2016 Arts Alive Festival 'featured' artist will inspire, amaze Mission Viejo

Some people are born with raw talent. Maaria Kader is one such individual. For nearly two decades, Maaria has nurtured her flair as a street painter to create the most awe-inspiring works of art. In fact, you've probably seen her work transform the blacktop outside the community center into larger-than-life characters during the City’s annual Arts Alive.

Maaria will return to the Arts Alive and Street Painting Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 at the Oso Viejo Community Park on the Village Green and neighboring Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

Serving as the festival's "featured" artist, Maaria will join many other street painters at the popular event, which this year celebrates the arts and culture of the 1990s.

Just gazing at Maaria's work makes you think she must have spent years studying her craft. But that's not so. Born in East London, Maaria is a self-taught artist who dabbled in several mediums before finding her true niche in street painting.

“I love the challenge of bringing the pavement to life with color,” she said.

In addition to Maaria's mesmerizing work, festival-goers will enjoy arts and crafts, musical and dance performances as well as tasty fare, a beer and wine garden and first-time regional student art show.

For more information about this year's Arts Alive and Street Painting Festival, visit http://cityofmissionviejo.org/DiscoverMV/ArtsAliveFestival.