Human Flower Project
Orrington, MAINE USA
Murrieta, CALIFORNIA USA
Princeton, MAINE USA
Monday, April 02, 2007
Hailing 13,000 Flower Cabs
New York City marks the centennial of its taxi fleet with a rolling floral painting project.
Garden in Transit
coming soon to NYC
Image: Portraits of Hope
William Nichols of Syosset, NY, told Daily News reporter John Lauinger, “anything that brings color to New York City is a good thing.” A retired gravedigger, Nichols did his part yesterday by painting a blue flower decal that this fall will be affixed to a city cab.
The bustlingest place in the US will memorialize 9/11 this year with a honking tribute called Garden in Transit. From September 1 through New Year’s Eve, 12,760 yellow cabs in the city will sport flowers on their trunks or hoods. This production of floral art on wheels is the brainchild of California-based Portraits of Hope. Founded in 1995 by brothers Ed and Bernie Massey, the organization involves handicapped children and adults in civic art projects. Bold flowers have been the emblem and transportation the medium of most Portraits of Hope efforts (including a gorgeous blimp, some NASCAR buggies, and a plane that flew over Kitty Hawk, NC). “The brothers chose flowers because they noticed they were one of the most common things drawn by children … ‘a universally recognized symbol of hope, beauty, healing and joy.’ And the shapes lend themselves easily to metaphors.” Right you are, guys.
Paul Schutzman of East Midtown
plunges in with red paint
Photo: Jefferson Siegel, for AM New York
2007 is also the 100th anniversary of New York City’s metered taxis, so it’s only right that the cabs should sport a bit of flash. And “because of the elevation of the city, the taxi top is the perfect canvas,” Ed Massey said.
The painting project itself is ongoing—at the Hotel Pennsylvania, 149 W. 32nd St. Many of the volunteer painters are family members and friends of those who died at the World Trade Center, September 11, 2001. More painters are needed. If, like William Nichols, you’d like to do your part, check out the Garden in Transit site, pick up a brush, and “seed” this garden on wheels.