Sandpoint commission highlights Big Billy Monster coloring contest and student-wrap conversion process

Sandpoint commissioners on March 11 updated the commission on the Big Billy Monster art program, reporting that physical coloring pages are available through partner organizations and at City Hall and that at least a few submissions have already appeared at the lobby drop-off.

Chair Ellie Susnes said the coloring pages were distributed by partners including the Bonner County History Museum, Fill a Paint Bucket and the city, and that the city posted the item to its social channels on March 6. Susnes noted some submissions already at City Hall and encouraged outreach to schools and families to increase participation.

Commissioners and staff described how student designs would be converted for use on Silver Box wraps: a volunteer (one commissioner offered to digitize designs) would create a digital file that preserves the child’s idea and makes it compatible with box configurations so a vendor can print the wrap. Susnes said she was volunteering her time to convert designs and explained the process: “we'll take the design idea... I'll convert it to a digital file that is not necessarily a tray on. We'll just put the colors and the general idea and make sure that it works with the configurations of the box and then convert it to a digital file that, can be printed by” the vendor.

The commission discussed selection-panel logistics and the role of partners; Susnes said there is time to form a selection panel and suggested involving the STC contact. Buffy Nastad of SCCU was named as one contact the commission had worked with for outreach. Commissioners also agreed there would be no limit on the number of submissions per child.

Ending

Commissioners said they plan to finalize a selection panel at a future meeting, continue outreach to schools and use converted student art for public wraps if selected.