
Maribeth McFaul and Renee Keady - Featured Artists 2009
The first Italian Street Painting Festival, I Mondonnari, established in the western hemisphere 25 years ago in Santa Barbara in late May, was inspired by the festival in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy. “Fun with Chalk” was initiated at the Norman P. Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo by Frank Lieberman, Ph.D and his Advisory Board in 1998. I was a member of that board for 9 years.
For the first time in April of 2010, “Fun With Chalk” partnered with Artes de la Vida (previously Tierra Nativa Earth Day celebration) to create a combined festival called “Arts Alive.” In past years the two events had occurred in approximately the same location in April and early May.
The City of Mission Viejo has provided significant financial and logistical support to “Fun With Chalk” since it’s inception 13 years ago. Considering the budget restraints of recent years it made sense to combine efforts by paring the two events last year.
The residents of Mission Viejo look forward to the Street Painting Festival every year. We hope to continue the Street Painting tradition in the City of Mission Viejo established by Dr. Lieberman and the “Fun With Chalk” Advisory Board.
Additional Street Painting Festivals in California include:
I Mondonnari Festival Santa Barbara - Memorial Day weekend
Pasadena Chalk Festival - June 18 & 19
Temecula Street Painting Festival - June 24, 25 & 26
Carlsbad Art Splash Sept. 24 & 25
I Mondonnari Festival San Luis Obispo - September
Chalk La Strada San Diego - October
San Rafael Italian Street Painting Festival - July 2012