"Madonnari" are artists who use chalk to draw on the street, and are known as such because they reproduced icons of the Madonna, (our lady). The street painting has a long tradition starting in Italy in the 16th century. The works are traditionally called street paintings, rather than chalk drawings or sidewalk art, because when well executed they can resemble paintings.
The artists would travel from town to town and create street paintings for traditional religious and folk festivals. These artists lived (and still live) from the coins thrown onto their work in appreciation for the image and the artist's skill.
The practice was almost a lost art form until 1972, when the village of Grazie di Curtatone staged a festival to honor the tradition of street painting. The commemoration of this vibrant art form is now celebrated throughout Italy.
Santa Barbara, CA presented such a Festival this Memorial Day weekend. There have been others in San Raphael (SF),Temecula (SD), Valencia (LA), Bakersfield, all in California, and those at State College Pennsylvania, and Endicott, NY, that I'm aware of.
There exists now the Association
Madonnari of Italy, in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy.
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The
Art and History of Street Painting
Street painting has been recorded throughout Europe since the 16th century and is considered an important expression of popular art. In Italy, street painters are called "madonnari" after their historical practice of creating chalk paintings of the Madonna.
As the name "madonnari" implies, Italian street painting has been a form of religious art since its inception. The history of this art form is closely tied to the long and rich tradition of Italian processional art, which includes colored sand and sawdust painting, as well as flower-petal art.
The famous Pasadena Rose Parade, for example, comes from this tradition. Small icon and ex-voto painting, those given to the church in homage for an answered prayer or miracle, are also in the genre of the madonnaro.
Historically, madonnari have been itinerant artists noted for a life of travel and freedom. They were, however, aware of the many festivals and holidays unique to each province, and would time their arrival to join in the festivities. Today, one can still find a celebration taking place each day of the year in Italy.
Upon arriving in a town or city, the madonnari would go about their business of creating paintings directly on the sidewalk or public square using chalk as their medium. They survived from the money they received as alms, and from small commissions. After the holiday, or with the first rains, the picture and the painter would vanish.
Although the impermanence of the art form has kept it from being visually documented, it has been the subject of poets and writers for four hundred years. Today, there are video documentaries, private photograph collections, and numerous articles that serve as a record of this art form and witness to its metamorphosis.
Until recently, madonnari were true folk artists, reproducing simple images with crude materials. Tragically, the Second World War brought hardship and suffering to many, greatly reducing the number of these itinerant artists.
The pasty twenty years has not only brought a revival, but a virtual explosion of this art form. Young artists and art students worldwide began appearing on the streets throughout Europe, bringing with them new ideas, techniques and enthusiasm for what was nearly a lost form of expression. They infused their work with fresh subject matter and innovative materials.
Gone were the days of blackboard chalk and a burnt stick of charcoal. Paintings were now being created with high quality commercial and handmade pastels. Artists began experimenting with gold leaf, silver paint, colored sand and glass, even birdseed.
The images, now no longer confined to the Madonna, were copies from the old masters. Paintings by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Durer, Raphael and many others now graced the streets and piazzas of Italy. The broader subject range had tremendous popular appeal, and as the artists worked their baskets would fill with coins.
With a tremendous sense of pride and newfound respect for their work, these young painters began to challenge their public with even more complicated compositions. Often they would work on a single painting for days and weeks at a time.
In order to accommodate the public desire for larger and better-finished images, the idea of portable supports was born. At first heavy sheets of paper were used as a base. With the first signs of inclement weather, the artist would roll up his painting and carry it to a neighboring province or country outside the arms of the storm. In time, the paper would tear and become thin, and the artist would start a new picture. Eventually, prepared canvas replaced the paper supports.
Madonnari were now receiving offers from passers-by to purchase their work or paint a specifically commissioned piece. Working on canvas had two advantages over paper. It would not tear or become thin with wear, and the images were permanent and therefore saleable. As with all pastel works of art, they are best preserved under a sheet of glass.
In 1972, the small community of Grazie di Curtatone in northern Italy started the first International Street Painting Competition. The initial purpose of the competition was to record and publicize the work of those who were considered the last exponents of this traditional art. The oldest of these painters were in their 90s.
With each successive year, the competition has drawn younger painters and larger crowds, eventually producing a spectacle never conceived of by its founders. The festival remains popular and is a model for festivals around the world.
