Thai Chili Food Truck owner Supi Hillenbrand (left), Dean Voc Principal Roseanne Caracciolo (center) and Chapin Street Studios artist Jill Kovalchik (right) pose in front of the finished design painted on by Kovalchik.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Dean Tech Vocational High School was the home base all of last week for Chapin Street Studios artist Jill Kovalchik, who utilized the space to paint a new design for Thai Chili Food Truck, which is based out of Agawam.
The collaboration between the three parties started after Thai Chili Food Truck Owner Supi Hillenbrand patiently waited for the right artist to paint the restaurant’s black food truck. Thai Chili already has another truck with a red and white paint drip design that stands out boldly, and according to Hillenbrand, that is why she wanted this truck to reflect a calmer design comparatively.
“We have two trucks. The first truck I got an artist from Thailand to do it and then when we got this truck we were like, ‘what are we going to do with its design?’ We looked for the right person for a very long time and couldn’t find the one that could do what we wanted it to be until we were referred to Jill,” Hillenbrand said. “We get a lot of catering at weddings but because of the brightness [of the other truck] it’s so colorful and everything so sometimes it doesn’t lend into the theme.”
Kovalchik, whose background is in scenic painting for theater and film is used to working on large scale canvases and after showing her design idea was quickly chosen to take on the job.
“When we started to do this project I realized, if it rains all week — and thank God we have this [garage] because it rained all week until today — I said we need a garage,” Kovalchik shared.
Using an oil-based enamel for the paint, Kovalchik explained it takes 24 hours to dry so working outside for the project was not feasible given the weather predictions for rain.
Eventually after some Facebook inquiries put out by both parties, a friend of Kovalchik suggested she reach out to Dean Tech because they may have available automotive bays for her to work in. Needing a 12-foot, 6-inch clearance for the truck and little options available, she reached out to the school and was given the clearance to do her work there.
Had the ask not been so last minute, some students from Dean would most likely have had an opportunity to get involved on the project and work directly with Kovalchik. She added she is happy to return for work with students if the school is interested in the future.
When seeing the final product on Aug. 1, Hillenbrand was almost speechless at the design and work done by Kovalchik.
“This is beautiful. You don’t understand. I drove this with an empty side because I’ve waited so long to get my vision on there,” Hillenbrand said. “It’s a beautiful piece of work. It takes my breath away.”
Hillenbrand added the simpler design comparatively to the other truck will give them a good variety of looks when out and about serving people.
“When people see this, they’ll now know it’s from a local artist and people love to take pictures all the time, use the truck as a backdrop,” Hillenbrand said.
Kovalchik used a projected template for the logo at the center of the design and talked with Hillenbrand about the other designs surrounding it. At first, they considered the different dishes offered by Thai Chili but Kovalchik reconsidered and decided to paint items that would help suggest to interested eaters there were multiple options within the food truck.
“I thought maybe fresh ingredients would give more of a suggestion of like, there’s vegetarian as well as meat dishes for people who are not familiar with Thai Food. They can realize that they recognize these ingredients and find it worth a try,” Kovalchik said.
Dean Principal Roseanna Caracciolo told Reminder Publishing this is the type of work special to students at the high school as it gives them firsthand experience of professionals in their fields and the opportunity to work alongside and learn.
“I have such talented students,” Caracciolo said. “The community has come together here. We’re from a community that always helps out anybody, that’s pretty much what it is.”
Kovalchik added, “And why not, we’re all in this tiny valley.”
