Matawan Artist Paints the World

Your neighborhood artist and art teacher Maria Milazzo proves to be a life-long learner, and always restless for new projects. Recently, Maria started her own Paint it Forward: Interactive Artist Adventure Project in which she collects random land and cityscapes from around the world using Google Maps Street View and paints them. She selects her subjects alphabetically and mails the final masterpiece off to the address that she painted. In turn, the recipients are asked to post a picture of themselves on her Facebook with her painting in front of the scene depicted page in gratitude. In doing so, Maria is promoting global unity through art and technology.

Maria adds, "After 5 years of researching different cultures around the world the project turned into much more than anticipated. Through these connections I learned that people really do want to trust others, and to be trusted back. They want to lend a hand when in need. I have learned that through our differences we all have a kindness spot deep down waiting for a reason to come out or on our sleeve ready to use at any time. As the project is moving on through A to Z, Q is now in research mode. Trying to find just the right landscape, the right person or small business, finding a story and looking for a charity that follows along at the end. Some connections I have made, I found myself in the midst of personal lives. Talking to people who are willing to share what is currently going on in their world. As I prepare to send my painting around the world, I know there is a chance it is going off to a place where their lives are in a crisis. Damaging earthquakes and mudslides. Long term droughts. People sick or even dying from malnutrition, dehydration, loneliness. The chances of it all coming to a close of the photo confirmation is slim. Parts of the world are in the midst of war and entire villages flat to the ground yet sometimes it is as quiet as our own small town. After making a connection with an actual person who is happy to be a representative of their country for my project and they have an address (sometimes there is not an address) for the painting to be sent off, after dropping it off at the Matawan Post Office, walking back home, there are many thoughts that follow. Will it make it there or get lost in transit, and will it make a positive impact? Will I be able to sell prints of the image to help them? Can it ever be enough? Sometimes I question why do I even do this? It does become overwhelming a lot of the times and the it is absolutely outrageously exciting most of the time. I resign with the thought that I cannot save the world nor do I attempt to. But this one person who the painting is going to is receiving not just a painting, they are being presented a gift of hope and joy mixed in with colors and brushstrokes. They are receiving a visual prayer, and a connection of a person from around the world, thinking about their well being and sending love hope and appreciation. They are becoming my focus and the reason why I say goodnight to the moon each night. I have celebrated their place on this earth and their history and culture for the time it took to to complete it and continues to stay with me even when I search for the next destination. I immersed myself into their life as much as possible, I learn and I teach. I listen and I am heard. I make some recipes pertaining to their culture and get a bottle or two of what they might brew in that part of the world. I play their music day and night, and listen to documentaries before bedtime. All of this makes me grow inside and allows all the more of the connection to the painting as it heads off with a daily journal on the back as the painting is being created and a personal prose of peace and joy to go with it. Today my life is full. It is more tolerant to differences. It is much more appreciative of what we do have. The simple fact that I get to turn the faucet to get warm and cold safe to drink and bathe in water. I am able to walk through my front door. I have the ability to go to bed at night and able to say I love you to my friends and family."

"Yes Matawan is my home town but the world is now my neighbors and I embrace who I have connected with as my sisters and brothers."

Maria has been sharing her love and passion for art in the Matawan area for over 25 years. Her quintessential art studio, known as Young at Art Studio, is nestled in the center of town. Maria started her business on the front lawn of her new home in the summer of 1990. What started out as neighborhood children gathering around her as she painted in the open air turned into a journey that would define her. Daily children began to flock to her inquiring how they could learn to do the same. Shortly thereafter, Young at Art was born and in a few short years, the high demand for her art classes outgrew the her home and she located her business in downtown Matawan. With her business blooming, Maria pursued her degree in Art and Education at Kean University while continuing to teach at Young at Art. In 2007 she graduated from Kean and became an Elementary School Art Teacher in Central NJ where she continues to work today. With an official career as an art teacher, Maria still could not give up her neighborhood studio. Her next step was renovating a century year old Victorian which had the option of serving both as a residential and a professional space. Today, Maria instructs the school District created curriculum of art to students in first through fifth grades throughout the school year and continues to run Young at Art year-round. Teaching several classes throughout the week broken up by age, at Young at Art students work with everything including collage, pastels, water colors, acrylics, and oils. Twenty-five years after she started coloring on her front lawn, Young at Art continues to teach artists of all ages the techniques of art and the passion that fuels the creativity behind it.

Painting in Peace, Maria Milazzo, Matawan Artist