Chalk up the winners
Stunning sidewalk art earns prizes in OTrak event.

Justin Alsedek, who won Best In Show and was awarded a $1,000 cash prize, works on his chalk art titled “Hank The Hungry Bear” during the OTrak Chalk Walk artists competition on Ocala’s OTrak near Tuscawilla Art Park in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Numerous artists, many from out-of-town, came to compete in the Chalk Art competition. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
The temperatures were brisk, but the sun put in a shining appearance for the OTrak Chalk Walk on Jan. 25. And, with the theme of “Natural Wonders, Great and Small,” focusing on Florida flora and fauna, even that bright orb got some competition.
Event judges such as Billye Mallory, with Fine Arts For Ocala, and Victoria Billig, assistant director of the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, had their work cut out for them as they viewed the numerous and vivid representations of birds, blossoms, fish, turtles, manatees, dolphins, butterflies and more.
The professional competition was open to artists working and residing in Florida. The student competition was open to middle and high school students from Marion County. The event was hosted by the city of Ocala’s Cultural Arts Division as part of the Tuscawilla Art Park Series and was sponsored by Fun4Ocala Kids.
The winners are:
Professional competition:
Best in Show: Justin Alsedek, $1,000
Second Place: Brian Morris, $500
People’s Choice: Laura Thomas, $250
Student competition:
Best in Show: Charlotte Reed, $500
People’s Choice: Talia Martin, $100
Reed and Martin also received a one-year membership to the Marion Cultural Alliance and the Appleton Museum of Art, donated by the respective organizations.
The free event included musical and dance performances by local entertainers.
To learn more about such events, go to ocalafl.gov/government/city-departments-i-z/recreation-parks/cultural-arts/performing-arts or call (352) 629-8447.