Artist who creates chalk drawings on footpaths calls out a neighbour who sent her a letter demanding she stop the ‘pretentious graffiti’ – but do they have a point?
- A Melbourne woman who creates footpath artworks to brighten her neighbourhood has been sent rude letter
- Fiona Cracknell, from Gladstone Park, completes the drawings with the help of her young daughter
- A furious neighbour has claimed the artworks are dangerous because the chalk could cause people to trip
- Artworks are done on Ms Cracknell’s driveway and washed away with a hose a few days after they are done
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A woman who creates chalk artworks on her driveway and surrounding footpaths to bring ‘joy’ to children has received a furious letter from a neighbour calling her a ‘pretentious pr**k’.
Fiona Cracknell, from Melbourne, began drawing the colourful pieces with the help of her daughter earlier this year – with many saying she has brought ‘smiles to the community’.
Her Gladstone Park neighbourhood has been treated to artworks inspired by Happy Feet, Futurama, The Flintstones, Super Mario Bros, and the two teams in this year’s AFL Grand Final, among others.
Fiona Cracknell (pictured) began drawing the chalk artworks to brighten her neighbourhood during Melbourne’s coronavirus lockdowns
One of her drawings featuring characters from Winnie the Pooh was shared on Hume City Council’s Facebook page
Her Facebook page ‘Cracknell Chalk Drawings’ already has more than 1,500 members since being launched just over a month ago.
One anonymous resident seems to be less than impressed, however, sending a letter to Hume City Council and dropping a copy in Ms Cracknell’s mailbox.
The letter, written on Monday and sent to the council’s complaints department, claims the chalk artworks put the safety of residents in jeopardy.
‘I am placing my complaint in writing, regarding the graffiti (destruction) to the footpath,’ the letter states.
The letter, which did not include the person’s name, says the graffiti is illegal and demands that council ‘repair’ the footpath within three days.
‘My question is as follows: Will the Council accept FULL liability and responsibility for any medical costs that occur if someone slips on this part of the footpath due to the chaulk (sic) being there?’
‘I’ve copied the letter to the pretentious pr***s at that house in the hope they will see this letter as a warning and cease their cr*p.’
In a post to her Facebook group on Thursday, Ms Cracknell said she had just tried to make people smile and the letter had made her extremely upset. ‘
The hateful letter (pictured) sent by an anonymous neighbour to council and dropped in Ms Cracknell’s mailbox
Other neighbours have said that the artworks (pictured) bring a smile to people in the neighbourhood
Her Facebook page launched a month ago already has 1,500 members who enjoy the drawings (pictured)
‘Someone has complained to the Council about my chalk drawing. Calling me a pretentious Pr**k and that I am graffitiing.’ Ms Cracknell wrote.
She said she had wanted to ‘bring joy to the community’ and in no way wanted to ’cause drama’.
‘For the first time in ages I have brought positive news to Gladstone Park,’ she said.
She also added Hume City Council ‘love’ the artworks – one was even shared on the council’s own Facebook page in September.
‘I cannot believe this! I am really upset and angry. All I wanted was to make people smile at a time they needed it the most.’
One of the drawings on the driveway featuring a scene from the Super Mario video game (pictured)
Ms Cracknell’s colour categorised chalk collection (pictured) she uses for the drawings with the help of her young daughter
People commenting on the letter threw their support behind Ms Cracknell.
‘Keep drawing please!’ on person wrote.
‘Chalk does not reduce the friction of concrete pavement even when wet … Chalk pavement drawings are not permanent and do not require removal,’ another person said.
Ms Cracknell said she would keep doing the artworks and was getting ready to unveil another one on Friday for Halloween.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hume City Council for comment.
Ms Cracknell said she drew the chalk artworks to bring people joy in Melbourne’s lockdowns (pictured)
