Mural at Wrench Works pays homage to Orrville’s history

Wrench Works, owned by Kevin Kroft and providing a variety of auto care at its location at 1645 N. Main St. in Orrville, also is providing some Orrville history inside the store that opened in January of this year.

While working on the lounge at the new location, Wrench Works marketing manager Denise Hobson began to brainstorm with Wadsworth-based artist Abbey Sweigert on what to feature on a very large, very open wall. Sweigert had been commissioned initially to paint the company logo behind the front counter.

The two, inspired by images of retro postcards welcoming people to a variety of locations throughout America, had an idea for the space, and thus the “Greetings from Orrville” mural was born.

Each letter holds something significant to Orrville’s past and present. Sweigert located photos with the help of the Orrville Historical Society and began her work on the wall in late April. Spending time at least once a week in Orrville, she finished up the mural the last week of June.

Customers in the lounge at Wrench Works can study the mural and perhaps even find the 15 hidden wrenches throughout the Orrville letters. Sweigert’s attention to detail is notable, especially with the photos being painted in black and white.

Sweigert is a managing partner of Brush Tips in Wadsworth, a company specializing in art entertainment and giving private lessons, and she’s also the owner of AS Customwork, where she takes commissions like the one at Wrench Works. She serves as vice president of the Medina Art Council and Wadsworth Merchants Guild and volunteers with Access the Arts.