In Rome Street Art Takes Centre Stage in Summer Festival

Through the 10th of August, Rome invites the best street artists, writers, and wall painters from around Italy to create their work live in Piazzale del Verano.

The first four artists--known by their street names Aloha Oe, GioPistone, Gojo, and Hopnn--working in Piazzale del Verano all come from Rome in a nod at the city hosting the festival. After painting original new works on panels in Piazzale del Verano, the panels will be transferred to Via Tiburtina for display.

As part of the San Lorenzo Estate 2012, the second annual summer fesitval for music, art, and culture, "Urban Contest" aims not only to bring street art to the attention of the public, but also to allow the artists to interact with the public and each other while they are working. The festival Rocco Schiavone, the spokesperson for cultural organisation arranging the event, 21 Grammi, calls it "a cultural melting pot."

Street art in Rome may have once been called vandalism, but now artists exhibit their work in private galleries and public spaces, often with corporate or government sponsorship. Each artist has their own specialisation; some create psychedelic creatures, while others use baroque elements or incorporate painted and transformed bicycles.

The festival culminates on the Night of San Lorenzo on the 10th of August, the height of the annual Perseid meteor showers, which are thought to be the tears of St. Lawrence, who was martyred on the 10th of August in 258.

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