~ Madonnari Off Main - Master Artists ~

Madonnari Off Main's Featured Artists

lori_escalera Lori Escalera

Chalk Madonnari Artist Lori Escalera will be a returning for her second Madonnari experience in Glen Ellyn! Last year the Glen Ellyn community welcomed her to the Inaugural Street Chalking Event where she created an 8' x 8' street painting of the historic town water trough. Escalera is Internationally known for her large scale street artworks,
and will be performing along with the other Master Artists from around the U.S.

Lori began doing chalk street art in 1994 and does 5 to 7 street paintings each year.
In 2004, Escalera turned "pro" when CTIA asked her to come to Atlanta to do street art. That was the beginning of traveling around to areas like Milwaukee Wisconsin and Sarasota Florida. Last year Escalera headed up a 5 artist team to chalk X'ian China before the Olympics.

"Painting the Walk are single days I live, breathe, talk and perform art without a care to any other part of living. Street painting, to me, is like water to a fish. I immerse myself in the art and breathe it to life! Most other artistic experiences require a measure of pressure; But to get out of those stressors for a weekend, and enjoy the art process - with no hesitations - is tremendously gratifying. I do not mind that the work is temporary. It seems to be part of its beauty. People are sad to know that after the weekend the art will be gone. Washed away with the street sweepers. But life really isn't about permanence anyway. Nothing is permanent or static. Everything is constantly changing. I find the experience of street painting changes ME and YOU - just as if there were a material result. I always have my photos and my memories. Each new Street Painting activity unwinds with so much positive energy."

What started out a simply a fun way for Escalera to do art and contribute to community, has turned into a thriving industry; another mode of self expression as an artist. "In addition, Street Painting has introduced me to incredible examples of community leaders, people who seek to improve the quality of life and culture for those around them," states Escalera.

Street Painting is a 400 year old type of performance art, initially begun as a means for artists to make money in Italy. Today, large temporary artworks are created in a few days. Street Painting is experienced by the public as a form of "process" art. The Madonnari is accessible to his public. The viewer is empowered and becomes part of the art process. Long after, the day has passed, the viewer has a sense of the Street Painting that occurred, either by personal memory or a photo.

Escalera exclaims: "This is the only reality that exists for everyone, equally. Unlike a painting on canvas, whereby a masterwork can only be owned by one. In order to possess the “Masterwork” one must be in an exclusive position of money or power. Street Art can be owned and shared by everyone!" With the popularity of "3D" street painting around the world, it seems Chalk Artists are a new industry emerging in the arts.

Escalera has also had a career as an advertising designer and currently works as Public Arts Artist a Fine Artist in Southern California and currently resides in San Diego, CA.

Visit Lori Escalera's Website

Madonnari Off Main 2009

Wow. Street Painting twice in Illinois in two weeks, what a treat! And best alongside Street Painting Buddies Lorelle Miller, Tracy Stum, Melanie Stimmell Van Latum and Julio Jimenez. We had a blast visiting "The Windy City" of Chicago. The event venue is known as "Madonnari Off Main." Thank you to our Sponsor Tracey Kreiling (and family) of Bells and Whistles. Thanks Lisa Edwards, Shane and Dawn Bussey and everyone who made this experience possible. And most of all thank you to the gracious people of Glen Ellyn for hosting us.

All the best, Lori Escalera