Italian Street Painting Marin is an annual celebration that provides a showcase for the remarkable art of street painting, and it supports programs and opportunities for underserved students of the arts. This year’s theme, Wonders of Space and Time, gave wide range to imagination and creativity for many talented Madonnari (street painters). The two-day event took place in San Rafael, with more than 100 artists sharing their skills.

Italian Street Painting Marin was founded by Sue and Joe Carlomagno and includes program grants to organizations for students in Marin County. This year’s Grants for the Arts awards were presented to the following outstanding associations in support of these designated programs:

Art Works Downtown – Ceramics camp scholarships with master ceramist Barbara Andino-Stevenson

California Film Institute – My Place, My Story?

Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM) – Summer Music Camps?

Fast Forward – Summer Journalism

Marin Shakespeare – Young Company summer camp?

Masterworks Kids’ Art Studio – Art sessions and summer camp?

Mountain Play – Day on the Mountain – an outreach program?

New Media Learning – Makerspace-Media Studio; “Making” in the Classroom

Sunny Hills Services – Irene M. Hunt School, Summer Arts program?

Youth in Arts – Arts Unites Us

Italian Street Painting Marin is a community outreach program of EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, a science-based advocacy organization dedicated to bringing medications and treatments to the 30 million people in this country suffering from rare diseases. Headquartered in Marin County, it is a national 501c3 organization that bridges art and science to improve health, offer hope and change lives.

Sandra Luna, an agent at Zephyr Real Estate-Marin Region, was pleased to be a part of this good work as one of the sponsors. “The art displays were incredibly innovative, some whimsical, some very profound,” she remarked. “So many positive results when communities and organizations work together to improve the quality of life.” She may be reached at Sandra@sandraluna.com or 415.279.8610.