Recall when New York City was abloom with magenta-, purple- and blue-flowered cabs? Or psychedelic patterned airplanes took to the skies? These happy stimulating visuals are products of the team at Portraits of Hope. The organization uses art to make people smile through everyday occurrences. They have created dozens of paintings on buildings, blimps, airplanes, taxis and NASCAR vehicles to name a few. The latest project will turn 100 standard lifeguard towers into crazy, bright works of art along a 30-mile stretch of the Los Angeles coastline.
The nonprofit organization not only benefits the public but its artists as well, working mostly with the ill, disabled and the poor. The painters also take part in educational courses exploring social issues, the environment, women’s and animal rights, ethnic equality, civic responsibility and teamwork. In the beach project, many of the lifeguards who will be perched in the painted towers got involved. Once the instillation is complete in May, the Bay Watch lookalikes will continue to expand the reach of Portraits of Hope by serving as impromptu tour guides to curious visitors, spreading the word until the next project emerges to bring another smile to passing faces.
Top photo by Timothy Vogel via Flickr; bottom photo by Portraits of Hope.