Six thousand miles away from its birthplace in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy, Santa Barbara has fostered an annual tradition of hosting the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival. The Children’s Creative Project (CCP) is celebrating its 39th year of this beloved event.
This year, the CCP is unveiling a rebrand for its programming, and the I Madonnari festival under the leadership of Executive Director Kai Tepper-Jahnke.
The festival spotlights featured artists each year. This year’s artists are Cheryl Guthrie and Terri Taber, both experienced and avid I Madonnari participants and longtime registered nurses. They will be collaborating on a 12′x16′ street painting positioned in the place of honor at the base of the Old Mission Santa Barbara steps.
Guthrie has made her mark with her contributions to the “heart art for auction” at the Friendship Center’s Festival of Hearts. She was also recently commissioned to create a mural for the Braille Institute of Santa Barbara, honoring beloved community figures. Taber is a UCSB art alumni who is active in adult education and a plein air painter, showcasing her talents out in the community, as well as the classroom…