Reid Carleton, the founder of Carleton Clothing, is used to seeing his near-ubiquitous Long Island fishbone logo in stores, on sidewalks and slapped on cars and trucks all over Nassau and Suffolk counties.
This summer and beyond, he’ll be seeing his artwork on beer cans as well.
And not just any beer cans.
Carleton was recruited by Blue Point Brewing Company to design the label for its new charitable brew, “Drink the Bay Clean IPL,” proceeds from which will help Save the Great South Bay in its efforts to aid the long-ailing bay and its tributaries.
The beer’s release party is Saturday at the brewery’s grounds in Patchogue.
“This bay isn’t going to clean itself!” Blue Point declares on its event page. The festivities run from noon to 8 p.m. Carleton will be on hand.
“I’ve grown up with the Great South bay; it means a lot to my family,” said Carleton, a Bellport High School graduate who lives steps from Beaver Dam Creek in Brookhaven. “To have the opportunity to help it, to bring awareness to what needs to be done, I wanted to be a part of it, 100 percent.”
Blue Point founder Mark Burford said he has no doubt the beer and its lobster pot buoy-inspired label is going to be widely circulated on boat decks and backyard barbecues the island-over.
“This beer will connect with people who use and enjoy the bay as a part of their lives, people who have a stake in it and want to save it,” Burford said. “And, it’s an easy way for people to get involved. All you have to do is buy a four-pack and you’re good.”
Blue Point’s original logo artist, Jim McCune, was the person who recommended Carleton for the design job — and Burford and the staff were immediately on board.
“This is bringing different powerhouses together to support the cause,” Burford said.
Carleton knew he wanted to design something that centered around a lobster/crab pot buoy. Not only because it’s symbolic of life on the water. And not just because it’s a nice spin on Blue Point’s original navigational buoy logo.
There’s more to it than that.
“When people put buoys on their lobster pot or crab pots, and mark those buoys, it’s a sign of ownership, of responsibility,” Carleton said. “And I thought that worked well for this.
“This is our bay and we’re going to take ownership.”
Top: Reid Carleton and Mark Burford crack into some cans of Drink the Bay Clean IPL for the first time together Friday at Blue Point Brewery. (Credit: Michael White)
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Drink the Bay Clean at Blue Point Saturday to raise money and environmental awareness
