Italian Street Painting Marin: ’96 Degrees in the Shade’

High temperatures scorched artists and festival attendants this weekend during the return of Italian Street Painting Marin in downtown San Rafael.

But the excessive heat warning issued for San Rafael on Saturday and Sunday wasn’t the only downfall of the festival, which returned after a two-year hiatus. Festival founder and Mill Valley resident Sue Carlomagno was hospitalized after suffering from a heart attack before the Italian Street Painting Marin began and the festival’s featured artist was hospitalized with heat stroke on Saturday, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

The festival returned with some changes, including the new requirement for everyone over age 12 to pay $5 to see the artwork.

On Sunday afternoon, many artists were still working to complete their pieces. Several appeared to be taking long breaks from drawing to avoid the scorching temperatures radiating off the street’s new blacktop. See a video with highlights of the artists at work and the Soul Jah Family Band perform the song “96 Degrees in the Shade,” which was a fitting tune for the weekend heat.

The festival took place on Fifth Avenue between B Street and Court Street as well as A Street between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. The roads were closed on Wednesday and they will reopen on Monday, July 1, at 4 p.m.

 

Did you attend the festival? How was it? Tell us in the comments!