Chelsea Zuege puts down a prime coat on a dog driving a fire truck at Troxell’s. Zuege and Crystal Peterson have been painting windows in town for the fair since 1992. (Johnson Publications photo)
New, updated fair window paintings going up in town
Imperial businesses are having new signs painted or updated to announce the coming of the Chase County Fair.
The tradition has been ongoing since the 1970s, painter and CCS art teacher Chelsea Zuege said.
Currently, Zuege and fellow CCS alum Crystal Peterson have painted the signs together since their junior year of high school in 1992.
“When I painted while I was in college it was a good way to get some extra cash for books and things like that,” Zuege said.
Before the team of Zuege and Peterson, Jeanette Munger and former CCS art teacher Mary Beavers were in charge.
Now, Zuege and Peterson paint, while local organizations—a different one each year—make the sale for each sign. Zuege and Peterson keep a portion of sales, while the rest goes to that organization.
“The organizations are usually something to do with the school,” Zuege said. This year, the CCS cheerleaders presold the paintings.
Church youth groups are another example of organizations they pair with to raise funds.
When businesses are asked to purchase a fair window painting, they have the option of requesting a “special order,” like the caricature of Ansel Hill at Hill’s Family Foods last year.
“Special orders take a lot more time and effort,” Zuege said.
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