The Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival has long been a beacon of cultural exchange and artistic excellence, and its influence continues to grow on the international stage. Denise Kowal, the Festival’s visionary Founder and President of Avenida de Colores, has been at the forefront of this expansion. For the third time, Denise was invited to serve as a judge at the prestigious Grazie Madonnari competition in Curtatone, a town in Italy’s Mantua province. This event, now in its 50th year, is one of the world’s most revered traditional Madonnari contests, showcasing the very best of heritage devotional ephemeral artwork.
The Grazie Madonnari competition is a key part of the nearly six-hundred-year-old annual fair, the Fiera delle Grazie. It draws artists from around the world, who compete under methodical rules to advance through three categories: Semplici, Qualified, and Maestro. Artists begin in the Semplici category and can only advance by winning, making their progression a true testament to their skill and dedication. Winning in the Maestro category is the pinnacle of success, conferring not only prestigious prizes but also the honor of designing the competition’s poster for the following year.
Normally, the event's purpose or "theme" is simply a devotion honoring the Modonna, thus the word term "Madonnari". This year’s competition, however, was a special 50th Anniversary theme of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the epic journey through the realms of Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradiso (heaven). Each artist was assigned a Cantos, or poem, with two or three lines as the basis for their artwork. The result was a stunning array of interpretations, with nine artists ultimately emerging as first-place winners—each earning the prize of fully funded participation in the Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival from November 8-10, 2024.
This cooperative project was officially sealed in a ceremony at the Museo dei Madonnari in Grazie on August 14, 2024. Denise Kowal and Carlo Bottani, the Mayor of Curtatone and President of the Province of Mantua, signed the agreement, symbolizing the strong bond between the two festivals. The awards were later presented on stage during the main celebration, amidst great fanfare, close to midnight on August 15.
Several of the winners are no strangers to the Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival. Kanako Matsumoto from Japan, who won the Semplici category in Paradiso, is renowned for her unique color palette and graceful compositions. Italian artist Michela Bogoni, known for her hyper-realistic portraits, took first place in the Maestro category in Paradiso. Michela’s husband, Federico Pillan, was also recognized, winning the Creativity Prize for his striking depiction in Inferno. Both Kanako and Michela have been frequent participants in the Sarasota Festival, bringing their extraordinary talents back year after year.
Sonja Mazereel from Belgium and Julie Kirk Purcell from the USA both advanced to the Maestro category after winning in the Qualified category for Paradiso and Inferno, respectively. Sonja’s thoughtfully executed composition and Julie’s lifelike portrayal of the three-headed hellhound Cerberus showcased their exceptional talents, which both have showcased at the Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival many times.
Melanie Stimmel van Latum, an accomplished artist from the United States, earned her fifth medal at the Grazie Madonnari competition with a Paradiso Maestro Bronze Medal. Melanie’s intricate and graceful depictions of Beatrice and Dante in Paradiso exemplify her storytelling prowess. Melanie won the title of Maestra Madonnara in 2010, and Semplici Gold in 2002, then Qualified Gold in 2003, a bronze a few years after, then the Maestro Gold in 2010.
New to Grazie was Tonya Lee Nielsen, a veteran of the Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival, who received the “Premio Opera Segnalata” recognition, an honorable mention. Her portrayal of Apollo and Dante in Paradiso was particularly striking, with her background softened like a fresco by a torrential rainstorm the night before—a testament to the ephemeral nature and beauty of chalk art.
Two Florida-based artists, Erik Schlake and Holland King, also made their mark in their first Grazie Madonnari competition. Erik’s classical epic portrait in Purgatorio featured a dramatic judgment by the Guardian on a throne atop multicolored steps, radiating judgment from his sword… dramatic and captivating. Holland’s unique 1980s romance novel-inspired take on Inferno highlighted a tornadic whirlwind of lustful punishment.
Of the nine first-place winners awarded invitations to the Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival, many are returning artists who have previously contributed to the festival with their incredible work and spirit. However, we are equally excited to welcome new faces who will bring fresh perspectives and artistic talent to Sarasota.
Here are the first-place winners invited to the November 8-10, 2024, Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival:
Maestro First Place:
- Ignazio De Jesus Chavez Salinas - Inferno
- Liliana Confortini - Purgatorio
- Michela Bogoni - Paradiso
Qualified First Place:
- Julie Kirk Purcell - Inferno
- Emanuela Cerutti - Purgatorio
- Sonja Mazereel - Paradiso
Semplici First Place:
- Alice Monzani - Inferno
- Kanako Matsumoto - Purgatorio
- Rafael Reyes Rivera - Paradiso
The Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival remains committed to fostering cultural exchange through art, and the inclusion of these exceptional artists further strengthens our festival’s international reputation. As we prepare to welcome these artists and the world to Sarasota this November, we are reminded of the power of art to transcend borders and unite communities in celebration of creativity and tradition.