Washington – especially Seattle – is known for its heavy rainfall. We may not see as much as some other places, but there’s no doubt the west side of the Cascades gets its fair share of wet weather. A local artist decided to make the best of our constant showers, and he created these invisible messages all throughout the city known as Rainworks.
These positive messages are intended to make our rainy days a little bit brighter. They’re hidden all over Seattle on sidewalks and roads, and they can only be activated by water.
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook
Stencils and a super-hydrophobic coating (“Invisible Spray”) are used to create the messages. They can be put on nearly any surface that can get wet – especially clean concrete. The spray won’t work on smooth surfaces though, like metal, plastic and glass, since they’re not absorbent.
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook
Each message lasts an average of 2 to 4 months. In the right conditions, they’ve even lasted up to a year. The longevity ultimately depends on how much rain it sees, as well as foot traffic and the type of surface it is.
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook
The project was created by local artist Peregrine Church, along with his team of talented production members. They created a video explaining the concept for Kickstarter, and it ended up going viral.
Seattle Rainworks/ Facebook
Of course, the cheery work is completely legal. It’s temporary, non-toxic, doesn’t harm any property, and essentially falls into the same category as chalk art.
Facebook/ Seattle Rainworks
To find the hidden messages, you can use this map to see where all of the current Rainworks are located.
Seattle Rainworks/ Facebook
Waiting for the rain is the best way to see the works, but any kind of water source will reveal them. A misty garden sprayer, bucket of water or even water balloons can make them appear as well.
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook
You can even pick up some Invisible Spray online to create your own hidden messages. It’s going to rain around here anyway - why not make it into something fun?
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook Check out this short video for more info on how the rain-activated art is made:
Have you seen any of these messages around the city? Would you like to create your own?
Seattle Rainworks / Facebook
Seattle Rainworks/ Facebook
Facebook/ Seattle Rainworks
Check out this short video for more info on how the rain-activated art is made:
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