By Romina Wicki, Switzerland
Beautiful street art, glorious atmosphere, delicious food and volunteer work to a benefit Children’s Creative Project; this is the iMadonnari Street Painting Festival. This festival is once a year and a really popular event for children and adults. In this article I will give you an impression of what this festival looks like.
At the Old Mission in Santa Barbarathe Madonnari (ital. street artist) festival took place for three days . The area in front of the Mission became during these days colorful by the work from street artists. Only with chalk the artists created beautiful pictures on the floor. The pictures are as different as the artists. Some of them are Christian figures but there are also nature impressions or portraits. This Italian festival is a benefit project for the Children’s Creative Project, which is a nonprofit art education program. More than 50,000 children and over 100 schools are supported by this project.
Before the festival started, families, companies or a private person could buy a square for an artist. When you bought a square you had to find an artist. This artist started his artwork at the beginning of the Madonnari Street Painting Festival. The artists have time during the festival to finishing their work. With only the use of chalk, the artists accomplish beautiful street art. When the iMadonnari Festival is over; the artworks are still on the ground and disappear when it will rain the next time. It’s also really interesting to visit the Mission after the Street Paining Festival when there aren’t so many people. So you can enjoy the artworks at rest.
During the festival a lot of people visit the Mission. It’s a really popular event in Santa Barbara and the near area. Adults and children visit this festival and enjoy their time. The atmosphere in front of the Mission is busy. People observe the artist, marvel the street art, discuss the impressive work, enjoy the good weather and spend time in the park next to the Mission.
Next to the Mission, you had also the possibility to engage the other senses. There was an authentic Italian market and supplies for the street art paintings. A lot of voluntary workers spoiled the visitors with delicious food. For the appetite there was a great choice of Italian food, drinks and desserts. You could enjoy pizzas, Italian sausage, seafood and gelato (Italian ice cream). So you could enjoy your meal in the park with local live music.
My impressions:
I was a voluntary worker at the Madonnari Festival and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The people were in a good mood and the artwork was extremely impressive. It was a great experience and a lot of fun to volunteer with classmates and local people. This was a joyful day with some new and interesting impressions. I’m so happy that I was there.
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