Jesse Strother has inked thousands of tattoos.
But, he’s never done one quite so big or so public.
Strother, who co-owns Good Life Tattoos in Highland Square, designed a mural for the outside wall of the Angel Falls Coffee Co. He supervised university and high school art students in the past two weeks who helped bring his vision to life.
“I think it came out very good,” he said on a recent afternoon, while students toiled in the hot sun, putting the finishing touches on the colorful mural. “I’m blown away by working with these kids.”
The idea for the project came about at a wedding over a couple of drinks between Strother and Elisa Gargarella, a University of Akron associate art professor who heads up Arts LIFT, a summer arts apprenticeship program.
Gargarella, who lives in Highland Square, loved the idea of a project in a more urban setting and in a neighborhood known for its appreciation of art. That fondness has been evident from the passersby who have stopped to watch the mural in progress, with many making repeat trips and posting photos on Facebook.
“We tried to identify an already existing asset that could benefit from having public art,” Gargarella said, as she studied the mural, which has a three-dimensional aspect from farther away.
Strother, as well as Jim King and Rafael Oletta, the owners of Angel Falls, wanted the mural to be symbolic of Highland Square and the region’s rich history.
The mural prominently features open Buddhist-like hands, an homage to the acceptance in Highland Square of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, symbols inspired by the Hopewell and Adena Native Americans who first settled in this area, and the phrase, “Keep it simple,” a reference to Alcoholics Anonymous that was founded in Akron.
Eight UA and 12 Akron high school art students began working on the project, Arts LIFT’s eighth, on June 10, added the final strokes and completed their work on Thursday and Friday.
A few of the UA students are arts students, while others, like Brian Poetter, are studying to be art teachers. Poetter thought it was a great experience getting the chance to work with high school art students. He appreciated how Strother listened to the students as the work progressed.
“He was open to letting the kids give input on the design,” said Poetter, 23, who lives in Wadsworth. “He would ask questions like, ‘What do you prefer to do here?’ ”
Aris Holmes, 17, a Firestone High School student who worked on the mural, called her first foray into public art the “best experience I’ve ever had.” She had only been to Angel Falls once before and thinks the mural is a great addition.
“It’s so trippy — it’s awesome,” she said.
A celebration of the students’ work will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Angel Falls, 792 W. Market St. The event will include refreshments and entertainment by local bluegrass band Fast Molasses. Each of the students created a rock-style poster that will be displayed in the coffee house.
King said he and Oletta, who have owned Angel Falls for 17 years, have always wanted a mural for the shop’s outside wall, which is highly visible as people traverse Market Street. He said a few people have complained that the mural is difficult to see while driving by because it is obstructed by some trees, but he said the artwork is aimed at the walking crowd.
“I don’t care what you see at 35 mph,” King said.
Gargarella and Strother hope the mural inspires other public arts projects in Highland Square, which is home to many artists.
“There are so many creative people,” Strother said. “It doesn’t seem like there are enough outlets for what’s happening here.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmith.