Out of Love

My heart was filled with surprise and joy at the same time when I saw all that mere man-made beauty. The floor was filled with colorful chalk paintings, with colors so vivid as colors of a typical Van Gough creation of the farms glittering under the sun, with themes so diverse that my imagination could open its wings and fly. Fly from this land to others, from this time to those historical “Renaissance” times and explore the depths of the time and cultures of this round globe.

It is busy, as far as my eyes can see, I can see artists – creators of these lively scenes- kneeling on the floor and working hard like honey bees to finish the fly of their imagination and the talent of their hands and the people like me, who are enjoying every single second of this activity.

The Venue is the “ I Madonnari Italian Street Painting”. This is an annual event held in Santa Barbara, CA in the plaza of the Old Mission. Street painting, using chalk as the medium, has been an Italian tradition since the 16th Century. This art form is enjoying a renaissance in cities throughout Western Europe and the U.S.A.

Amazed by all the chalk paintings on the floor that would be gone in two, three days or even less time just considering the clouds coming this way, I approach one of the artists. He is busy with a big picture of different symbols from Southern America. I ask him:” It is my first time here. Can you tell me how come you guys come here and paint? How does this event work?” Looks at me, a young guy with tanned skin, strong elbows and a hat thorn here and there, smiles and says:” out of love, we come here, kneel on the floor and pour out our emotions, inspirations to this dark land to help, just out of love.” I am confused. I can see here is packed with people and that paintings are amazing but I do not understand how these can help any one in any way except the artist himself, may be if he is getting paid! With eyes confused, with the question on my lips, I murmur slowly: “What kind of help?” Now, the artist knows that how far I am from the entire philosophy of this event so he explains: “The Old Mission plaza will be subdivided into 200 pavement "squares" sponsored by businesses, organizations and individuals. The money goes to the children creative art project. Then, we, local artists volunteer to become madonnari, or street painters, and to get on our knees and fill these pavement canvases with our own unique inspiration. All the money gathered will go to the children and that is what we all want, don’t’ you think so? .” Throws this mind storming question at me and turns back and looks at the crowd of painters, shining brightly with that circle of love surrounding them. I thank him and walk away. Crawling slowly among these love bees with a heart feeling lighter and lighter.. just out of love.

Kathy Hadizadeh

May 2002

Thanks to Farbod Mehr for helping me with the photos