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MacArthur Park's Lake Is Gonna Be So Full Of Balls This Summer
MacArthur Park is getting a heavy dose of color this summer with 7,000 giant balls set to float in the lake.Portraits of Hope, who previously brought us the glammed-out lifeguard towers and painted taxicabs in New York, will soon unleash thousands of giant, inflatable, hand-painted balls for their Spheres at MacArthur Park project. Seven years in the making, the project finally got the stamp of approval back in December. "There's a lot of political battles we had to deal with, but fortunately, Mayor Garcetti has just been an amazing partner in this project," Ed Massey, one of the brothers behind Portraits of Hope, told CBS 2.
The balls, which range from four to six feet in diameter, will be painted by volunteers, as well as "hospitals, schools, social service and community groups," in an effort to unite the community behind a public art project. Portraits of Hope expects the painting of the balls to take at least two more months before they are unleashed to the wild and will hang out in the lake for about a month. Anyone interested in participating should reach out to poh@portraitsofhope.org.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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