Willi Zin

Chalk art by Willi Zin from Long Beach, California; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman
Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Victor Segoviano
Chalk art by Victor Segoviano from Guanajuato City, Mexico, who won 2nd Place in the 2016 Christmas Chalk Walk adult category; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman
Christmas Chalk Walk Art by Victor Segoviano
Chalk art by Victor Segoviano from Guanajuato City, Mexico, who won 2nd Place in the 2016 Christmas Chalk Walk adult category; Photo courtesy of Kristin Kamerman

Moscow, Russia

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Photo courtesy of Paul Gallo
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Photo courtesy of Paul Gallo
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Photo courtesy of Paul Gallo

“Contacting people who have serious challenges trusting each other, let alone foreigners, made contacting like a stone wall many times in our mission,” says Paul Gallo, a returned missionary who served in Russia from 2007 to 2009. But Elder Gallo and Elder Jace Warren found a way to break down those barriers by drawing an image of Christ coming to the Nephites and Lehi’s dream of the tree of life in public centers in Moscow.

“Drawing the Savior’s coming to the Nephites drew people in in a way that touched their hearts,” Gallo says. “Russians are actually very emotional, sensitive people. They love art and beauty.” Around the artwork, Elder Gallo was sure to add scriptures from the Book of Mormon. “The written word is also very powerful for Russians. After breaking the initial barriers, the majority of those with whom I shared any bit of the Book of Mormon regarded it with deep reverence,” he says. Later, Gallo learned that in response to the chalk art he and other missionaries created, a man began investigating the Church, eventually becoming converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The power Gallo saw on his mission that comes from chalk art has continued throughout his life. “I have fallen in love with drawing the Savior and often post my pictures on Facebook with a scripture, quote, or personal testimony. The Spirit prompted me to do this about a year ago, and I see how much these drawings affect others in a positive way—even people who are not members or who have left the Church,” he says. “God does give us talents for a reason and wants us to develop the raw material in our souls for His glory.”

Do you have chalk art to share? Tag us in a post or let us know in the comments. 

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