Latest Little Italy CLE Poster

I was inspired to illustrate The Algebra Tea House for the 2017 Summer Art Festival in Cleveland's Little Italy. Mainly because the artist who owns it is incredibly resourceful and full of inspiration. His space is decorated with all of his organically hand-crafted wooden furniture. He said he started his Tea House based on the fact that he could get water for free and make good tea.

Also Art Etc. is the frame shop next door. Drop by and say hello to Edie, she is so awesome to talk to and is very knowledgable when it comes to framing fine art and poster art. The Algeba House is also an art gallery as well as a cafe, where intellectuals (artists, writers, Case students) all sit around and talk about the state or our society and politics. Here is an excerpt about owner Ayman Alkayali :

"The Algebra Tea House is a cafe and art gallery located in the city’s Little Italy district that was opened by owner Ayman Alkayali to showcase his artwork and as a “hangout for artists and intellectuals.” He opened it just two weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. He said the idea of sharing cultures and religions in one space wasn’t initially embraced. 

“Now we are hip, but before that we were strange and different,” Alkayali said. ”People were not used to Asians, blacks, Arabs, Jews, Muslims hanging out together and talking about communism and socialism and Obama and Hillary Clinton. And we should be discussing that. That’s our life.” —The Huff Post