The #ChalkBus Blog Posts
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AP: ONCE AGAIN! Another ChalkBus Story Picked Up by the Associated Press, Goes National in 250 Outlets!
The original Daily Herald article “Peace, love and happiness: American Fork man spreads good vibes with the #ChalkBus” by Carley Porter was picked up by the AP (Associated Press) and has gone national in ABC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post and 250 large and small news outlets (online and/or in print)! Woo hoo! It is now titled: “‘ChalkBus’ inspires drawings and connectivity.”
The original Daily Herald article “Peace, love and happiness: American Fork man spreads good vibes with the #ChalkBus” by Carley Porter was picked up by the AP (Associated Press) and has gone national in ABC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post and 250 large and small news outlets (online and/or in print)! Woo hoo! It is now titled: “‘ChalkBus’ inspires drawings and connectivity”, which you can read below the lists. Here’s some of the bigger ones, with the full list of 250 in the spreadsheet below:
Here’s the AP article that is in each of the above links:
‘Chalkbus’ inspires drawings and connectivity
Nov 2, 2019. Source: https://apnews.com/e1293b35b58644719666f2c10f58bb65
AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) — No matter where he parks his VW bus coated in chalkboard paint, Jonathan Sherman comes back to find great new art adorning the sides.
Once a week, he washes it and creates a new canvass for the amateur artists of American Fork who are inspired to fill its sides.
The story behind what has become known as the “chalkbus” even inspired a mini documentary by college students, the Daily Herald reports .
The idea to make it a rolling chalkboard came to Sherman when the bus was due for a new paint job and he painted it black matte primer and then gazed over at his daughter drawing chalk on the sidewalk. He invited her to try and the van, and the plan was formed.
“People were like, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t do that, people are going to draw all kinds of horrible things on there,’ you know, ‘You’re asking for trouble,’” Sherman said. “People really haven’t drawn anything bad on there, they always draw cool things.”
He started driving it several years ago, and frequently finds drawings when he parks it in at the movie theater or grocery store. When he find someone drawing on the bus, he leaves them alone to finish before talking with them.
“It’s always a positive conversation,” he said.
Sherman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, said the bus seems to provide something people are missing. He takes it each year to the Out of Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk in Salt Lake City and lets people draw on it there.
“A lot of people are really disconnected in society. And a lot of people suffer in silence,” he said. “Anywhere I can find a little small connection, I think it just alleviates a little bit of a burden somewhere for somebody to know that, you’re seen and you matter.”
A group Utah Valley University students were inspired by the bus and made a documentary about it. One of the students, Tyler McKinnon, called it a life-changing experience to work on the film.
“I’ve just noticed how many meaningful connections have come as a result of or have come because of the existence of the Chalkbus,” McKinnon said. “Because the Chalkbus exists, I’ve made friends that I wouldn’t have made. I’ve had opportunities that I wouldn’t have had.”
Sherman also uses the bus to let local bands play inside as he drives around. The recent third edition of the “chalkbus sessions” featured a band of local middle school teachers called, “Mid-Life Crisis.”
Sherman said the bus gives him a chance to embrace his inner hippy.
“I want people to have peace, love and happiness.”
#ChalkBus Session 02.1 — MB&T Turned the Improvised ChalkBus Song Into a Real Song: Will I Ever Stop
Michael Barrow and The Tourists developed this new song, Will I Ever Stop, from the improvised song they made at my request for the 2nd ChalkBus Session. I'm so thrilled! It's almost like I made it happen-minus the talent, music writing and songwriting that is, of course. ;-) Ha Ha!
#ChalkBus Session 02 — Teaser Michael Barrow & The Tourists
Stay tuned for the full ChalkBus Session featuring Michael Barrow & The Tourists as well as their individual music videos for each of their four original songs they played in the back of my 1969 VW Bus (aka The #ChalkBus).
#ChalkBus Session 01 — Attention Associates! (Raw and Uncut)
The #ChalkBus Sessions is "the coolest, smallest, and most mobile venue to get a gig in." I hope to do this once a month with local little known bands. Why? Because it's cool and I can :-) I did the driving, sponsoring, graphics, editing, and music appreciating. Join Attention Associates!
#ChalkBus Session 00 — The Royal Engineers from the Netherlands used the ChalkBus in their Music Video!
The Royal Engineers, an up and coming rock band from the Netherlands, and Salty Block Pictures invited the #ChalkBus to be a part of their new music video. My daughter Molly, our dog Pepper, and I got to join them for the day. Simply the nicest and most down-to-earth, friendly, and welcoming group of people (the band and production crew) I've ever been pleased to meet.
The Music Video: Hit It and Do It Again, by The Royal Engineers
On YouTube:
On Facebook:
The Royal Engineers, an up and coming rock band from the Netherlands, and Salty Block Pictures invited the #ChalkBus to be a part of their new music video. My daughter Molly, our dog Pepper, and I got to join them for the day. Simply the nicest and most down-to-earth, friendly, and welcoming group of people (the band and production crew) I've ever been pleased to meet.