Crew from Morley Builders apply vibrant art panels on Los Angeles County Lifeguard Towers Towers #18 at Santa Monica Beach on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The temporary art installation titled “Summer of Color,” is an unprecedented public art and civic project involving all 156 Los LA County lifeguard towers on 31 miles of beach from Malibu to Palos Verdes. The lifeguard towers are being visually transformed for five months in association with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards and the Department of Beaches and Harbors as part of a massive public art and civic project conceived and developed by Portraits of Hope www.portraitsofhope.org).
Summer of Color is the culmination of the efforts of nearly 6,000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs – and 2,500 adult volunteers – who have participated in the initiative’s program activities, which included the painting of the panels for the walls and roof tops of the towers.
Portraits of Hope projects combine civic education and engagement with the visual and healing arts, providing youngsters and adults who often face medical, physical, or socio-economic challenges with an opportunity to collaborate on world class projects and accomplish the spectacular.
The project provides an iconic platform that will showcase the collective and spectacular achievement of LA's youth and adults while providing young people with an enriching educational opportunity.
Previous Portraits of Hope Projects have included everything from blimps, buildings, and the New York City taxi fleet, to NASCAR racecars, tugboats, and vintage airplanes.
The installation will remain through the end of September 2010.