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We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

For the past 5 years, my best friend and I have been decorating the streets of Seattle with rain-activated street art. Our goal is to turn rainy days into a reason to smile.

When we started this project, we never imagined it would grow to become what it is today. Nearly every day, people are sharing photos of new rainworks they’ve made with the official hashtag: #Rainworks. It’s thrilling to see creative people giving their communities a reason to smile on rainy days.

Here’s a gallery of our best work!

Learn more (and get involved) at our website.

More info: rain.works | Facebook

A “rainwork” is a piece of street art that’s invisible until it’s revealed with water

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Its purpose is to give people a reason to smile on rainy days

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Rainworks are created by spraying a super-hydrophobic coating through a stencil

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

The super-hydrophobic coating keeps the concrete dry. So when it rains, all the untreated concrete gets wet, but the treated concrete stays dry

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

The contrast between the dry concrete, and the wet concrete is what makes the image appear

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

My best friend came up with the idea about 5 years ago, and we’ve been decorating the streets of Seattle with rainworks ever since

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

This was the first rainwork we ever made, back in May 2014:

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

We’ve made hundreds of other designs since then

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Some of them are small and simple

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Others are large and complex

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Some are interactive

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Some were made to honor biggest inspirations

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Others are just interesting to look at

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Last year, we built an app so people can find rainworks near them, and submit the locations of rainworks they’ve made

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

Now anybody can make a rainwork, and add it’s location to the map

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

People all over the world are creating their own rainworks, and contributing to the worldwide collaboration

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

It’s crazy how far this project has come since we started it 5 years ago. Thank you to everybody who has gotten involved and/or shown support over the years!

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

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What do you think ?

POST

Parmeisan 5 years ago

Okay, this is fantastic and I want to do one. But then I got to the end and now my main thought is "It's a good thing Hazel isn't a super common name or that could go very badly for some unsuspecting couple."

22points

Nostalgic Hyena 5 years ago

It's the name of my cat..

12points

Load More Replies...

Noez 🇸🇪 5 years ago

"The ground is lava" CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!!

13points

Diver Driver 5 years ago

AWESOME! Such positive vibes in each creation. Makes me hope for rain to explore!

6points

Hillary 5 years ago

Lovely! We have quite a bit of rain here in Florida. Can't wait to check our your app!! So inspiring!

5points

Rebekah 5 years ago

Awesome!

2points

Melissa Nunya 5 years ago

I live in Seattle and have seen two of these and wondered about it :)

2points

Maya Classon 5 years ago

Love the man in the background of the first GIF giving a thumbs up :) These rain creations are really cool

2points

diane a 5 years ago

How to make people look forward to rain - just to see what appears.

2points

FatBaby 5 years ago

Where can I buy one

1point

Neha 5 years ago

This is such a wonderful idea!

1point

Pinky Pop 5 years ago

we could do with some of this in London...

1point

Aisha 5 years ago

This is very cool!!!

0points

Sworlay 5 years ago

Does your city allow this?

0points

KCN 5 years ago

I need to download this app. I live in Seattle and gotta check them out.

0points

Night Owl 5 years ago

Great idea and a very good way to bring people joy on rainy days. I just hope some trolls don't destroy it for everyone else.

0points

G13 5 years ago

I adore this!

-1point

Sel Bonda 5 years ago

Well, "Zip up, Dog" and more potent "U dirty busturd" would be apt. In English and local lingo as well. In India, one could experience(!) rampant sidewalk peeing menace. Hope someone invents wetness activated pliers. You wet the wall...get your family jewels crushed to a pulp!

-3points

TJler 5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

POST

Parmeisan 5 years ago

22points

Nostalgic Hyena 5 years ago

It's the name of my cat..

12points

Load More Replies...

Noez 🇸🇪 5 years ago

"The ground is lava" CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!!

13points

Diver Driver 5 years ago

AWESOME! Such positive vibes in each creation. Makes me hope for rain to explore!

6points

Hillary 5 years ago

Lovely! We have quite a bit of rain here in Florida. Can't wait to check our your app!! So inspiring!

5points

Rebekah 5 years ago

Awesome!

2points

Melissa Nunya 5 years ago

I live in Seattle and have seen two of these and wondered about it :)

2points

Maya Classon 5 years ago

Love the man in the background of the first GIF giving a thumbs up :) These rain creations are really cool

2points

diane a 5 years ago

How to make people look forward to rain - just to see what appears.

2points

FatBaby 5 years ago

Where can I buy one

1point

Neha 5 years ago

This is such a wonderful idea!

1point

Pinky Pop 5 years ago

we could do with some of this in London...

1point

Aisha 5 years ago

This is very cool!!!

0points

Sworlay 5 years ago

Does your city allow this?

0points

KCN 5 years ago

I need to download this app. I live in Seattle and gotta check them out.

0points

Night Owl 5 years ago

Great idea and a very good way to bring people joy on rainy days. I just hope some trolls don't destroy it for everyone else.

0points

G13 5 years ago

I adore this!

-1point

Sel Bonda 5 years ago

-3points

TJler 5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

We Create Invisible Street Art That Only Appears When It Rains And You Can Do It Too

A “rainwork” is a piece of street art that’s invisible until it’s revealed with water

Its purpose is to give people a reason to smile on rainy days

Rainworks are created by spraying a super-hydrophobic coating through a stencil

The super-hydrophobic coating keeps the concrete dry. So when it rains, all the untreated concrete gets wet, but the treated concrete stays dry

The contrast between the dry concrete, and the wet concrete is what makes the image appear

My best friend came up with the idea about 5 years ago, and we’ve been decorating the streets of Seattle with rainworks ever since

This was the first rainwork we ever made, back in May 2014:

We’ve made hundreds of other designs since then

Some of them are small and simple

Others are large and complex

Some are interactive

Some were made to honor biggest inspirations

Others are just interesting to look at

Last year, we built an app so people can find rainworks near them, and submit the locations of rainworks they’ve made

Now anybody can make a rainwork, and add it’s location to the map

People all over the world are creating their own rainworks, and contributing to the worldwide collaboration

It’s crazy how far this project has come since we started it 5 years ago. Thank you to everybody who has gotten involved and/or shown support over the years!

Games

Xack Fischer

Xack Fischer