DECATUR - Street artist Lori Escalera doesn't mind that her artwork isn't permanent.

She travels the globe, creating masterpieces out of sidewalk chalk, only to see it washed away later.

But Escalera sees the impermanence of her artwork as representing the constant change of life.

"There's nothing permanent in life," she said. "Nothing's ever really constant. I find the experience of street painting changes me and you, just as if there were a material result.

"I like the freedom of starting from scratch at each new experience of the activity."

Escalera will demonstrate her craft at the 46th Annual Arts in Central Park event today and Sunday in downtown Decatur. The event will include entertainment by the Sidewalk Stompers and the Leo Pondel Trio.

The art fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

With the sidewalk as her canvas, Escalera of Vista, Calif., will re-create a well-known art piece using chalk pastels.

"My major focus of doing this is performing," she said. "I'm there to interact with the audience. It's about the experience."

Street painting dates back to the 1600s in Italy, where it is called "madonnari." Street painters were so named because most of the chalk art created at that time was in the likeness of the Madonna.

Escalera has traveled all over the nation, as well as Bermuda, Israel and China, to produce her one-of-a-kind artwork, sometimes with other street painters.

"Out here, most of the street painters do what they do for free. They don't get paid for it," she said of California. "I'm very fortunate to travel and get paid. It's a vacation for me."

Stella Carnahan, event organizer and administrative director of the Decatur Area Arts Council, recently saw Escalera at work in Glen Ellyn, a Chicago suburb. Carnahan said instead of chalking on the sidewalk, she was creating her artwork on boards.

"I thought it was excellent," Carnahan said of the art piece. "I think people are going to be very pleased when she comes to Decatur."

Other art demonstrations will be given by local raku artists Regina and Doug Rhodes and by local artist Patrick Edrington, who creates hand paintings.

The event continues to offer Art Shop for Kids, where children can buy specialty items on an allowance rate. Children also can take part in several art activites, such as sidewalk chalking and pottery.

Carnahan said more than 80 art vendors from eight states will be in Central Park, similar to last year's numbers, and the event intends to stay at this size.

"At bigger shows, you have more choices, but tons of jewelry vendors can be confusing," she said. "Most of the vendors enjoy our show because it is not huge, and they get more personal care. We don't want to get so big we lose that personal touch and move somewhere else. Central Park is beautiful."

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