© July 2007 Southern Living. Used with permission.

You’re not hallucinating if you see Lucille Ball’s bright eyes staring up atyou as you stroll along the sidewalks of downtown Hendersonville. It’sjust the award-winning chalk art of Beverly Russell, a regular contest-

ant in the city’s Chalk It Up contest. She’s one of the 150 participants who’vecome to cherish this annual summer event.

The fun-filled tradition owes its popularity to Barbara Hughes, owner ofNarnia Studios, a downtown florist and gift shop. Filled with fairies, flowersand plants, paintings, kites, and a variety of vintage items, the store makes anideal sponsor for this creative contest. A big fan of C.S. Lewis, Barbara namedher shop after the author’s The Chronicles of Narnia series. She aims for hershop to be inviting and imaginative, much like the book series.

Accidental SuccessBarbara started Chalk It Up more than a decade ago when she needed a way tokeep her three children occupied while she worked. A pail of chalk came inhandy. “The kids were looking for something to do one day, so I told them togo outside and draw on the sidewalk,” she says. “It all just evolved from there.”

Today artists—preschoolers to professionals—fill the blocks of this charming

The Magic of Narnia

“I’ve watched a lot of kids evolve as artists through the years.” Barbara Hughes

A fanciful little shop brings this Carolina community together with one colorful event.

LEFT: Artists of all ages add color to

Hendersonville sidewalks during the Chalk It

Up contest. ABOVE AND RIGHT: The event is

hosted by Narnia Studios owner Barbara

Hughes and draws a large crowd each year.

small town with colorful designs dur-ing the Saturday morning event.

Barbara is always amazed by thewonderful mix of people who attendChalk It Up every year. “We have afamily from New York that plans its summer vacation around this,”Barbara says. “I never would haveguessed it would become so big.”

Helping HandsForget about preparation, expense, andthe growing number of contestants—Barbara keeps this popular event freefor everyone. She does, however, relyon a little help from her friends. “I love being here,” says Peg Pillsbury,one such friend, assisting at the sign-in

“This is such a family-friendly community.I can’t get over all of the support everyoneshows for this event.” Barbara Hughes

“She’s one of my role models,” says chalk

artist Beverly Russell, explaining why she

chose to draw Lucille Ball.

© July 2007 Southern Living. Used with permission.

© July 2007 Southern Living. Used with permission.

booth. “Just look at some of theseremarkable pictures—the creativityis really flowing.”

Barbara depends on local artiststo judge the work.“It’s exciting andfun because you see so manydegrees of artwork,” says NancyIrving, a judge since the beginning.“It’s just so hard to pick with the lit-tle ones; they’re all so sweet!”

Other local shop owners also liketo be in on the action. Many donateitems for the winners’ prize bags.“This is such a family-friendlycommunity,” Barbara says. “I can’tget over all of the support everyoneshows for this event.”

Until Next YearAfter all the winners are named andthe crowd begins to dissipate,Barbara strolls around downtownadmiring the colorful array ofwork.“I stay so busy that I don’t getto see the artwork until it’s all over,”she confesses.“That’s when I like todo my victory lap.

“I’ve watched a lot of kids evolveas artists through the years,” shenotes, feeling a little sentimental.

Mother Nature, however, makesthe final call on how long the chalk

art will last. “Some years it rains thatafternoon, and you can watch the col-ors wash down the street. Other yearsI think people can’t wait for it to rainbecause, after a couple of weeks, theyget tired of looking at the same oldpictures,” Barbara says with a laugh.

SUZANNE POWELL MILLS

Don’t miss this year’s Chalk It Up onJuly 14, with rain dates reserved for July21 and 28, if needed. For more infor-mation visit www.narniastudios.com.

Narnia Flies HighChalk It Up isn’t the only family-friendly event Narnia Studios sponsors. Every spring, Barbara hosts the Mighty Kite Flight.Dozens of families show up for a special day at a nearby park to eat, drink, playgames, and, of course, fly kites. She alsoholds a Black History Month essay contestand a monthly gallery walk to showcase local and regional artists. For more informa-tion about Narnia Studios and its events,visit www.narniastudios.com.

Every participant gets individual

buckets of chalk. Barbara donates all

remaining chalk to the local chapters

of the Boys & Girls Clubs.