Photo by Ben Leeds
TJ Greene, a student at Art Institute, works on his abstract piece, Psychedelic. TJ's friends call him the Black Hippy, which inspired his work at SPARKcon on Saturday.
Colorful masterpieces created by sidewalk chalk lined the streets of Downtown Raleigh, replacing the usual cars filled with flustered businessmen and women. The black asphalt was a canvas for everything from an accurate rendition of Picasso’s Starry Night to a little girl’s stick-figure rendition of herself.
Young children stood on a stage holding woodwind and brass instruments up to their mouths, ready to perform for their audience who proudly waved at the musicians from their seats.
A woman who stood 8 feet tall thanks to the wooden stilts under her feet posed for a picture with a few kids. Behind them, a plethora of diverse people laughed while trying to keep the hula hoops around their hips.
A man stood behind a microphone, singing to passersby and the few people who were compelled to stop and listen.
Food trucks filled with an array of different cuisines lined another street; families and friends alike munched on meals at picnic tables in the road.
One street was filled with white tents as far as the eye could see, each home to a different business for a few days.
Where could all of these scenes possibly be happening adjacent to each other? SPARKcon, Raleigh’s annual festival of creativity, which happened for the 9th year this past weekend.
Victoria Schuch, an NC State alumna, stood in the booth marked “Headbands of Hope” and smiled at each person who passed.
Schuch is an intern for Headbands of Hope and got involved after interviewing the owner for a class. After that interview, Schuch said she fell in love with the company.
She also fell in love with SPARKcon—her favorite elements being the music and the chalk contest. According to Schuch, Headbands of Hope brings an additional element to the festival that others may not have.
“SPARKcon is all about creativity,” Schuch said. “And Headbands of Hope binds creativity with a good cause, so I feel that’s what we bring that may be different than other booths here.”
Marcus Hawley stood behind a table covered in a sea of vibrant bow ties. He owns Natty Neckware, an apparel and accessory business based out of Durham. According to Hawley, his company brings flavor to men’s formal attire by using patterns and fabrics that wouldn’t normally be found in a department store.
According to Hawley, Natty Neckware coincides nicely with the aesthetic of SPARKcon. Hawley said his company’s products are fun and creative, adding that his company uses sequined fabric to make some of its bowties.
“I love how SPARKcon brings out the creativity in everyone, brings the child out in everyone,” Hawley said. “You see kids playing with chalk but you also see adults playing with chalk, and getting really serious about it.”
Marianne Donohue stood in her booth for her company, Needle and Thread, adorning a colorful apron. Needle and Thread has been around for 10 years, but Donohue said she had been quilting since she was a little girl.
“People-watching is my favorite thing about SPARKcon,” Donohue said. “But I think my booth adds some whimsy to the event.”
Erik and Shannon Newby are a married couple who own Fontface, a company that sells framed prints of various original puns.
“I’m the graphic designer and she’s the brains,” Erik Newby said. “I call her the pun-mister.”
The Newbys said they are fairly new to the SPARKcon scene, this year marking the second year they attended.
“I love how SPARKcon brings different groups of people together that normally wouldn’t be together,” Erik Newby said.
Shannon said she hoped their booth brought something special to the weekend.
“I hope that our booth brings smiles and giggles to the festival,” Shannon Newby said.