Concordia Prep Art Students Participate in the Baltimore Madonnari Arts Festival and Win Top Award
Last weekend, CPS students Hannah Beasman, Jonathan Davis, Janiya Foreman, Lyla Martin, Jarrod Connell, Avion Brooks, Victoria Dodge, Logan Corbin, and Cat Regan with Mrs. Marcie Barth and Ms. Martha Bainbridge, participated in the Madonnari Arts Festival in Little Italy. The team’s design was awarded first place in the student artists competition in the “traditional design” category. The festival showcased chalk drawings based up on the Italian art of i madonnari, that dates back to the 16th century, where local artists would travel from town to town creating artwork during festivals and holy days.
Photo left: CPS student’s design. Photo right: original artwork.
The CPS team decided to create a chalk rendering of Madonna and Child with Bird by Peruvian artist Ignacio Chacon, 1745-1775. Art Teacher, Mrs. Marcie Barth, said the theme of the festival was freedom. The team integrated a number of changes to the artwork that reinforced that theme: stars and stripes were added to Madonna’s head scarf; yellow roses and fuchsia and red tulips, which represent freedom, were added around the painting border; the baby Jesus is making a peace sign and holding a Celtic symbol of freedom; a torch, similar to the Statue of Liberty was added to the background; and an olive branch was added to the dove.
The CPS team worked Friday through Sunday on the drawing. Mrs. Barth said the students received numerous compliments–many thought they were students majoring in art at a local college, and encouraged them to pursue a future career in art. Plans are already underway to participate in next year’s festival.