1st Blast Friday Of 2020 To Feature Dumpster Art

CLEARWATER, FL — Public art is taking over the first Blast Friday of the year on Jan. 31 in Downtown Clearwater in unexpected places.

Local artists will transform three businesses' dumpsters into art along the 600 block of Cleveland Street during the street festival. This will be the latest project in the city of Clearwater's Dumpster Art Program, part of a new place-making initiative designed to help instill local pride by turning everyday items into art.

This month's iteration is a joint effort by the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, Planning & Development and Solid Waste departments.

Three downtown merchants and locations, Anytime Fitness, the PSTA Park Street Terminal and Tequila's Mexican Grill & Cantina, will have their dumpsters painted during January's Blast Friday. The dumpsters will be painted by Demeree Barth, HaleyKukoleck and Allyson Leja, all Pinellas County school teachers.

See related story: Clearwater Residents Encouraged To Beautify Public Spaces In 2020

"This program offers an opportunity to find art in unexpected places. We're thrilled to have our downtown businesses and local artists come together to test ideas that spark our community's creativity in downtown," said Amanda Thompson, CRA director.

The Dumpster Art Program is available citywide but must be preapproved. Once the selected dumpster and proposed design have been approved, the city will provide all necessary supplies including a fresh dumpster and 5 gallons of paint for free.

"We welcome all residents, businesses and volunteers to get involved in this program," said Juliahna Green, neighborhoods coordinator for the city of Clearwater. "Participants need only supply their time, creativity and ideas for beautifying underutilized spaces. The dumpsters at your school, apartment building or local business are just waiting for a makeover."

Returning for its 10th season in Downtown Clearwater, Blast Friday is a free concert, along with food and crafts vendors. The Jan. 31 event will feature a free live concert on the Tampa Bay Times stage with the B Street Band, the Original Springsteen Tribune Band, from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Artists will begin transforming the dumpsters into works of art starting in the afternoon, aiming to finish by the end of the night.

The Dumpster Art Program is part of the city's broader Place-Making Playbook, which includes sidewalk rain art, signal box art, storm drain mural and Little Free Library programs.