i madonnari

Happy Memorial Day! (to all of you in the U.S.)  I didn't spend anytime sewing this weekend, but we did work in two barbeques, a trip to the pool and a visit to this:

I Madonnari, the Italian street painting festival held at the Santa Barbara Mission each year.

We went on the second day, so very few of the paintings (made with chalk) were finished.   But this is actually my favorite part of the process ... seeing it all unfold.  I love the contrast between the unfinished portions and the carefully blended, stunningly painted sections.

This one, of the Santa Barbara Tea Fire, was one of my favorites:

I'm amazed at the talent of these artists, and their ability to sit on tiny pieces of cardboard or carpet for three days straight (many of them in full sun).  It must be so exhausting!   And to think, with the next rain all their hard work will be washed away.