With a vision for public art and a paintbrush ready, Erin Peterson, ‘25, returned to Black Hills State University this past summer to create a mural that leaves a lasting mark on campus. Peterson has helped bring several mural projects across Spearfish to life under the direction of other artists, but this project gave her the opportunity to lead the planning, design, and creative direction herself.
Desy Schoenewies, professor of art at BHSU, reached out to Peterson last spring with the opportunity to paint a mural downstairs in Club Buzz. Peterson had worked with Professor Schoenewies on other murals before, including the Dipper Mural Project and the Fish Barrel at Spearfish City Park.
"I knew that Erin was passionate about public art and wanted to create more murals around the Black Hills," said Schoenewies, "Erin was in my Special Topics class on community arts projects, where she led a team of both classmates and community members in creating a mural that highlights the life cycle of the American dipper bird."
The mural, located in the basement of the student union, is an oak tree placed at an angle with branches and leaves that flow onto three corners of the wall. "I liked the idea of painting an oak tree because I feel like the spruce and pine get a lot of love when it comes to the art of the area,” said Peterson. “I also liked the dramatic angle that my reference was at, so that’s why I chose to incorporate it into my own mural.”
While working on the mural throughout the summer, Peterson noted how often people would pass by and pause to watch the project take shape. "It was pretty awesome painting it, and touring groups would just stop and stare at my progress," Peterson said. From the early stages to the finishing touches, Peterson's mural has slowly become a familiar sight to students, faculty, and visiting tour groups who pass by it, leading it to become a part of the campus experience.
"It is always wonderful to have alumni investing in their alma mater. What makes Erin's gift so special is that she was able to share her talent with current students by creating a unique and inspiring space in the student union," said Schoenewies.
Peterson’s path to public art began before she arrived at BHSU. In high school in Oklahoma, she originally planned to go into STEM and enrolled in a tech center program focused on 3D and web design, where she worked on modeling and texturing for video games. She and her teammates went on to win several state and national competitions. After graduation, Peterson spent two years studying game design at another university before the pandemic brought her closer to family in Spearfish and led her to Black Hills State University.
Peterson’s interest in art began to grow after she took a photography class to fill an elective. “When I first transferred, I wasn’t taking art classes because I thought I wasn’t good at it because of the way classes were structured at my previous college. Then, after taking that photography class, it was really fun and made me want to take more art classes,” said Peterson.
“The assignments were very open-ended. It was very much ‘do what you want to do,’” said Peterson. “There were parameters, but also the professors wanted you to make something that you’re proud of and something that you can add to your portfolio that goes with the rest of your work.”
With degrees in Studio Art and Art Education, along with a certificate in graphic design, Peterson plans to attend grad school to continue her education and eventually become a professor of art for a university. For now, she is continuing to enjoy creating murals and contributing to public art in the community.
“I’m having a lot of fun doing murals. I love public art, and I love the community that it brings,” said Peterson.
