The East Side never looked so bright as on Sept. 28 at the first River East Mural and Art Festival, as approximately 60 artists — some as far away as the West Coast — showed up to paint murals.
With the East Side art space River East Gallery, located at 601 N. Main St., serving as their headquarters, the artists painted, sprayed, and applied chalk throughout the day on walls all around the surrounding area.
As the gallery’s website indicated, the artists were “turning forgotten walls into canvases of artistic expression that not only beautify the city but also foster a renewed sense of community pride and engagement.”
According to the event organizer, local artist and River East Gallery co-owner Chris “Chilly” Rodriguez, the inaugural festival was a raging success.
“We had a great turnout,” said Rodriguez, who opened River East Gallery in 2022 with his friends Connor Degnan and Luke Stoeckley. “We had a steady flow of people throughout the day.”
Rodriguez said the River East Mural and Art Festival was intended to unite and beautify the East Side community.