New mural taking shape in Walbridge

Residents and visitors in Walbridge may have recently noticed a mural taking shape in town, and it’s the latest work of renowned local artist, Chilly Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s latest work started earlier this month on the side of Pinky’s Scoop Shack on 102 N. Main St.

“With our building being right here on the main corner in Walbridge, we wanted to do something to brighten up the corner for one thing,” Pinky’s owner David Overholt said. “And we wanted to do a tribute to Walbridge with the trains and all that kind of stuff. (The goal is to) brighten up the village a little bit and give everybody a little smile every once in a while.”

Overholt met Rodriguez while attending a gallery show a couple years ago. The two got to talking. Rodriguez was looking to move from his previous residence. Overholt suggested Walbridge, and Rodriguez did some investigation before eventually making his home in Walbridge.

“It's definitely an important project to me,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to do something that could kind of uplift the community, bring some color over here. Murals are my full-time job. There wasn't really anything like that in Walbridge that I noticed.”

The pair started talking about the mural around a year ago, and despite Rodriguez’s busy schedule, it has finally started to take shape.

“We got to talking,” Rodriguez said. “He told me he owned the ice cream shop, and he had this wall. I was like, well, it's a pretty nice wall and a really good location, so I'd like to maybe work something out to do a mural for you. I know sometimes, like the murals that I do, they can actually be really expensive to do, and not everybody can afford that. I wanted to see if we could raise any money for the project. I'll kind of donate my labor, and anything that gets raised can just go to me and kind of help cover costs and stuff like that.

“But most importantly, I just wanted to give back to the community that I just moved into, just to make things a little brighter and better.”

Rodriguez is in his seventh year doing murals. He was part of the team that did the sunflowers on the river mural in Toledo. He worked with Dean Davis on the pedestrian bridge that crosses Main Street on the East Side. In January 2022, he opened the River East Gallery, and he recently had an exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art titled “My Journey So Far.”

The Walbridge mural features trains, airplanes, bright color patterns, and some floral aspects.

“I just think that public art is an important thing in any community,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody has access to it, you know? Anybody can come walk around here, see the mural, and enjoy it. You don't have to pay for anything. It's for everybody. That's why I do public art.”

 Overholt and Rodriguez are currently raising money to help offset the cost of supplies for the mural, in conjunction with Northwestern Ohio Rural Arts (NORA). They’ve raised around $400 so far, and are looking to reach a $2,000 goal.

They’re also looking to get lights at the corner with the money raised.

If anyone is interested in donating, they can visit Pinky’s Scoop Shack on Facebook or in person. There’s a QR code to donate at each location, or you can donate directly at the ice cream business, which is open 12 months a year, all seven days, except Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Pinky’s has been in operation since June 2023 and serves ice cream, chili dogs, hot dogs, and floats.

“We're a nostalgia place,” he said. “It's about memories.”