Thursday Thirteen No. 3: The Skinny on Street Painting

Waterbury's Downtown Draw was so much fun and attracted so many talented young people that I spent some time this week looking into this form of graffiti. Like graffiti, street painting has its roots deep in the sacred arts. Like graffiti, it is temporary and as much about its method of creation as it is about the results. I discovered that:

1. street painting has been recorded throughout Europe since the 16th century; and

2. street painters in Italy are called madonnari because they often created pictures representing the Madonna.

3. Like today's graffiti writers, these madonnari were itinerant artists who lived a life of travel and freedom.

4. They would join in the festivities on the holy days of each province and town, at which time they would create images in public squares and in front of the local church.

5. Their media included bits of broken roof tiles, charcoal, and some white chalk. (more)