Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (July 10, 2020) — The Miller Art Museum, in partnership with the Door County Library, Boys and Girls Club of Door County and Destination Sturgeon Bay, is pleased to partner with arts organizations across Wisconsin for the first Chalk the State event, spearheaded by the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA) in West Bend.
Events will be taking place across the state during the weekend of July 25 – 26 and Door County residents are invited to join with Wisconsinites in all corners of the state to create chalk art on their driveways and sidewalks to share on social media. Chalk the State, an expansion of MOWA’s existing Chalk Art Festival, will replace this year’s Chalk the Bay event, which typically takes place during Sturgeon Bay’s Harvest Festival in mid-September, due to the pandemic.
“We are thrilled to work collaboratively locally as well as with fellow museums and organizations across the state to encourage the creation of art and the sharing of messages of hope through this event,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “Collectively, we’ve figured out ways to creatively engage throughout this pandemic and, continuing to harness this creative energy, we have another new avenue to bring and share art with people.”
Partnering Wisconsin arts organizations include the Milwaukee Art Museum, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Paine Art Center and Gardens, Rahr West Art Museum, Racine Art Museum, and Sculpture Milwaukee and Wisconsin Visual Artists.
Chalk the State is an all ages, all skill levels, totally inclusive, free-for-all explosion of creativity and expression. In keeping with the Chalk the Bay event of years past, a theme of “Imagine Your Story: Fantasy Book” will be used this year. Sky Color and Be you!, both by Peter H. Reynolds, and Chalk by Bill Thomson are recommended titles by Youth Services Librarian Beth Lokken. Additional titles will be posted via the museum’s Facebook page for inspiration in the weeks leading up to the event.
Locally, a limited number of chalk kits will be available for pick-up at the Sturgeon Bay Library for families, individuals and artists wishing to participate. Socially distanced community chalking will also be taking place on Saturday, July 25 between the hours of 10am and 2pm in and around the Sturgeon Bay Library/Miller Art Museum and Boys and Girls Club of Door County.
In addition, a limited number of 2-foot by 2-foot precut and primed chalk panels are available for pick-up through the Sturgeon Bay Library that will be featured during Sturgeon Bay’s Night Market, a new event coordinated by Destination Sturgeon Bay that features late shopping, outdoor dining under the stars, and local vendors (3rd Avenue from Jefferson St. to Michigan St.).
“I’m hopeful that Door County will be well represented in this exciting, new endeavor,” Meissner-Gigstead continued. “Participation in the arts is such a great way to build community and we’re fortunate to have a platform here in Sturgeon Bay in which to support this. We encourage everyone’s participation and look forward to sharing the talents of those residing in our corner of the world.”
TIMELINE
Starting July 13: 2-foot x 2-foot prepared chalk panels available for pickup at the Sturgeon Bay Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue. A limited number of panels are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Completed panels must be returned to the library no later than 7pm on Thursday, July 23.
Starting July 20: Chalk kits available for pick-up at the Sturgeon Bay Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue. A limited number of kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
July 25-26: Create art in your neighborhood and share photos on social media using the hashtags #chalkthestate and #chalkthebay
July 25: Community chalking in and around the Sturgeon Bay Library/Miller Art Museum (107 S. 4th Ave.) and Boys and Girls Club of Door County (55 S. 3rd Avenue) between the hours of 10am – 2pm.
July 25: Panels on display for public viewing during Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Night Market, 5 – 9pm.
To learn more about Chalk the State or for further details, visit chalkthestate.com, join the Chalk the State Facebook page or call either the Miller Art Museum office at 920.746.0707 or the Sturgeon Bay Library at 920.743.6578.
About the Miller Art Museum
The Miller Art Museum is Door County’s year-round center for exhibition, education and creative enrichment in the visual arts and the Peninsula’s only fine art museum, housing a dynamic permanent collection of 20th c. Wisconsin art. The Museum’s main gallery features regularly changing exhibitions, embracing a wide range of subjects and media, both historic and contemporary; the second floor Gerhard CF Miller wing surveys the extraordinary life and work of celebrated dean of Door County artists Gerhard CF Miller, the Museum’s namesake, along with a rotating selection of works from the permanent collection. Visit the Museum Store to browse a diverse selection of books, artisan crafts, paper goods and unique gifts.
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