Chalk drawings return to GermanFest for first time in 20 years Recreating a tradition

By Audrey Posten

“I don’t remember it hurting this much,” joked Molly Moser. 

Kneeling on the street, her hands caked in colorful chalk, she was one of around a dozen former students who answered the call of long-time Guttenberg/Clayton Ridge art teacher George Killian to recreate the chalk drawings that once graced the street during Guttenberg’s GermanFest celebration.

Saturday was the first time designs were brought to life in 20 years—since Killian retired from a 31-year teaching career.

The current group of alumni were teenagers the last time they participated. Back then, hours hunched over a large street canvas didn’t elicit the back pain it does today, “but we’ve still got it,” another artist quipped.

Killian said the tradition started around six or seven years before he retired. He enjoyed composite art projects, recalling students each contributing a piece to a clay sculpture, then others working together on a stained glass display.

“We did a few things in school that were really large,” he said, “so maybe it came about from that.”

A prolific European traveler, Killian was also inspired by street artists there. Why not do it in Guttenberg?

Designs over the years included recreations of Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” Others featured German themes—even German exchange students posed in German attire, recalled Brandon Bries. 

Another memorable design paid tribute to Sept. 11. just days after the attack. 

“There was a big eagle popping out of a flag,” said Moser.

Young artists would begin work on the drawings in the early morning, hoping to have them ready by the time the festival opened to the public.

“You would have to grid it out,” Killian said, first on paper and then in larger blocks on the street. Designs were as large as 12 feet by 14 feet. 

A local organization donated the chalk, which students used to colorfully fill in the individual blocks to create the overall image.

“You’d start in the middle and work your way outward, sometimes working upside down or sideways,” said Killian.

“I remember my nose would be full of chalk dust,” recalled Moser.

She and other students also remembered the pressure to make their teacher and community proud.

“It always seemed impossible,” Moser said, “but Mr. Killian had the vision and we used our skills to execute it.”

“It was awesome to see what basic chalk can do. A little talent can make an awesome image,” noted Sara Corazalla. “I think we were as shocked at how it turned out as [GermanFest attendees.]”

It was those fond memories that inspired the alumni to return in 2025, after seeing a Facebook post by Killian.

Killian was encouraged to do it by his daughter.

“She said, ‘Have you ever thought about doing another drawing?’” he shared. “I decided it would be fun, and the response was overwhelming.”

Bries was “on board immediately.” Corazalla jumped on it right away too, and invited classmates. 

“We were all really excited,” she said.

For this year’s main design, Killian enlisted the help of AI to develop a German themed-picture that included a man and woman dressed in traditional attire, with the man raising a stein of beer. A pretzel and bratwurst were at the center of the image, along with Germany’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle.

A second drawing was also created, an optical illusion of a board crossing a crevice. 

“I’m hoping there will be good crowd interaction,” Killian said.

He was appreciative of Umbrella Arts for contributing toward the chalk for drawings.

As the alumni worked Saturday morning, Bries said it was “like riding a bike—minus the sore back.”

“There’s just something nostalgic about it,” he added. “It’s nice to bring back the local talent.”

Killian, who too was on his hands and knees coloring in blocks when he wasn’t offering instruction, was excited to work with his former students again. He treasured the days collaborating on projects.

“This is not about me,” he said. “It’s about the tradition and the students. They left an impression on me.”

But Delores Fishback, who was president of the women’s club that originally donated chalk to the cause and made a special trip back from St. Louis to see the 2025 drawings, credited Killian too.

“Mr. Killian was a fabulous art teacher. He brought such talent out of people,” she stated.

Once again, that talent was on display at GermanFest.