Perhaps my first (improper) introduction to street art was the documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop that showed the rise and fall fame of its practitioners. Although the definition of street arts associating with guerrilla-style stencil tags may be far-off from traditional fine arts; I find the concept of spontaneous mural “painting” was visually compelling and also quite thought provoking. In the Bay Area, there is a certain event that beautifully blurs the line between street arts and fine arts.
On the sunny day of June, I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to reach Marin County to catch the annual Italian Street Painting festival that took place in downtown San Rafael.
Italian Street Painting Marin is non-profit event organized every year that showcases the fine art of street painting and supports quality arts-based programs in Marin County (excerpted from the organization’s website). Over one weekend of summer, artists from all over the world gather to paint the streets in colorful chalks. Streets become artists’ canvas and the blocks of downtown transform into imagination’s playground.
The moment I parked my car on C Street (thanks to the person who peeled out from the meter just as I made a turn into the busy street) the liveliness of art community in San Rafael has welcomed me with warm embrace. It was quite evident to see the bloom of art culture in this part of town as I walked past the art supply store and old school cinema sign shimmering in daylight. Unlike extremely gentrified side of San Francisco, downtown San Rafael was chic with good small town vibe (Hint: less hipstery).
At first I was not sure if I can locate the event easily, but as I made a turn on A Street towards 5th Avenue the big event banner quickly confirmed my sense of direction wasn’t all that bad. Right in front of the main entrance was kids zone where a flock of children was avidly doodling the pictures coming straight out from their imagination. 
When I arrived at the event around noon on Saturday, most of the canvas–small sections of the road reserved by sponsors for artists–was blank and all I could see was slight blueprints of what to be realized in next two days. Browsing through these empty canvases was also interesting act, and I quite enjoyed guessing the elements that lead up to the complete work. 
Each artist was wearing long brimmed hats and because of the direct sun from the above their faces were hidden under the dark cast of shadows. This imagery somehow synchronized with the theme of masquerade that I have witnessed in almost every painting as well as occasional appearance of masked persona throughout the event. 
It was unfortunate that I was not able to stay at the event until the end to witness the completed works, but the process of painting was truly awe inspiring and I quite enjoyed the conversation with some of the artists. These chalk arts will only be there for the weekend and will get erased in time, but knowing its ephemeral life span also makes this event an “experience.” It is almost like watching the aurora borealis that you can only glance at it when you are lucky to win the nature’s whimsical favor. Being there at the very moment was an experience. Who knows, one of the artists in this video might be BANKSY in disguise… but then again, nobody needs to know that to be part of the experience.
For full list of artists participated this year’s event please visit here.
Highly recommended event to follow. [end]
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（日本語）
有終の美について考えてみました。
始まりがあるものには終わりがある。
そして終わりがあるからこそ「いま」が尊い。
いつその「いま」が終わってしまうか判らないからはらはらする。はらはらするからスリルがあって面白い。
生活にしても芸術にしても、
そんなちぐはぐしたバランスがメリハリを生み出すものです。
先日はサンフランシスコの北対岸に位置するサンラファエルの町まで、Italian Street Painting Marinなるイベントに行ってきました。
ストリート・アートというとBANKSYのようなゲリラ的なスプレーアートや突発的で社会批判的なメッセージ性の強いものが最も代表的で、クラシカルな絵画とは縁が遠いように感じますが、このイベントはあえてクラシカル嗜好のアートワークをダウンタウンの路上にチョークで描くという面白い試みを実施しています。イタリアではこういう芸術が国から支援されてあちこちで実施されているのかと考えるとアメリカの芸術界はまだまだこれからかな・・・としみじみ感じます。
年にたった一度だけ。それも週末だけの短い即興的な展示会。
それは儚いチョークのパステルカラーで描かれるひと夏の思い出のようで終わりまで輝き続ける匿名希望のマスク舞踏会でした。
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