Decades of Art, One Devastating Fall

For over 30 years, my father transformed blank walls and sidewalks into impactful works of art. Today, he’s fighting to rebuild his life after a devastating fall—and he needs your help.

My father, Erik Schlake, is a lifelong muralist and artist whose work has brought color, meaning, and inspiration to public spaces, sacred buildings, and international festivals. For decades, he has created large-scale murals and installations, often balancing on scaffolding or ladders and running on gas station coffee and donuts to fuel his ambition. This came without the safety net of health insurance coverage or employer based disability support.

In November 2024, while painting a ceiling mural for a local church, my dad fell over 15 feet from a ladder. The injuries were catastrophic: he broke every rib on one side of his body, fractured his face, lost the majority of his teeth, and suffered permanent damage to his vision, including trauma induced glaucoma. He was hospitalized, has underwent multiple procedures, and faces continued medical treatment critical to his rehabilitation. His injuries have left him partially disabled, and completely unable to work.

Because he's self-employed, the accident not only changed his physical reality, it erased his income overnight. The mounting costs of medical bills, dental reconstruction, & vision restoration procedures are our current challenge.

Despite everything he’s endured, my father remains determined to continue creating. He will explore new, adaptive ways to return to his passion. Recovery takes time, and support is urgently needed to continue healing.

We are raising funds to most urgently cover:

Any funds raised beyond our initial goal will be utilized towards:

Now, we’re turning to the very community he’s spent his life uplifting through his art. If you’ve ever admired his work, shared a photo of a mural or chalk piece, or simply believe in supporting a grandfather, artist, and friend, we ask for your support. Please donate and share to support him on this road to recovery.