What’s going on with Aspen and Snowmass fire trucks and emergency vehicles? They have been covered in colorful flowers. Portraits of Hope is here to spread the word in a giant way throughout our valley. In 1995, Ed & Bernie Massey founded Portraits of Hope. This is not the first time Ed Massey, a sculptor, painter, and installation artist, has displayed art to the entire world to see, he has been doing these kinds of things since his college days. With his brother’s help, Portraits of Hope organization has involved 90,000 youth and adults in high profile art projects that have transformed blimps, airplanes, buildings, New York City taxi fleet & tugboats, racecars, lifeguard towers in Los Angeles and now for the first time Aspen and Snowmass fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The flower design which is used for this and other Portrait of Hope projects is their symbol of joy, life, youth, beauty, renewal and the environment. A geometric design is also used in some projects symbolizing the “Shaping of the Future.”
Portraits of Hope is a program that is aimed to enrich the lives of children and adults that are coping with an adversity in their life. Portraits of Hope encourage children and adults by giving them every opportunity to engage with the painting of the murals even if they have a handicap. Specialized paint brushes have been designed by Ed Massey such as the “Foot Brush” for those who are unable to use their hands and arms, a “telescoping brush” for those in wheelchairs or are attached to IV’s and the “fruit flavored brush” for those who have limited movement in their limbs. Portraits of Hope has a core education program for children that gets them involved with the social issues that we face today and tomorrow.
The Aspen & Snowmass project started approximately five months ago with 2000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs plus 250 adult volunteers from all areas of the communities. Participating local organizations include: Aspen Middle School, Aspen Community School, Carbondale Community School, Aspen Elementary School, Glenwood Springs High School, Extreme Sports Camp, Challenge Aspen, The Buddy Program, Pathfinders for Cancer, and Ready for the Work Program. Other groups in Denver and Los Angeles that joined them were Braille Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver Medical Health Center, Denver Protective Child Services, Shriners Hospital for Children and Pacific Point Academy and many others. These volunteers started the initial painting of the murals with their unique patterns of flowers 5 months ago and professional installers will mount these murals on the vehicles during the weeks of June 7th through 20th, 2013. The 38 vehicles will have their own unique design. For five months we will see these vehicles out and about. For more information go to www.protraitsofhope.org.