Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

3 Vibrant, Painted Lifeguard Towers To Be Revealed This Week

summer-of-color-comp.jpg
Left: Working on the panels (Photo by denisetaylor☼) Right: Painting the towers (Photo by Doug McBride for LAist)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

With thousands of volunteers working over several weekends, three of the Portraits of Hope Lifeguard Towers are scheduled to be revealed this Wednesday morning in Santa Monica.Painted in segments--the panel pieces, then the towers themselves--Portraits of Hope is a large-scale public art project tagged the "Summer of Color" that aims to boost civic pride and engage a broad spectrum of youth and adults to take part in a shared endeavor.

On Wednesday morning, three of the brightly-painted towers will be shown for the first time: One tower will show a shapes-themed design, one a flower design, and one an aquatic design.

In total, all 158 LA County lifeguard towers will be transformed as part of the project.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today