Hello to our readers and followers of street painting art events around the world.
We have a post from fellow madonnara (street painting artist) Valentina Sforzini who has offered this post from Grazie, Italy to share with you, enjoy!
In Grazie (Mantova, Italy) you are already able to breathe the streetpainting atmosphere of the upcoming festival. The small village of Grazie is going to host the most important Italian streetpainting festival, Grazie Di Curtatone, which is the world oldest, with its 39th anniversary on 14-15th August, 2011. I can just imagine the excitement of all the streetpainters that are going to participate this year.
[The madonnari artists (above) involved in the project: Folk artist Straccetto (Toto de Angelis), Saito Tomoteru, Claudio Sgobino, Michela Bogoni, Federico Pillan, Simona Lanfredi and me (Valentina Sforzini), second from right, seated. The madonnari have completed a 3D street painting honoring the 20th Anniversary of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Grazie.]
Grazie is a melting pot of experiences, I really believe in the value of the unique experience of meeting many artists coming from all over the world sharing their knowledge, comparing their techniques, understanding different points of view. The Grazie festival represents the climax of a series of streetpainting events that interested European streetpainters this year.
[Maestri Mariano Botelli, (left foreground) and Michela Bogoni, (background), at work on the art.]
Before the warm Italian summer, there were other beautiful streetpainting festivals around our continent; it really was a streetpainting European spring. Actually, one of the most interesting was in Grazie on May 1st. It was the first time that eight artists, belonging to the Grazie festival, worked together on a large piece in the Grazie square not because of the big August contest. It was in honor of the 20th anniversary of the visit of Pope Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) at Grazie and the municipality of Curtatone called seven selected artists to make a special tribute all together. The art director was the famous Maestro Madonnaro Mariano Bottoli that produced an incredible sketch that perfectly combined the Catholic message, rich in symbols and references to Pope Karol Wojtyla’s life, with 3D perspective, reminding to the Renaissance taste. The other artists involved in the project were the folk artist Straccetto (Toto de Angelis), Saito Tomoteru, Claudio Sgobino, Michela Bogoni, Federico Pillan, Simona Lanfredi and me (Valentina Sforzini).
It was something really special and unique to be a part of such a beautiful art creation with such talented and gifted artists. Now everybody is looking forward to participate to the next edition of the Grazie festival. Just one week to another memorable experience!
Anthony Cappetto and Wendy Stum present the blog ' Blog Now on streetpainting.tv' to share the traditional art form of street painting with a new genaration of artists, festivals, and the many fans worldwide.