The City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council (MVAAC) have announced the dates for the 20th annual Chalk the Walk, Iowa’s first and largest Madonnari Festival. The two-day festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day along Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street.

The committee has chosen Henri Matisse’s “Woman in a Purple Coat” as its large community piece this year. For a $10 donation to the festival, any interested festival participant will be given a set of chalk sticks to create a single 2’ by 2’ square of a portion of this giant 40’ x 80’ Matisse image. When finished, a re-creation of the artwork will appear on Mount Vernon’s historic 1st Street created by dozens of artists of all ages and abilities.

“Mount Vernon and the Chalk the Walk committee have been admiring and considering this painting as our main piece for several years now,” said Matt Siders, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Mount Vernon and Chair of the Chalk the Walk Committee. “The committee discussed the bright colors and multiple patterns of this important work of art and decided that this was the year to honor Henri Matisse.”

This year’s event also will feature the work of up to 166 artists creating original art in 8’ by 10’ rectangles chalked directly onto Mount Vernon’s historic First Street. Last year’s first place winners, Josh Wirtz and Leah Presnall, have been invited back to the event as the 2025 featured artists. Outdoor food vendors, children’s activities and live music also will take place throughout both days of the event.

More than $1,375 in cash prizes will be awarded to chalk artists this year, with a formal check presentation ceremony to take place Sunday afternoon, May 4.

Chalk the Walk is based on an original art form that began in Italy in the 16th century. Called Madonnari, this form of public art was originally done by street artists hoping to collect coins from passersby. Images back then were based on religious themes, and as the Madonna was a popular subject, the artists became known as the “Madonnari.”

Applications for artists, food vendors and volunteers are now available at visitmvl.com.