When I say colorful- I mean lots and lots of bright, happy colors.

You see, this weekend I got to help decorate the LA Shelters. No, I didn’t go paint the shelters. This is even better.

Perhaps you are familiar with Portraits of Hope?

Diane with Ed Massey

Founded by brothers Ed Massey and Bernie Massey,
“Portraits of Hope projects have involved tens of thousands of youth and adults in high-profile civic collaborations that have visually and spectacularly transformed everything from airplanes, buildings, and the New York City taxi fleet to blimps, tugboats, and NASCAR racecars.”

“For the latest public art and civic project, Portraits of Hope will be adding lots of color, beauty and artwork to LA County’s animal shelters as a way to highlight them as a public destination and drive more people to visit and take home a shelter dog or cat. This will be the beginning of a national POH initiative to promote pet adoption by making animal shelters more inviting places for the public. “

Their current project has me super excited. When the Massey brothers asked kids which cause they would like to help next, they universally heard “animals”. So the artwork they are creating now is a mix of geometric shapes and flowers, along with a variety of animals that will beautify the LA County Animal Shelters.

I spent Sunday afternoon painting a flower (it’s more involved than it looks!) with my son and his friend, Ben.

We also got a behind the scenes tour and learned that they can accommodate sight impaired children (who can do artwork with texture rather than color), children who cannot hold a brush with their hands (who are given special shoes with brushes attached to the bottom) and children who are wheelchair bound (the LA Kings donated a hockey stick to which they affixed a brush). It is amazing how inclusive this whole operation is. Every child who wishes to paint will be included.

At least 8000 people will be involved and the installation is planned for January.

Stay tuned for more information in January about the opening. Assuming success in LA, maybe Portraits of Hope will come to a city near you next!