Manea von Griffyn (2007 square sponsored by Xcel Energy Foundation)
I have a great story to tell…

Prior to 2006 La Piazza del Arte I had never done Sidewalk Chalk art before. I was walking one summer, two years ago, to campus for summer school at Metro, and saw a sidewalk chalk artist doing a piece for the WB tv station. I talked to the artist and to Michael. He said that if I was interested in giving it a try I could show up on Saturday and fill in for those who didn’t show up.

My first piece, I had never even done it before, I had no picture to go from, but my imagination. It was like a drug.. I finished my first piece in a couple of hours.

I was excited, moved, thrilled beyond words… there was another empty space and I asked if I could do it also… This one I took my time, but I also worked from the image in my mind.

I was addicted, I found a way to marry the two things I loved, my art and being around people… Before I was defeated because I was allergic to so many of the stuff in art school, but this… THIS… I can do, and I love it with all my soul.

Over the next year I went after every chance I could get to do chalk art, I ended up buying chalk on sale, cases, gloves, tape… and I found out how I could make a difference with my art, and school…

Beneath this image I wrote “Love makes a family.” In the night someone came in with black spray paint and crossed over their faces, and the words scrawled over them, “This sort of love sends u to hell.” It was on the front page of the school paper… I did more, I did stuff even when it was cold and the days were shorter… cold didn’t matter… the fire in my heart to chalk was ignited…

So then, last summer, I was a regular chalk artist, not just a fill in. At my first official event and one year from the first time I had ever set my hands to pavement, I won for the best use of color in show. I was once again obsessed… it took me 25 hours in 2 days and I completed it just minutes before the award…

Since then I chalked with Michael Whelan, and did a rendition of one of his pieces (He painted Stephen King’s Darktower Series)… and was filmed and had the moment captured, greater than the most amazing series of coincidences you can imagine.

Needless to say, that fateful day, when Michael invited me to fill in, I believe was inspired, and even fated. This path has been one of the most fulfilling activities of my life, and I will take it with me when I move to California next year 2009… I would like to make La Piazza del Arte my event to come to every summer even after I have gone. I think of this crowd of artists as my family… thanks for nurturing me, and giving me a chance, sight unseen.

Why I do it 
by Manea

Passion, sweat, and pavement so hot,
My fingers blister against the bright colors
Concrete baked by the sun above, and reflecting
Back on me,
Pummeling my skin from above and below…
There is no gun against my head and still
I go on slaving in the street for you
And you, and the next and so on
Your smile, enjoyment, appreciation
Makes all the pain worth it…
As I tape my finder tips
To keep 110 concrete from
Making my fingers anymore
Well done than they are…

Why do we not realize that the colors
In our lives are so muted
And bleak, just because it's trendy
Until our senses are assaulted
By art, or chalk scattered on the ground
Offending our vision with such brightness
We are unaware why we are crying from it's beauty

As children, the experts say
We need color, to stimulate
Our brains and our development…
Why is it we stop?
Why is it that science and math
Become more than art and music?
Or poetry?
So I write
So I slave beneath the sun to spread
Bright chalks on the ground
For but a moment to take the
Light of the sun and reflect
The rich colors of the artist
Palate,
To touch the place where
Our humanity resides
Beyond our rationality
In our emotions.
For like poetry
Art is meant to make us FEEL
And whether we know it or not,
This will save us all…
Because too many
 have gone numb in this world.

So I slave beneath the sun,
To chalk in colors,
To touch your soul
To make you feel…
Something,
Anything,
Because it's better
Than to walk through Life
Numb and wonder what's missing
And what went wrong…
We never know we are missing
Color until it strikes us…
Lighting up our brains
Like when we were children
Momentarily,
We are reborn.

This is why I am crouched
On the pavement
Blistering fingers
Smudged face
Sweat dripping
Like a slave,
For you
For me
For the moment…
Before the colors
Are washed away
And are nothing more
Than a memory.