Some street art aims to grab the attention of passersby, jarring them out of their pedestrian trance. This work from Atlanta-based artist Nathan Sharratt, however, hides away most of the time, only coming out when it's wet outside.
Instead of taking to the streets with a can of spray paint, Sharratt employs a can of NeverWet, a "superhydrophobic" coating which repels water and mud (it's gotten mixed reviews as a waterproofer, but seems promising enough as a new artistic medium). For these pieces, he told The Atlantic Cities, he designed stencils with clever phrases like "I'M ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS" or "THE SUN'LL COME OUT TOMORROW," and then applied a couple coats of NeverWet to the sidewalk surface.
Whenever it rains, the water bounces right off the coated pavement, forming a clear image. When it's dry, however, the coating is nearly invisible:
Sharratt told The Atlantic Cities that he plans to use the product to make a drawing on the side of a 14-story marble building next, and that he also has his eye on a few intersections in the Atlanta area.
Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.