Artists will work at home, and then photograph their drawings, which will be shared on the event website the weekend of May 23
The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival is moving from the Santa Barbara Mission Plaza to neighborhood driveways around the city, and then online for everyone to see, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Fritz Oldenburger photo)
By Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor | @NoozhawkSports
May 6, 2020 12:55 p.m.
The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival is moving from the Santa Barbara Mission Plaza to neighborhood driveways around the city, and then online for everyone to see.
Festival creator Kathy Koury said artists will work in driveways and then photograph their drawings, which will be shared on the event website the weekend of May 23.
The festival is a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Santa Barbara, drawing thousands to the Mission Plaza to view paintings drawn with chalk pastels by local artists.
The artwork is sponsored and the funds support the Children’s Creative Project for arts education programs that serve more than 100 public schools and 50,000 students. The CCP is a nonprofit program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
I Madonnari was cancelled last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Koury and her staff brought it back by coming up with the driveway artwork and virtual festival idea.
“While we can’t be together in person at the Old Mission this year, we can share the spirit of this wonderful festival virtually,” she said.
The festival will release updated information on its Instagram and Facebook platforms.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
