SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—The plaza outside Old Mission Santa Barbara has transformed into a colorful open-air art gallery this Memorial Day weekend as the 40th annual I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival returned to Santa Barbara.
More than 150 artists gathered on the Mission grounds, using chalk pastels to create large-scale works of art directly on the pavement — continuing a tradition inspired by the Italian “Madonnari,” street painters who created religious artwork in public spaces centuries ago.
For local artist Kieran Meaney, the festival has become a lifelong tradition…