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Golf Mill artist brings roses home
Mahir Anoia, owner of Charcoal Art, holds rose art while working on the larger than love Rose Display in a maintenance garage on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at the Golf Mill Shopping Center. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 8, 2013 2:03AM
NILES — Mahir Anoia, owner of Charcoal Art located at Golf Mill Shopping Center, is busy creating a large rose display to capture the spirit of Valentine’s Day.
The Skokie resident has made a similar rose display for a couple malls in Jordan, but this is the first time he’s making one in the United States.
“The look will be romantic,” said Anoia, who is from Iraq. “We’re going to have 16 large roses.”
The display will be 12 feet high and also feature a vintage guitar and an inspirational scripture. The romantic display will sit on an eight-foot-by-16-foot stage.
Anoia is using various materials, such as piping, wiring, Styrofoam and colored cloth to make the perfect backdrop for people to take pictures with their loved ones. One of the displays he did in Jordan contains seven roses.
“This is the first time an artist and mall tenant has done this large type of work in the garage, as there is more than adequate space and tools for use there,” said Golf Mill Marketing Director Monika Kalicki.
Shoppers at the mall can take photos in front of the rose display and upload them to the Golf Mill Shopping Center Facebook page in order to win a romantic dinner for two at the Ginza steak, seafood and sushi buffet that will be opening soon at the mall.
Nablus Studio, located at Golf Mill, will also be selling monogrammed keepsake pictures of shoppers in front of the unique display.
Anoia said that these types of large structures are unique in the United States, as well as in Jordan and Iraq. He said this project will probably take about six days to complete.
“I’ve loved doing art since I was a little boy,” said Anoia, who came up with the idea to make the large rose displays.
“It’s a way to bring art into the mall,” said Kalicki. “This is all handmade by Mahir. It’s a really good display of art. We’re always trying to bring art into the town.”
Kalicki said the mall is compensating Mahir for his artwork. Shoppers who come to center court can also enter to win a Story Bracelet from Michael Hill, which is worth $165. The drawing for the beaded bracelet will take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Anoia brings art to the mall every day, not just when cupid is in the air.
He is the owner of Charcoal Art, located at Golf Mill Shopping Center. Anoia creates charcoal drawings based on a picture that someone brings in or he can do a sketch of a live person. His business, which also sells frames, has been at the mall for more than three years.
Shoppers have a chance to take a picture in front of the large rose display from Feb. 4 until Feb. 28.
