The exterior of the new downtown ice cream shop Chill will be the canvas for the Art Bomb Brigade’s next mural. (Photo: Chris Miller)
Chill, a new gourmet ice cream shop in downtown Akron, will soon boost its coolness cred with a mural from the University of Akron’s Art Bomb Brigade.
After completing their first major mural explosion at the Downtown Laundromat on South Main Street earlier this summer, the Art Bomb crew of local artists and UA alumni have now set their creative targets on Chill.
Chill’s ultra-contemporary mural will be the second public art project to be created by Art Bomb Brigade, winner of the 2016 Knight Arts Challenge. Situated at 21 Maiden Lane in Downtown Akron, Chill is a newly renovated facility that is also home to Nightlight Cinema, Akron Coffee Roasters, Musica, and Urban Eats, and is the sixth client of the Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) pop-up retail program.
Chill is founded by three Northeast Ohio brothers. The Jaworski brothers, Jeremy, Zachary, and Patrick, are intent on staging an ice cream revolution with specialty flavors like Lemon Drop Martini, Guiness Chip and Candied Bacon Bourbon made from local farms and dairies.
To carry out the second Art Bomb of the season, University of Akron’s art education faculty and alumni artists Rosa Maille, Matt Miller, David Pluck, Leah Prischak, and Ryan Weiss will work with the legendary illustrator and skateboarder Jay Croft.
Croft is a native Akronite, and longtime zine creator, blogger, painter and designer. A self-taught artist, Croft is also the visual merchandiser and promotional sales representative for Vans “Off the Wall.”
When he’s not on a Vans tour, Croft designs original boardwork and shoes for skate companies, runs his on-line Street Canoe art forum, and spends quiet time with his wife and two young children.
The Art Bomb Brigade will begin working on the Chill mural Monday, Aug. 29 during the evenings and expects to complete the project by Friday, Sept. 2. Skaters and i-screamers and visitors are encouraged to check out the progress throughout the week.
The Art Bomb Brigade and Chill will host an unveiling party on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. during the Akron Farm and Flea Market (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at 51 E. Market and Maiden Lane. The celebration features musical performances by singer songwriter Zach and local band, The Fourons, and local food, fare and fine crafts vendors.
Akron Farm & Flea is funded by the Knight Foundation and is put on by Urban Eats/Musica with community partners, Crafty Mart and Countryside Conservancy.
Jay Croft, whose paintings and characters have been viewed in regional, national and international venues, will work with the University of Akron’s Art Bomb Brigade to paint a mural at the Chill gourmet ice cream shop in downtown Akron.
Chill is located at 21 Maiden Lane in downtown Akron Akron, and is open Monday throgh Friday noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m.
The Art Bomb Brigade is a community arts program run by the Myers School of Art at the University of Akron and chosen out of over 500 entries by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge. Art Bomb impacts Akron’s neighborhoods with contemporary murals that are designed and painted by local artists and University of Akron students and alumni.
“Art Bomb works to bring together Akronites, teachers, artists and community organizations to create positive change in our city,” explains Elisa Gargarella, director of the Art Bomb Brigade. “Art Bombs serves as a model to the region for how public art can transform communities into more sustainable, more creative, more economically-rich and more culturally engaged places to live and work.”
Those who would like to support the Art Bomb Brigade may make a charitable donation by texting “Art Bomb” to 71-777. Every dollar goes toward helping local artist and students create high impact murals in the region. Find the Art Bomb Brigade on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/artbombbrigade.
Croft’s paintings and characters have been viewed in regional, national and international venues; in solo exhibitions, private collections and on skateboards rode worldwide. His art draws heavily from his background in skateboarding. His artwork has adorned products for numerous action sports companies and small board shops around the world including: Vans, Alien Workshop, Element and Lovenskate. Croft lives in the Akron area with his wife, Julie and two children, Maeve and Rory.
To check out more of Jay Croft’s work, visit www.streetcanoe.com or jaycroft.blogspot.com.
