Fifteen-year-old Chloe Coon of Spencerport is an aspiring artist. While she has received some recognition for her work, she doesn’t usually share it with others. “I mostly just do it for me,” she said. “It’s an expression and extension of myself.”
One day, while dining at Frankie Fresh Burritos & Bowls in Brockport, Chloe couldn’t help but notice how blank their walls were. She said, “There was all this open, untouched space on the walls that to my eye looked like the perfect canvas.” After “ranting on and on” to her parents about what a perfect space it would be for a mural, they suggested she paint one.
“I had talked about painting murals in the past, but the idea of actually approaching a business and really doing it was terrifying,” Chloe said.
Chloe’s goal lately has been to push herself beyond her comfort zone, and this was one way to do just that. Once she decided the worst thing they could say was “no,” she sketched a design and painted a mock-up of her idea.
Knowing it would be difficult to convince a business to trust a teenager with their walls, she came up with the idea of donating her first mural to prove what she was capable of. Chloe does a lot of volunteering and giving back to the community on her own time. She viewed this mural as another form of community service – helping a small, local business by utilizing her own unique skill set.
Chloe returned to Frankie Fresh with her sketch in hand, ready to pitch the idea. As it turns out, the owners, Frank and Erica Pesce, weren’t there that day, but one of their employees took Chloe’s information and passed it on to them. “I was scared because I am so young, and the idea just seemed so far-fetched that I didn’t think it would ever happen. But to my surprise, they actually got back to me and loved my idea,” Chloe said. They agreed to let her paint a custom panel, which they wouldn’t see until the unveiling.
While working on the piece, Chloe worried that the Pesces may not like her approach or art style. “In the mural, I took their logo and put my own spin on it, which could be either really amazing or an epic fail because art is such a subjective thing. But I just had to trust my gut. This is my first piece of work I’m really putting out there, and I really want it to show a bit of me while also prioritizing the establishment as well.”
Chloe unveiled her finished work in front of the Pesce family, customers, and the media at Frankie Fresh the afternoon of September 5. It received an overwhelmingly positive response.
“The owners were happy with how it turned out, and I was so relieved,” Chloe said. “It was my first time actually meeting them in person at the reveal, and they were such nice people. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start my art journey.”
The mural was installed on the main wall of the restaurant’s dining area, and is one of the first things customers will see when they visit.
Chloe hopes her story will inspire other young people to step outside their comfort zone, because although it can be a bit scary and make one feel vulnerable, she believes it is the only way to really allow for growth. She also encourages them to devise creative solutions to overcome obstacles when pursuing their chosen career. It is advice that could benefit people of all ages.
