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Artists Take Over Long Vacant Lot as Part of Annual Public Art Festival

By Nicholas Rizzi | July 26, 2016 1:16pm
 "Coolin' on Castleton" will be on July 30 from noon to 6 p.m. on Castleton Avenue.
Coolin' on Castleton 2016
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WEST BRIGHTON — Local artists will take over a long abandoned Castleton Avenue lot for an anti-prescription drug mural as part of an annual public art and sidewalk festival over the weekend.

Clothing shop Richmond Hood Company and Assemblyman Matthew Titone will bring the fourth annual "Coolin' on Castleton" festival back to the sidewalk on a stretch of Castleton Avenue Saturday with new murals by more than 25 artists, live painting, yoga and more.

"I believe that we do have a great neighborhood and we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the neighborhood," said Tariq Zaid, owner of Richmond Hood Company. "I think it's kind of like our give back and part of our way of saying thank you. We know amazing talent and they're willing to share."

This year, Zaid — with the help of Watters Plumbing — put up plywood pieces on the fence of the long-abandoned former gas station and auto shop across the street at 826 Castleton Ave. for the latest iteration of their "Pillz Killz" mural, this time painted by local graffiti artist Prez Nwc.

"We're going to cover the ugly," Zaid said.

"We both had been affected with people close to us with [prescription drugs]," Zaid added. "It was kind just a great, great organic thing that happened."

Every year, Zaid and co-curator Kwue Molly ask artists across the city to take over walls on several businesses around Castleton Avenue to paint giant murals unveiled at the free festival.

For the first time, Zaid partnered with the Saint Mary's Episcopal Church to host yoga, workouts and free coffee from Fab Cup on its lawn during the show and will have several artists live painting pieces on its 200-foot-long fence.

The pieces — curated by Centre-fuge — will stay up for one day and Zaid said they're working on setting up an auction for some.

"Some money goes to the artists and a piece of it goes back to the church," Zaid said. "There may be people on the block who love what they see and say 'Hey, I want to go home with this. I need this in my office.'"

Other murals to be unveiled include a "Girls Rule the World" piece featuring only female street artists and a wall filled with pieces from some of the city's most famous graffiti writers, Zaid said.

The festival also includes a fence art show in front of Anthony's Barber Shop, live painting of two vehicles, live bands and DJ sets, chess matches, discounted food from Nurnberger and Billy's Pizza, nautical flag painting classes for kids, face painting and more.

Zaid said he hopes the festival, and his store, help serves as a platform for local artists get their name out there and he recently started selling original pieces from some.

"If you're a creative minded individual and you need a platform or an opportunity to network or showcase or engage, we’re here for that," Zaid said. "We're not just here to sell sneakers and T-shirts."

"Coolin' on Castleton" will be on July 30 from 12 to 6 p.m. with a welcome tent at Richmond Hood Company, 827 Castleton Ave. Free yoga class starts at 10 a.m.