Rain-Activated Art is Taking Over Seattle

This April, the showers are sure to bring May flowers, but in Seattle, they’re bringing something totally different: street art. Artist Peregrine Church has created art that only comes out when it rains. His Rainworks images are applied to concrete and are invisible until they become wet. As the concrete around the treated portion darkens, the artwork stays the same color, allowing his images to emerge. The contrast reveals phrases and pictures designed to make rainy days a little brighter

“Seattle is associated with rain, it’s fair to say,” Church says. “And Rainworks, all [his art] it needs to be is wet, so it’s sort of the ideal Seattle art.” Rainworks is made with a biodegradable, eco-friendly, and completely non-toxic spray. The spray has a chemical that prevents concrete from getting wet. Church applies it with a spray bottle and a stencil.

Church has created over 25 Rainworks pieces throughout Seattle, including a lily pond, a large sign that says “Worry is a misuse of the imagination,” and a hopscotch design that encourages people to jump through west Seattle’s puddles. He looks forward to making more pieces around the city because, “It’s going to rain no matter what so why not do something cool with it?”