Art lineup

The Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival again this year will feature an eclectic collection of murals, street art and interactive installations by artists from around the globe.

Among the artists scheduled to participate are: Marquis Lewis, aka RETNA, of the United States; André Saraiva, who also is known by his graffiti artist alter-ego “Mr. A,” of France; London’s Lakwena, known for her kaleidoscope-reminiscent designs; Lithuanian artist Egle Zvirblyte, who, the festival says, will create “an explosive wall on 7th Street with a vibrant take on female empowerment and vulnerability”; Spain’s Sebastian Velasco; Romanian contemporary artist Saddo; and AWARE, a United States-based street artist.

A number of interactive installations and exhibits also are scheduled, including the “Crime on Canvas” art exhibit, returning for its third year, which will display work by Mark Ryden, Brandon Boyd, Paul Frank, Norman Reedus and others.

Life is Beautiful runs Friday through Sunday. lifeisbeautiful.com dramatic techniques, around serious issues, as I do in my work. You never know how the future will work out, but I worked really hard to have visibility and have a word to say.

What, in your mind, is the role of art, and particularly of public art that will be seen by people who don’t necessarily seek it out?

Public art will get art out of museums and conventional institutions so everyone has access to art and to ideas that can change the world.

What will we see from you during Life Is Beautiful?

You’ll find a series of artworks manifesting against zoos and the disrespect for animals and nature in general. It’s meant to draw attention to all who say that pollution (and) global warming are lunatic ideas … For me, it’s lunacy to deny the facts.