Public art project transforms Riverhead alley into glowing river-inspired walkway

In the next few months, pedestrians, workers and shoppers walking from the Peconic River parking lot to Main Street through a 100-foot-long alleyway will experience a unique public art installation. 

Illuminated in flowing shades of blue and white neon, a 42-foot-long steel and aluminum LED replica of a North Atlantic Right Whale and a swimmer will be suspended on two arches on the two dark red brick walls, a work of art that officials hope will create a pedestrian friendly environment while expanding the town’s goal of emphasizing local talent. 

The project was first talked about before COVID, but the grant money of $40,000 only came together last year with a Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Grant for $16,730 coupled with a town match of $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding and $13,262 from the Business Improvement District Management Association. The funding allowed neon artist Clayton Orehek of Riverhead to begin designing last summer art to give the walkway a new look and feel. Riverhead Town Grants Analyst Frank Messina believes the project “also will enhance safety.” 

“I started thinking about using geometric shapes but then I realized I wanted something more organic,” Orehek said. “I was thinking about the proximity to the river, and I wanted to make it large enough to be realistic.” His driveway served as the canvas as he drew his first whale sketches on the blacktop. 

“I had to work around the parameters of the wall, like reducing the height because of the windows in the wall,” said Orehek. It’s a permanent piece created from various hardware, paint, wiring and aluminum, bent, curved, bowed and twisted by hand and immune to rust, rain and snow. Several of Orehek’s other colorful illuminated sculptures have made their home in Grangebel Park.

Another challenge was the pair of old brick walls, which, like the lighted whale and swimmer, are full of waves. 

“But the owner, Ike, was great. He gave us permission to fasten it right to the brick and mortar. Otherwise, it would have to have been suspended with steel 4 x 4’s.” Transferring the whale, which is 11 feet tall, from his studio in Riverhead to the alleyway was also a challenge. 

“I rented a truck, put bars across it and hung the arches on top of that. I had to make sure I wasn’t going to hit traffic lights, so I had to do a few dry runs,” he chuckled.

Hundreds of hours later, the whale sits on the western side of the walkway; coming next on the eastern side will be a swimmer in either fuchsia or violet, also 42 feet long with a bright turquoise or aqua wave as the background. “It can’t be a woman; it’s kind of androgenous shape,” said the artist.

Along with creating a public work of art, safety and vandalism were considerations. “It has extra structural support to prevent the pieces from being damaged and people can grab onto it if there’s slippery ice on the concrete,” said Orehek.  

Next week town engineers will be connecting the artwork to electricity which the town will pay for; the wiring is hidden in one inch tubing incorporated into the design. QR codes will be situated at either end of the passageway to provide visitors with info about the right whale and the region’s whaling history. In the future, a solar-powered switch and a motion detector on the whale might be added.  

For some neighboring businesses, the vivid walkway is a positive change. 

“It will be beautiful, something families can enjoy,” said Jenna Giacalone, secretary at the Giacalone Insurance Agency on Main Street. 

At neighboring Victoria’s Helado, owners Henry Espinoza and his mom Marleny, were wondering when it will be completed. “It’s going to be good, add more character to the area and I think there should be more artwork on Main Street,” said Mr. Espinoza. “We’re excited about it. It’s different and people will be taking their selfies there,” said his mom. 

But others wondered if more people were going to walk through it. “It’s cool, but it’s not a huge change for downtown. It won’t impact a lot of people. Most of the people who come here are coming during the day, not at night” said barista Sunny Boudrea, working behind the counter at Mugs on Main. Coworker Ashley Quiambao was more upbeat. “The walkway was plain and it’s good that more art is coming to the community.” 

The lighting that was in the alleyway up until recently wasn’t attractive, according to Riverhead Community Development, Planning and Building Administrator Dawn Thomas. 

“Those alleyways were not really welcoming and they’re important pathways for people to use. The public has been clamoring for connectivity with the river and I’m 100% sure people will want to use the walkway more,” Thomas said. The town also removed a large bush at the south end as it blocked the view of the pathway. 

“Clayton is super creative; he does beautiful work and arts and culture make a downtown,” Thomas said.

Across Main Street, just a little further east is the next walkway that will get a makeover. The brick alleyway that connects guests at The Suffolk and shoppers to the parking lot north of Main Street will be converted into a colorful collection of 6-foot-tall vignettes and signs depicting the East End’s culture. 

“There will be references to some of the artists that performed at the theater as well as our history as a duck farm area,” said Clayton.