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Orange County shines bright with beautiful street art

The sidewalks of Orange County came alive the weekends of March 6 and 13 with the vibrant colors and creative energy of more than 70 street artists taking part in Hope Lives in OC, City of Hope’s initiative to counteract a year of hardship with messages of hope at iconic venues cross the region.

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Stunning installments of meticulously crafted chalk drawings were unveiled countywide at the vaccine Super PODs at Disneyland, Anaheim Convention Center, and Soka University, John Wayne Airport, Great Park Neighborhoods, Orange County Great Park, the OC Fairgrounds, Marina Park in Newport Beach, and more.
 
While the chalk was temporary, the uplifting messages were intended to be permanent. “At City of Hope, hope is part of our DNA. We want to share this powerful sentiment with our community,” said Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County.
 
The participating artists were of all ages and backgrounds. Each had been affected in some way by cancer, which made the City of Hope-led effort especially meaningful to them. Among the reasons they were hopeful was COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for people with cancer. And they recognized the power of art and optimism to keep a community strong.
 
“Art is what connects us through inspiration and a shared experience,” said artist Harmony Harris, whose colorful installation brightened the Disneyland vaccination site. “It grounds us, keeps us in the moment, and lifts our burdens.”
 
Partnering with City of Hope Orange County were the Orange County Health Care Agency, OC Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee, Orange County School of the Arts, the Wyland Foundation, FivePoint, and numerous other community organizations and businesses.
 
Visit HopeLivesInOC.org for a map of the artwork and artist profiles. If you have photos from these locations help us share the event online. Tag @cityofhopeoc and use #HopeLivesinOC. To learn more about City of Hope Orange County, visit CityofHope.org/OC.