Santa Cruz County’s shelter-in-place order hasn’t put a lid on Santa Cruz artist Janas Durkee’s creative energy.
Recently the Pacific Coast Charter School art teacher took her skills out of her studio and onto the street, turning the sidewalk in front of her home into an impromptu gallery.
The splashy, colorful chalk art has garnered mountains of attention from passersby and online.
“I heard about it online so we had to come over and check it out,” said Emily Christie, who teaches art in Los Gatos. “It’s amazing; this is such an inspiration to everyone walking by. I think it’s a great idea, to share your art like this.”
Christie spent at least 30 minutes pondering the 20 sidewalk squares that Durkee has dressed up in front of her Berkeley Way home. During that half-hour at least 10 other people, some with kids and dogs in tow, stopped to soak in the bounty of design and color.
Durkee said the art is a mix of ideas based on some of her previous paintings, spontaneous images that have caught her eye—like a flower design from the side of a Kleenex box—to suggestions from passing children.
“Kids started asking for things like a snowflake, a castle with a mote, T-Rex, a rainbow and a unicorn,” she said. “Now they’re all in there. This way everyone is becoming a part of the art; art should be of the community. I think it can help people feel like they belong; it’s something we all need right now.”
Durkee, who has exhibited her work in numerous venues in the area, has also woven in words of wisdom and hope in her art. “Protect our elders” is drawn above her uncle’s portrait. And a quote from Pablo Picasso reads, “The purpose of art is to wash the dust of our daily lives off of our souls.” The message is flanked by Durkee’s own version of a Picasso-like portrait of a woman.
“They’re wonderful,” exclaimed one woman who walked her dog past the display. “I walk by here all the time and this is so refreshing.”
On Monday rain came along and all but washed the chalk art away, leaving behind ghost images of the work.
“It’s just part of the process,” Durkee said.
She was back on the sidewalk refurbishing the works the next day—in some cases—making them bolder and richer.
To her surprise, Durkee said she discovered a note pinned to her front door reading: “Please make more. We love your art.”
“I guess I have a following; it’s what an artist longs to hear,” Durkee wrote on Facebook.
To view more of her art visit janasdurkeearts.com.
