“Faces of Hope” with Larger than Life

June 5th, 2011

Larger than Life — L.A. Family took part in a magnificent event organized in June by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

About 2500 children afflicted with cancer and their family members arrived at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on a Sunday morning for an exciting day filled with performances, movie characters, entertainment, food, gifts and the great attraction: Larger than Life’s Art Booth.

Israeli artist Nira Gat created with the children beautiful greeting cards, while renowned Mexican-born California artist Ricardo Aguilar oversaw the children from his director’s chair, as they colored in his unique cubist face paintings.

Ailing children, their siblings, and even some mothers, were captivated by Aguilar’s Faces of Hope, and released their inner artists in painting the individual face images, as well as the 20-foot Faces of Hope wall and Gat’s refined cards.

A selection of the colored faces is presented on the Larger than Life website for the public to vote for their favorites. Awards will be presented to the most popular young “artists”.

About 20 Larger than Life volunteers and their children - the next generation of volunteers – staffed the booth, encouraging and helping the children, and adding a few brush strokes of their own wherever needed.

A giant 20-foot canvas was stretched along the boot wall, displaying Aguilar’s faces. Those were colored in by children armed with brushes and acrylic paint. The completed painting will be loaned to various hospitals for display, and will also be exhibited at Larger than Life — L.A. Family’s Eight Annual Gala on September 15, 2011 at the Hilton Universal City.

Larger than Life donated beautiful caps, adorned with the logos of the organization and Children’s Hospital, in red, white and blue versions. It was a beautiful sight seeing thousands of children, parents and medical staff members, as well as actors and celebrities, wandering on the studio lots and the surrounding streets wearing the logos of these two great institutions.

Larger than Life — L.A. Family has been expanding its activities to include California, and is now working in conjunction with local hospitals that treat children with cancer. Hospital representatives who met with members of the organization have expressed a deep interest and excitement about its various activities for children and their families.

In May, Larger than Life volunteers organized a Fun Day for Moms at Children’s Hospital. These mothers spend weeks and months by their sick child’s bedside, and they were very grateful for the fun and pampering offered to them on the first floor of the oncology department building – manicure, massage, arts and food – that gave them a respite from the repressive routine of hospital life.

For details and to make a contribution, visit www.LargerThanLifeLA.com or call (818) 887-7640.

For more information on Ricardo Aguilar and his art, please CLICK HERE

See you at the Annual Gala in September!