BELFAST — The sidewalks of Heritage Park, on the Belfast Waterfront, were once again turned into ground-level galleries as artists and inspired passersby took part in Waterfall Arts’ Chalk Walk.

The Chalk Walk takes place largely on the Harborwalk through the park, but an area open to the public located on a side sidewalk was home to an array of artwork contributed by countless people of all ages through the day.

Led by Waterfall Arts Youth and Family Outreach Coordinator Bridget Matros, the Chalk Walk is part of the All Ages Art Happenings! (AAAH!), which have various art-centric activities throughout the year for youth and families to participate in.

Waterfall Arts is an art center and offers resources to all ages, including students, professionals, and art enthusiasts. Some of the opportunities offered by the center include exhibitions, performances, events, open community studios, public art projects, and classes.

Matros said that roughly the same number of artists signed up for squares this year as last year, but that an increase in the pavement of the sidewalk designated as the public area and a beautiful day made that area particularly well covered.

“We actually had the same number of artists show up and then we had more people that just came along to check it out and were comfortable to ask for a square to join in.”

Between that and the increased paved area, Matros said: “our community drawing area is just off the hook this year.”

One young artist working on a square on the Harborwalk section of pavement was Matros’ sixth-grade art student, Judson Thomas.

Judson, who attends the Montessori school where Matros also teaches, said he’d had a chance to look at the art and thought it was “really great.” Judson’s mom, Erika Thomas, offered moral support as Judson worked away.

Although the result is an explosion of color and creativity for all who pass by it to admire, Matros said she thinks what the Chalk Walk really offers is a chance to simply be creative.

“I’m not trying to get artists to come out and do things, I’m trying to get people to come out and do art, and so I try to do that with all my events, to have them be all ages, all levels of engagement, all attention spans, all abilities,” she said.

“Also, I find that people have so much fun here and I’m sure to tell them to come to the Glow Show,” Matros said. “It’s kind of a world opening up to them of fun stuff that they can do together.”

Matros described the Glow Show, which takes place at Waterfall Arts Nov. 10, as a “luminescent, glow-in-the-dark, blacklight, twinkle light, art dance party. The event, which is open to all ages, had over 300 people attend last year.

While the event is one of the few that has a ticket price, it is a reasonable $3 or $5, depending on age.

At the Chalk Walk, Matros was not only in charge of the event but an eager participant. Working next to her was Jeffrey Mabee, who Matros affectionately described as a Waterfall Arts groupie.

Mabee, who was working on his own drawing, said he believes Waterfall Arts fills out the Belfast Art scene, which has a number of galleries displaying the works of local professional artists.

“It’s an art center, whereas the galleries are galleries, but Waterfall Arts is an art center, and that’s a wonderful thing for Belfast,” Mabee said, before heaping praise onto AAAH!  coordinator, teacher, and artist, Matros.

“I am an ardent supporter of Bridget because she’s amazing. She’s totally amazing. She has a wonderful after school program for the kids and they do really wonderful things with the kids. I’ve never talked to a child who doesn’t totally love her,” he said.

Mabee’s words prompted a smiling Matros to agree, “that’s the arrangement we have,” she said with a laugh.

Though this year’s Chalk Walk is over, the works of art remain on display until worn away by rain or foot traffic.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com