Rogueworks dubs itself as being “not your gran’ma’s art store.” Believe it. This homey new clubhouse-like store, which celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, October 15 stands ready to outfit the local arts underground.
Several brands of vinyl toys, including Billy Bananas, McDonkey and Yeti Girl line the red display shelves. Books and magazines are also for sale, titles ranging from “The Art of Rebellion” to “Urban Illustration Berlin.” A set of graphic display cases hold the store’s colorful inventory of Montana spray paint. Atop the cases are jars containing several styles of caps for the paint cans, as well as paint and ink markers by Krink and On The Go.
Showcasing the talent of local artists is one of the goals of store owner Greg Lukasik, who uses the store walls to display Toledo art.
“People talk a lot about the exciting things happening on the coasts, but what they don’t realize is that those same kinds of things are happening here,” says Lukasik. “We just need to promote each other, and keep people in Toledo.” Prints from hometown artists Tyler Fortney and Dustin Hostetler currently share the walls with several other painters.
Lukasik’s contagious enthusiasm for street art is evident as he discusses graffiti prevention techniques in Japan, styles of paint application, and the finishes of several kinds of paint available in the store. The latter is demonstrated with a gesture to a canvas painted with spraypaint, referencing one of the product’s indoor applications. Lukasik, an artist and designer, sponsored a street art scavenger hunt over the summer (TCP’s story about this event, —“Searching for stars,” August 5-18, 2009 -— is available in the archives at
www.toledocitypaper.com).
Lukasik aims to cut down the time between inspiration and implementation by stocking supplies available nowhere else in the area. “This is a place where people can come to get their stuff right now, rather than having to order ahead from (corporate art stores)”
Rogueworks is located at 3810 W. Alexis Road, between Talmadge and Secor. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays-Saturdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Wednesdays. 419-475-7979.
