Bringing smiles to Boston

BOSTON -- Bren Bataclan, founder of Batadan Design, has a goal--simply to make people smile more. For more than a year now, the Boston artist has been leaving painted canvases across town for onlookers to take, as long as they fulfill the artist's promise. Attached to each painting is a note that reads, "This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often." In addition, Bataclan asked people to log onto his Web site www.batadan.com, to provide feedback on their experiences.

"I have been complaining about the lack of 'smile factor' in Boston ever since I moved here eight years ago," says Bataclan. "Finally, instead of complaining, I am now trying to do something about it.

"This project is truly an extension of who I am--as an artist and as a person," he continues. "So far, this endeavor has succeeded beyond my wildest expectations. I feel like if this were to end now, I would be incredibly satisfied by the smiles this has brought to peoples' faces. I had no idea it would move people the way it has."

Bataclan has plans to take his project abroad and has lined up friends to take canvases on upcoming trips to Canada, Philippines, Switzerland, Malaysia and Djibouti. "My latest hope," he says, "is to send a painting up on the next space shuttle."

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