Chalk one up for art festival, Nicks concert

[MacMan]

Chalk one up for art festival, Nicks concert
By KATHY RUMLESKI, SUN MEDIA
London Free Press

Morag Webster-Lesarge, of London, works on her chalk drawing of the singer Stevie Nicks , who is appearing at the John Labatt Centre Monday, on the concrete pad in front of Covent Garden Market yesterday. The artist says she started the drawing about 8 a.m. and was planning to have it finished by mid-afternoon. (MIKE HENSEN, Sun Media)

Singer Stevie Nicks was spotted a couple of times at Covent Garden Market yesterday.

OK, it wasn't the real Stevie Nicks -- who will be in the city for a John Labatt Centre concert on Monday -- but her image created in chalk outdoors by local artists.

"That is so good," a young girl told artist Andy Gillet as she looked at his portrait of Nicks.

Gillet and Morag Webster-Lesarge spent yesterday each creating a portrait of Nicks and donating their time and talent to promote her Crystal Visions Tour and the Expressions in Chalk Exposition, to be held in London from Aug. 4-6.

JLC marketing assistant Heidi Christensen came up with the promotional idea.

"We're trying to get involved in the arts and the community. I approached them about maybe doing a portrait and they were more than happy to take on this project," Christensen said.

Christensen is sure Nicks would love the art, although it will be washed away by Monday.

The portraits can be viewed until today at noon.

"Stevie Nicks is whimsical, she loves fairy tales and . . . art," Christensen said.

Webster-Lesarge's work shows Nicks in angelic form, wearing a blue-purple flowing dress.

"I wanted to get something with movement. She seems to have that kind of theme in many of her album covers," said Webster-Lesarge, whose knees, hands and shorts were covered with black and blue chalk.

Webster-Lesarge said she's a Nicks fan and will attend Monday's concert. She'll take photographs of her chalk portrait in the hope Nicks will see one.

Gillet, whose work is in galleries in Montreal and Boston, said his main reason for participating in the project is to promote the chalk art festival.

"We're trying to grow the festival (in its second year). We'd like to get artists of all different experiences," said Gillet, who last year won the people's choice award for his cat looking through a fishbowl creation.

[jkmaletic]

That drawing looks cool! Wish I could see a closer shot though.

[denny23220]

Yeah a bigger pic would be nice! How cool! They should dump some glitter all over it.