Aurora – A seemingly well-respected father quit his sought-after office job earlier this month for the sake of art. Mike Mancuso, of Aurora, said he has been counting down the days until he could quit his job and become an official artist after attending the first Alley Art Festival two years ago in downtown Aurora.
“Why would I want to work anymore?” Mancuso said while playing a fast-paced video game on his couch. “I saw artists having fun and just enjoying the sun. I wanted to join them,” he added.
Mancuso’s wife, Becky, said she’ll pick up the slack for awhile , but they might have to start renting out his “man cave” to make ends meet. Becky is a millionaire school teacher. Despite what some might think, her millions came from selling her pimply Garbage Kid teapot on eBay.
For now, Mancuso said he’s counting on a big, woolly giant to keep him from going broke. Mancuso calls the poor-mannered and large-footed giant “Yetee.”
“Yetee will keep things real for now,” said Mancuso while his five-year-old took his turn at the video controls.
It’s uncertain how Yetee will “keep things real,” but with his time freed up, Mancuso plans on hanging with Yetee a lot.
“We’ll do Alley Art Festival this year and some other stuff. I don’t know. Yetee has some plans,” he said.
Mancuso will be selling world-class prints and obscure t-shirts at his booth at the third annual Alley Art Festival in downtown Aurora from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The once employed Mancuso will be enjoying the day relaxing at the festival, he said.
“Life’s just too good to work. There’s going to be a festival next year, right?” Mancuso asked before cracking open a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon and taking the controls back from his son.
Visit Mancuso and more inspired artists at this year’s Alley Art Festival on Water Street Mall (next to City Hall) in downtown Aurora.
*Note: This story is a fictionalized account of actual events. The Yetee may or may not exist. Be on the lookout. Find out more about The Yetee on Facebook.
