Published: October 20, 2009 10:58 pm      

Students bring 'Happy Halloween' to sidewalks on Main Street

Over 200 art students from Northwest Oklahoma competed in the annual Woodward Chalk Drawing Contest on Tuesday. The students decorated Main Street with scenes portraying a “Happy Halloween” for the upcoming trick-or-treat festivities.

“We’re having fun, it’s like being a kid again,” said Woodward High School senior T’erra McGuire. Her group worked together to draw a scene from the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Art students from Woodward, Mooreland, Turpin, Sharon-Mutual and Weatherford met in downtown Woodward for the all-day festival and contest. Children and adults from the community also came out to the support the kids while dropping in and out of local businesses.

“It’s not so much about the contest for me, it’s about the fun,” said Woodward High School junior Mason Semmel.

Pumpkins, haunted houses and ghosts of all shapes and sizes will be displayed until the rain washes them away. Among the free-handed art, are scenes inspired by the book “Twilight” and from the horror novel turned movie “The Shining.”

Bob Beatly is the art teacher at Mooreland schools. He has brought his students to Woodward for the contest since it began in 2001. He said they usually attend other chalk drawing contests in Chickasha and Goodwell as well.

“I love the on-site contests because they can see exactly how much work the kids put into it,” Beatly said.

“It shows how talented the kids really are. They ask me questions, but I never touch the piece. That way when they win, it’s really them that did it,” he said.

Turpin art teacher Lynette Hill said the chalk contest it is a great opportunity for her students to meet other kids and see the different ideas and techniques that are being done.

"It kick starts our students to begin thinking about what they need to do to get ready for contests in the Spring,” Hill said.

“I am so appreciative of Mrs. Cook stepping up and doing this," she said of Woodward High School art teacher Shelly Cook who took over the contest that was previously sponsored by the Woodward News.

The chalk art contest is in its ninth year. It started in 2001 as a patriotic memorial to the nation following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist bombings. Other themes have included “Master Artists” and “Oklahoma Centennial.”

The winners of this year's contest will be announced later this week.