Creating with the community at I Madonnari

Each year around Memorial Day weekend, the grounds in front of the Old Mission Santa Barbara disappear under a carpet of chalk. For three days, more than a hundred artists transform the pavement for the I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival—one of the city’s oldest and most beloved traditions, now in its 40th year.

The festival is hosted by the Children’s Creative Project, and every square sponsored supports their mission: making sure every student in Santa Barbara, from preschool through 12th grade, has access to a high-quality arts education.

What started decades ago as a small display of chalk artistry in front of the Mission has grown into one of the region’s largest community fundraisers: equal parts open-air gallery and civic celebration.

This year, Clear Group sponsored an 8ft x 8ft square for the first time. Our team, led by Director of Sales & Estimating Justin Klosinski, spent weeks planning before chalk hit the pavement, sketching, revising, voting on a design and ultimately bringing it to life. Over the course of the weekend, our crew traded blueprints for chalk pastels, working in shifts alongside neighbors, fellow sponsors, and some seriously talented street painters.

We’re proud of our team for taking the time to work together on our square, and proud to be a part of the Central Coast community. To learn more about the Children's Creative Project and how you can support arts education across Santa Barbara County, visit their website here.