Little Italy owner George Matta opened the pizzeria on University Boulevard in a building with green walls, set up televisions so that customers could watch sports or their favorite show while eating and hung framed pictures of Italian scenes, but Matta is used to a much more artistic flair in his restaurants.
In three of the Little Italy restaurants that Matta opened in Athens, Ga, he hired art students to paint murals on the walls. Now, he said, he’s looking for student artists at Alabama to paint murals inside the restaurant, beginning after spring break.
Matta remembers an art student who worked as a waitress in his restaurant in Athens whom he hired to paint a 25-foot mural.
“The deal was $500 dollars, I bought all of her paint, and she could drink all the wine she wanted,” Matta said, laughing. “She drank it all.”
It was the first mural she ever painted. Matta said she took three months and worked on a section every time she painted and brought together scenes such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice gondola traffic and the Roman Colosseum.
“It was one of the most beautiful murals I have ever seen. The scenes flowed from one to the next,” Matta said.
The student took pictures of her work for her resume and later got a job in New York City as a scene painter for Broadway. New York culture is part of what compels Matta toward art. It is not unusual to see murals and artistic customization inside buildings in New York or in Athens, Ga.
“I’m from New York, I was raised on museums,” Matta said. “I’ve always loved music, artwork and culture.”
When Little Italy opened last year, Matta invited Tuscaloosa artists to hang their art and saw customers enjoy it as they waited in line. It worked as a successful way to expose artists in the community and to sell their art.
“We’re good at finding talent,” Matta said.
As the mural is being painted, Matta invites artists to continue hanging artwork on the walls.
Any artists interested in pitching an idea for a mural or interested in painting can contact Matta at 828-582-1153.
