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Bella Via (Continued from page 1) Programs Manager Carol
Maglione. "The Fund provides
Valencia's Town Center Drive into a money for many impact-
spectacular pavement canvas filled with producing visual performing
colorful works of art. arts programs and materials."
Michelangelo's Gallery, a special area Visitors had a chance to
set aside for children and other budding view the paintings by twilight
artists, became its own tapestry of color while enjoying delicacies from
as over 1,100 youngsters joined the area restaurants at "A Slice of
Madonnari in the art of street painting. Valencia ," the Saturday
Many of the images created by adult evening food and wine tasting.
artists and the children in Michelangelo's The activity raised an
Gallery reflected themes of American additional $4,000 for the SCV
patriotism and sentiments for those Food Pantry.
touched by the September 11 attack on the "Now in its third year, Bella
United States. Via has once again exceeded
our expectations and continues
$24,000 for Schools and to focus positive attention on
Local Charities the community of Valencia, and
Through the Bella Via Fund, established the Santa Clarita Valley, as a
by Newhall Land in 1999, the event raised great place to work, play, live
$20,000 for fine arts programs in Santa and visit," said Newhall Land's
Clarita Valley schools. All money from the Chief Executive Officer and
sale of squares in Michelangelo's Gallery and President Gary Cusumano. "A
a portion of festival sponsorships are visually spectacular celebration More than 1,100 miniature masterpieces were created by
earmarked for the fund, a partnership with of art, music and food, we are children, parents and other budding artists, forming a quilt-like
tapestry of color.
the SCV Chamber Education Foundation. delighted that in just three years
"Bella Via is a terrific way for the arts to Bella Via has come to be
support the arts," explained Festival regarded as one of the top festivals and artist Studio Del Arte in North Hollywood. Stum's
Co-Director and Newhall Land's Community attractions in the United States. Planning is most publicly accessible mural is an 18th
already underway for next year's Century styled trompe I' oeil at the Venetian
festival scheduled for October 5 and Hotel in Las Vegas. "I was inspired!" Stum
6, 2002." created a colorful reproduction of Raphael's
Madonna of the Roses for this year's event.
A Spectacular Collection "People chose incredible masterpieces
of Paintings to reproduce this year, and the quality of
Participating artists and return- the artwork was exceptional," affirmed
ing festival visitors agreed that the artist participant Lisa Jones of Masterworks
event offered one of the most in Corta Madera. She teaches children
impressive collection of paintings about the Old Masters through hands-on
showcased at a single festival. art projects.
"The quality of the artwork was Featured Artist Tomoteru "Torno" Saito,
of the highest caliber of any street considered one of the international masters
painting festival I've attended," said of street painting, created a 12 ft. x 15 ft.
This 12ft. by 8 ft. painting by Guest Artist Genna Panzarella artist participant Tracy Stum, a reproduction of Adolphe-William Boug-
from Mill Valley defined the mood of many across the country. professional muralist and owner of uereau's 1881 masterpiece Song of the
Angels. A native of Japan, Saito lives and
works in Florence, Italy.
Bella Via Fund - Supporting Art in Schools Leesa Whitten and Zofia Kostyrko
Edwards spent four days on their jewel-
More than $20,000, proceeds from last October's Bella Via, Valencia Italian Street
toned painting of The Danaides by
Painting Festival, has been earmarked for the SCV Chamber Education Foundation,
Waterhouse, and spectators were deeply
SCV Food Pantry and Boys and Girls Club.
touched by Melanie Stimmell' s serenely
The Bella Via Fund is administered by the Foundation, which is the major
beautiful reproduction of Charity by
beneficiary of the event. Since the inception of Bella Via in 1999, more than $42,000
Bouguereau, measuring 18 ft. x 11 ft.
has been made available for funding grants for the arts.
The Food Pantry is the beneficiary of proceeds from A Slice of Valencia Food & A Truly Unique Experience
Wine Tasting; they received close to $4,000 from the gourmet dining event held the
Only a dozen or so similarly oriented
first evening of Bella Via. The Boys and Girls Club shared proceeds from a drawing
events - accessible to the public, free of
held during the event with the Foundation.
charge - take place across the country. In
A majority of money for the fund comes from Michelangelo's Gallery, a special
California, only three, Valencia, Santa
area set-aside for children at the festival. There, budding artists join the Madonnari Barbara and San Rafael, draw audiences in
street painters by creating miniature masterpieces. All proceeds from the sale of
excess of 50,000.
squares in Michelangelo's Gallery, along with a portion of sponsorships are earmarked
To create this visually captivating
for the fund.
experience, Valencia divides Town Center
The View From Valencia - Page 2