In Denver this weekend was the Larimer Arts Association’s Annual La Piazza Chalk Art Festival.Their website offers:
The event follows street painting traditions that originated in 16th century Renaissance Italy when artists began transforming asphalt into canvas using chalk. The artists were called “madonnari,” after their customary practice of recreating chalk paintings of the Madonna. Historically, madonnari were known for their life of travel and freedom, making their living from coins received from passers-by.
La Piazza, Larimer Square’s Italian street-painting festival, is a two day-street closing-pavement painting-event on Larimer Square. More than 200 artists come down to turn the streets of Larimer Square into a museum of chalk art. Artists, sponsors and spectators find it difficult to describe in words the splendid experience that La Piazza creates.Some very exceptional original and reproduced artworks chalked out on the asphalt. (Only to be washed away that night by rain.) Towns need more festivals of all kinds.
