Community

Designs picked for East End Arts fire hydrant project

This hydrant on E. Main Street will be painted soon. (Credit: Claire Leaden)
The “All Fired Up on Main” project is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 10. (Credit: Claire Leaden, file)

Suffolk Theater owner Bob Castaldi is among a group of people selected to participate in the East End Arts Council’s fire hydrant design project in downtown Riverhead.

East End Arts has teamed up with the town for an art contest called “All Fired Up on Main.” Selected artists will re-design the surfaces of 10 specific fire hydrants along Main Street to make them a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Riverhead resident Barbara Wooten’s design was also selected. Other participating artists include:

• Tana Lee Alves of Water Mill
• Michele Czwartacki of Mount Sinai
• Peter Levine of Patchogue
• Drew Lockwood of Greenlawn
• Emily Lockwood of Greenlawn
• Arlene McLoughlin of Massapequa
• Caitlyn Shea of Melville
• Joanne Touch of Setauket

The selected designs range from abstract color-scapes to figurative designs like flora and fauna, as well as patriotic patterns, officials said.

H2M Architects & Engineers and Home Depot are sponsoring the project, officials said, and paint, supplies and a $100 stipend will be provided to each artist.

The designs are expected to be completed by Oct. 10. An awards ceremony will be held at the Riverhead Country Fair on Oct. 12 and there will be a “Meet the Artists” reception at the Riverhead Edgar Allen Poe Festival on Oct. 31.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said in a statement he’s looking forward to seeing the finished artworks.

“These installations make our downtown more inviting and walkable for residents and visitors alike,” he said. “Congratulations to the artists and I look forward to seeing our fire hydrants come to life.”

For more information, contact East End Arts executive Patricia Snyder at 631-727-0900.