Chalkin it up: Dickinson continues annual tradition of sidewalk art – The Dickinson Press

DICKINSON — It’s a chalky time of year. Families showed up in force for the eighth annual Chalk Walk on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Even though raindrops were falling on many heads, fun was had by all.

Briana Papineau is an art teacher at Trinity Catholic Schools. She brought a few students from her art club, and explained why artistic expressions are important for society.

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

“Art has so many aspects — history, it has aesthetics, how it relates to culture, religion and the outside world. It also has to do with criticism, way of life,” Papineau said. “We wanted to use this as an opportunity to teach about our school’s

mission

statement, which is educating the whole student: mind, body and soul.”

An alumna of Trinity and Dickinson State University, she said the canvas has been a lifelong passion.

“I have enjoyed art for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I was always drawing. It’s just something that came naturally to me. I know when I was in junior high, I had a really wonderful art teacher and student teacher in the art classroom. I knew I wanted to be just like them,” she said.

This will be her second year teaching at Trinity. Prior to that she was in Killdeer for four years.

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

DHS incoming seniors Madolyn Coleman and Burkley Luchi teamed to put together a masterpiece full of cartoon characters on behalf of The Dickinson Press.

“I just feel like I have a need to make things. I like to do a lot of flat mediums,” Coleman said. “My aunt, Joy (Schoch’s) daughter Annie, she loves art and I idolized her. So I was like, you like art. I like art. And then that’s just where we are in life now.”

Luchi described being an artist as a lifetime passion with cycles of learning and improvement.

“A year later you’re always going to think the art you did last time was bad and that you can be so much better.” Luchi said.

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Hannah Pepich is a program supervisor with Dickinson Parks and Recreation.

“It’s cool just to see the wide variety of ages. We have anywhere from probably five years old to 60 all drawing today at very different levels of skill, as well as families drawing together,” Pepich said, noting this is the eighth annual chalk walk. “It’s cool to see the different things they do every year. Relay for Life is down here doing concessions. We have face painting, then some things for the kids to do like bubbles and cornhole.”

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

DPR Facilities Manager Caroline Wood was doing face painting and elaborated further on why this event is important for the community.

“I think it’s really good for allowing people to see new businesses that pop up in town, but also, for community engagement to get everybody out doing fun things together,” Wood said.

Unfortunately a brief rain shower washed away much of the art, but not before contest judges got a chance to determine the winners. The results are as follows. For the business category: first place – Fresh Sips, second place – The Dickinson Press, third place – The Title Team. For the adults: first place – Cassy Gebhardt, second place – Alison Keller, third place – Rebecca Shuster. For youth (under 18): first place – Nickolette Perez, second place – Alea Paluck, third place – Talitha Haag.

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

“There was a 7% chance of rain today so of course it’s going to rain,” Pepich said sarcastically as the drops fell faster.

A live DJ cranked tunes for the entire event, which was followed by the weekly Dickinson Bandshell Concert. This week it was classic country band called Mountain Country.

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day / The Dickinson Press

Jason O’Day is a University of Iowa graduate, with Bachelor’s Degrees in Journalism and Political Science. Before moving to Dickinson in September of 2021, he was a general news reporter at the Creston News Advertiser in southwest Iowa. He was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. With a passion for the outdoors and his Catholic faith, he’s loving life on the Western Edge. His reporting focuses on Stark County government and surrounding rural communities.