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Palo Alto Festival of the Arts – Italian Street Painting

Italian Street Painting Expo

Yes! Italian Street Painters return to this year’s festival for the fifteenth year. Each masterpiece will have been carefully choreographed—numerous hours of painstaking preparation; then slowly revealed over the two-day event. The anticipation alone brings festival-goers back a second day to watch these talented artists create 100 square-foot images or larger.

This year, the Italian Street Painting Expo will amaze the public with a variety of themes which will reflect each artists’ passion of this unique art form. Replicas of work from “old masters” to “anamorphic” styles, (artwork that appears three-dimensional from a distance or as seen through the camera lens) will cover one full block on Tasso starting at University.

This Italian tradition dates back to the 1500s where street painters became known as Madonnari for creating images of the Madonna on public streets. It has since flourished throughout Europe and the United States bringing many more innovative artists to the scene to try their hand at chalk painting or “pavement art” as it’s known in England.

The word “canvas”—as the public knows it—takes on a whole new meaning if you're a street painter. In fact, this art form—using only chalk pastels—is traditionally very fleeting. Hours and hours are spent creating these works of art; only to have them washed away in a single hour, as if they had never been.

The Italian Street Painting Expo, presented by the Palo Alto Weekly, gives the opportunity for two local non-profits to raise much-needed funds to implement community service programs. Monies raised from the Kids Chalk-a-Lot area (toward the end of Tasso) will benefit Youth Community Service; and monies raised from sponsored artists’ street paintings will benefit Ada’s Cafe. Be sure to stop by and help support both worthy organizations.

This year’s Featured Artist: Ever Galvez is classically trained in painting, drawing, conceptual art, sculpture and traditional animation. Galvez, an award-winning chalk painter, is also a fine artist with more than 15-years’ experience.

Festival weekend, he will be bringing his talents from Southern California to create an enormous 200 square-foot 3D image at the corner of Tasso & University. His visual imagery, always a crowd-pleaser, will be sure to bring enjoyment & lasting memories to all observers.

Visit Ever Galvez Studio to learn more.

Don't miss this temporary art exhibit at "ground level" where a burst of color, design, and awe-inspiring creations are made by chalk.

Lasting memories and a new level of art appreciation will occur after witnessing these performing artists down ‘n’ dirty on their hands and knees, creating magnificent art between the lines.

Thanks to the Kids & to Sponsors!

Thanks goes to all the children who participate in the Kids’ Chalk-a-Lot area. The monies generated from the purchase of a 2’ x 2’ asphalt canvas will go to support Youth Community Service leadership and service-learning programs during the summer and school year.

Also, thanks to the generosity of the 2022 community sponsors listed below. Proceeds from the sale of sponsored-street paintings will go to the support of Ada’s Café, whose main priority is to create engaging and meaningful career experiences for adults with disabilities.

Thank you sponsors!

Avis Family, Barclays Bank, Barron Park Association, City National Bank, DeMattei Construction, Edenbridge Homes, Hahn Family, Hassett Hardware, Haverstock Family, Heritage Bank, Hughes Family, Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto, Klausner Family, Palo Alto University Rotary, Rotary Club Palo Alto, University Art, Wayne Renshaw Architect, Whitstable Farm, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, Ziebelman Family

Featured Artist

Ever Galvez

Ever Galvez
10' x 20'

2022 Participating Artists

Ely Aguayo

Ely Aguayo
10' x 10'

Momo Cha

Momo Cha, Mitzi Caviness & Sindy Smart
12' x 12'

Sharyn Chan

Sharyn Chan
10' x 10'

Madison Clell

Madison Clell
10' x 10'

Deserai Davis

Deserai Davis
10' x 10'

Tonie Garza

Tonie Garza
10' x 10'

Clifton Gold

Clifton Gold
12' x 12'

Cecelia Linayao

Cecelia Linayao
12' x 12'

Anh-Thu Luu

Anh-Thu Luu
10' x 10'

Hien Nguyen

Hien Nguyen
12' x 12'

Genna Panzarella

Genna Panzarella
10' x 10'

Marlon Yanes
12' x 12'

Participating Artists’ Assistants

Ely Aguayo: Christian Lopez

Deserai Davis: Bridgette Ivory

Tony Garza: Tiffany Garza

Anh-Thu Luu: Mai-Anh Tran

Hien Nguyen: Darin Hoagland

Presenting Sponsor

Palo Alto Weekly Logo

Community Beneficiaries

Ada's Cafe Youth Community Service

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