Massillon's First North building gets fresh look with 4-in-1 mural artwork

Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent
Artist Scot Phillips, left, and First North building owner Bob Gessner talk about a new custom. four-piece compass art that's now displayed inside the business center's hallway. A compass is the logo for the First North facility.
Artist Scot Phillips, left, and First North building owner Bob Gessner talk about a new custom. four-piece compass art that's now displayed inside the business center's hallway. A compass is the logo for the First North facility.

MASSILLON – There's nothing like some shiny colors to spruce up a downtown business center.

That was Bob Gessner's notion when he and artist Scot Phillips, operations officer at the Massillon Museum, joined forces in late 2023 to plan four original scenes — that also form one piece of art — for the First North building, 50 North Ave. NE.

Move-in ready: New business space & suites in works at First North building in Massillon

"This is not an ordinary set of paintings," said Gessner, the owner of First North, when talking about the artwork highlighting the building's compass logo. "It's a 1960s abstract spectrum with separate pieces. We took the logo and kind of went with it."

Local artist Scot Phillips, operations officer at the Massillon Museum, has produced new artwork on display inside the First North building in downtown Massillon.
Local artist Scot Phillips, operations officer at the Massillon Museum, has produced new artwork on display inside the First North building in downtown Massillon.

Phillips and Gessner started their brainstorm in late 2023 session with the First North compass and went back-and-forth on ideas. It was Phillips' wife who suggested tweaking the compass' angle to help create a more unique piece.

"We enjoyed the creating, woodworking and painting of the piece," said Phillips, noting that the artwork took between 40 and 60 hours to produce. "It's very bold with many layers."

A private ceremony was held Saturday evening to unveil the new artwork.

The final resting spots for the four-piece set will be in the hallway of First North's new office suite in the building's northeast sector.

"It's kind of a spiff being in a high-class building with custom art on the walls," Gessner said.

New artwork was unveiled over the weekend that hangs in the hallway of the First North building in downtown Massillon. The four-section piece was produced by local artist Scot Phillips with an assist from First North owner Bob Gessner.
New artwork was unveiled over the weekend that hangs in the hallway of the First North building in downtown Massillon. The four-section piece was produced by local artist Scot Phillips with an assist from First North owner Bob Gessner.

First North building modeled after 1930s warehouse

The two-story, 26,800-square-foot professional office facility built in 2017 is modeled after a 1930s-style warehouse. It sits directly east of the remodeled AA Hammersmith Insurance Agency.

First North houses the Massillon-West Stark Chamber of Commerce and businesses like John Patrick Picard Architect, as well as a Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty, Co. law office.

Newer businesses at First North include E. Jeffery D. Bricker Independent Financial Group and Lambert P.S. Castle Surveying.

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Original art by Scot Phillips debuts at First North site in Massillon

Advertisement