With Star Wars sweeping the international box office, a small piece of downtown Bradenton is getting its own galactic makeover thanks to street artists Richie Brasil and Eddie Rivera, who since late November have transformed three of the four community walls outside Keeton’s Office and Art Supply into a vibrant mural tribute to some of the films’ most colorful characters. First meeting at these same walls two years ago for Keeton’s annual spray paint festival, Can Jam, the artists long talked about tackling a project of this magnitude, but with Star Wars presenting a united front, “now was the time,” said Brasil. But not everyone agreed.

The walls at Keeton’s are designated community walls, meaning that any artist can use them as their creative canvas, and over the years countless tags, sketches, scenes and screeds have accumulated. Commandeering the three best walls for two artists and one project was something new. “We got dissed twice,” said Brasil, with one coming the very first night, when he and Rivera primed the walls, essentially painting over all previous work, and sketched their outline. “The next day, it was all tagged over,” laughs Rivera. The pair took a week to let things cool, then returned stronger than ever. “We’d invested so much it was a shame to call it quits,” said Brasil.

Coming back, Rivera and Brasil opted for the ‘shock and awe’ approach, finishing an entire wall in one marathon effort, “and hopefully people will see that this is really something,” recalled Rivera. Unveiling a completed wall featuring the iconic Millennium Falcon and cult favorite bounty hunter Boba Fett imposing in full color silenced the doubters and work continued according to the master plan. Or not.

“You’ve just got to go to the wall and mess around and see what happens,” said Rivera as to the pair’s planning process. “We got together the night before,” he offers. Despite the complicated nature of the murals, overlapping multiple figures at differing scales and integrating ship and design elements from the franchise into one coherent and massive image, the planning remains almost as nonexistent as back in the two’s graffiti days. The biggest part of planning is affording the spray paint to finish. “That’s the important part and really the only part we take time to consider,” said Brasil. “As far as drawing and stuff goes, there’s a magic that happens when you hit the wall that can’t happen in a sketchbook.”

Minus one further instance of ‘disrespect’ from another tagger (which Brasil corrected in about 10 minutes), the project continued unhampered, with heroes like Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie rising to lead the Rebel Alliance from one wall while franchise villains such as Darth Vader and Darth Maul glower from the other. About 90% complete, Brasil and Rivera are taking the week for the holidays and to recuperate, but plan to return for some detailing and maybe even to add a couple characters. “The droids need a little love,” said Brasil. 

Still have shopping? ’Tis still the season to relax, refresh and let SRQ take the legwork out of gift-giving. Check out our annual gift guide for goods available at area shops, including this Antique Imari Teacup and Saucer set, available at Parker Robinson Interiors, $95 for a four-piece set. Read about more, including other merchandise from this shoot, in the December issue if SRQ, still on stands.

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan 

Nothing says holidays like comfort food. Michael’s on East shares this signature recipe, a twist on the classic macaroni, to offer up a dish you can put out at your family feast this year. And since this meal was on the table at SRQ Media Group’s holiday party this year, we can vouch that it’s a crowd-pleaser.

Molly’s Truffle Mac and Cheese

Ingredients: 4 ounces pasta (elbow, penne, ziti); 2 cups heavy cream; 1 teaspoon chopped garlic; 1 teaspoon chopped parsley; 3 tablespoons truffle oil; 1 cup grated cheese; equal parts Gruyere, Swiss and parmesan; 1 tablespoon butter; salt and pepper to taste; pot of boiling water with strainer.

Cook pasta al dente and shock. Heat cream in saucepan. 

Add garlic, parsley, Truffle oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Heat until cream simmers. 

Drop pasta in boiling water and remove after 10 seconds. Add to cream mixture. Add cheese and continue to cook until cheese melts and sauce thickens. 

Adjust seasoning. Pour into serving dish. 

Michael's On East

Sarasota-based Starr Title Insurance Agency announced its merger with The Roknich Law Firm, forming a alliance that will represent clients in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate and the representation of financial institutions and private lenders. Carrie Starr Rummery, Starr Title founder and president, announced the merger. As principal of the Roknich Law Firm, Nick Roknich, III began his legal career in 1985 with the Dickinson and Gibbons Law Firm in Sarasota. Practicing primarily in real estate litigation and transactions, he formed the partnership of Roknich & Gibson in 1998. In addition, Nick is a member of the North Carolina Bar and represents clients in both states. An Indiana native, Nick received his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Indiana University and his Juris Doctorate with distinction from The John Marshall Law School.  

The Roknich Law Firm

Keller Williams Realty Select announced that Rick Mountjoy, Carolyn Rawlings and Kelly Thompson joined as real estate agents. Mountjoy is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He has been in the Real Estate Industry for 30-plus years with the most recent distinction of being director of Development for a Fortune 500 homebuilding company. Rawlings got her real estate license in 1992 and has worked as a Real Estate Investor for 10 yrs.  She went on to receive her real estate brokers license in 2004. Thompson has lived all over the country and bought, renovated and sold multiple homes. 

Keller Williams Realty Select