Art Festival In Iowa

People from throughout the Midwest come to Fairfield, IA to enjoy the works of art including Madonnari, figure drawings, marble sculpting and en plein aire artists scattered around the Central Park.

Madonnari was the name given to street painters in 16th- and 17th-century Italy, itinerant artists who traveled from town to town and city to city rendering images of the Madonna on sidewalks and in public squares.

Three models pose for artists sketching figure drawings or 'Figura Umana' outside Morning Star Studio.

Nedo Consoli, Master Madonnaro and the head of Italy's Madonnari Associazione D'Italia. He visited Fairfield in 2010 and discussed the history of the 500 year-old tradition of Madonnari with local artists at the ICON Gallery.