Festivals.com
- Celebrating the World of Festivals and Events
http://www.festivals.com/04-april/streetpainting/history.cf
i
madonnari
http://www.imadonnarifestival.com/
If
you click on the Gallery, and a year, you will see some fascinating Images.
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SANTA
BARBARA FESTIVAL - Memorial Weekend Festival -200 Drawings
On Memorial Day weekend the plaza of the Old Mission will be transformed with 200 colorful, large-scale street paintings created by 400 artists and young people. The artists (madonnari) begin working on Saturday morning of the Memorial Day weekend and continue drawing throughout the three-day festival or until their street paintings are completed.
Santa
Barbara’s I Madonnari, the first street painting festival in North America,
was started in 1987 by Kathy Koury as a fundraiser for the Children’s
Creative Project
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ITALIAN
STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL NEAR SAN FRANCISCO
Where:
San Rafael, California, Fifth Avenue & A Street, downtown
When:
Saturday & Sunday, June 12 & 13, 2004 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival -a celebration of art, music and cuisine!
Just 25 minutes north of San Francisco at the historic Mission San Rafael Arcangel, hundreds of Madonnari (street painters) transform the streets of San Rafael into a color-splashed gallery for 60,000 visitors each year. Using chalk as the medium and asphalt as the canvas, artists create over 200 images in various styles and sizes. This feast for the eyes is complimented by entertainment on 2 stages and a wide variety of Italian fare.
Italian Street Painting Festival to be Held June 12-13
MILL VALLEY, CA Italy -- 5/26/2004 -- The recent headlines tell us that the color is fading on the Mona Lisa at her place of honor in the Louvre, in Paris. But, in honor of her 500th birthday, (sometime between 2003 and 2007!) she will be portrayed in vibrant color on the streets of San Rafael, when the 11th Annual Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival pays tribute to Leonardo da Vinci, one of the world’s greatest artists, June 12 and 13.
In addition to the Mona Lisa, the Festival will feature over 400 Madonnari (street artists) in this two-day festival that transforms 30,000 feet of asphalt into an outdoor gallery of beauty and awe-inspiring images. Besides the beautiful art creations, the Festival invites people to browse the Mercato’s goods and merchandise, listen to non-stop music, from rock to jazz and blues, and sample a wide variety of Italian foods, wines and beverages, sponsored by restaurants and merchants throughout the Bay Area.
And, again, the little Madonnari will take over Children’s Avenue on 5th and create their own masterpieces. For those who want to savor the Italian Street Painting experience year round, original art from 14 featured artists will be available for purchase at the Galleria di Madonnari.
For
more information, call YOUTH IN ARTS at (415) 457-4878 or visit the website
at www.youthinarts.org
Admission
is free.
Festival
Director, Sue Carlomagno, 415.457.4878 x15
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LITTLE
ITALY ENDICOTT PRESENTS
ITALIAN
STREET PAINTING
FRIDAY
- SUNDAY
JUNE
11, 12, 13, 2004
Witherill
Street Endicott NY
between
Oak Hill & Odell Avenues
Celebrate the tradition of Madonnari - Italian Street Painting!
Artists will transform Endicott’s Little Italy into a colorful gallery of pavement “canvases” which will captivate the audiences. All necessary supplies will be provided, including chalks, rags, brushes, and erasers. Artists will produce each image from start to finish. The initial phase is to create or reproduce a work of art which will be transferred to the pavement, then filled in using chalk pastels. The image can be an original work or a rendition of a classic masterpiece. The pavement will be marked off in grids and stenciled with the sponsor’s name. The artist will then draw the outline of the painting and fill in with the base of colors. Supplies will be provided to the artists. The final blending of colors will add depth and shadow to the finished piece. The designs often incorporate unique perspective techniques. It is a fulfilling experience to transform a blank space into a complete work of art in just a few days. This temporary art gallery will be enjoyed by the audience, and as is tradition, the art and the painter depart at the end of the event.
Colori La Citta is the same weekend as the St. Anthony’s Feast Days which are held just a few blocks away. The Oak Hill Avenue Improvement Corporation invites Artists, Sponsors, and Volunteers to take part in this festive gathering!
For further information, please call Mary Grassi 729-6007
STYP
Forum - Italian Street Painting!
http://www.styp.org/forums/showthread.php?s=
cbbb311550ce951d4fc94d06a73c14be&postid=2046#post2046