Robledo de Chavela, Patones de Abajo, Belmonte del Tajo, Manzanares el Real, Buitrago del Lozoya, Villar del Olmo, Villaviciosa de Odón, Navalcarnero, Valdemorillo, Chinchón and Carabaña will be the stages for the new edition of 'Living Art in the Square', from July 17 to September 6.
The Community of Madrid is finalising preparations for a new edition of Living Art in the Square, a programme that will turn eleven municipalities into open-air galleries during the months of July and September. The initiative, coordinated by LaJuan Gallery, is part of the Summer Scenes festival, which this year brings together over 200 activities in 164 locations across the region.
Residents of Robledo de Chavela, Patones de Abajo, Belmonte del Tajo, Manzanares el Real, Buitrago del Lozoya, Villar del Olmo, Villaviciosa de Odón, Navalcarnero, Valdemorillo, Chinchón and Carabaña will be able to participate in proposals ranging from live painting to sound experimentation. The aim, according to the organisers, is to bring contemporary art closer to everyday life and foster encounters between artists and the public.
Five Artists, Five Contemporary Perspectives
Sardinian artist Mónica Mura will present Sonallada, a sound action that recovers the memory of transhumance through handcrafted cowbells. Attendees will be able to participate in a collective experience that combines sound, movement, and tradition.
Meanwhile, Sara Gema will bring Al pie de la letra to the squares, an intervention that reinterprets proverbs and popular expressions with humour and irony. The proposal invites reflection on everyday language while enjoying a street performance.
Transdisciplinary artist Mocholi will present Vestirse de sol, a participatory work inspired by activist Ocaña. Residents will be able to write wishes, memories, or longings on ribbons that will be incorporated into a large white tunic, creating a collective piece that will grow as the programme travels through the municipalities.
Embroidery and Visual Memory
Creator Yolanda Andrés will develop Bordar el cuidado, a collaborative action that uses embroidery as an intergenerational meeting point. Children, the elderly, and families will share conversation and creativity around a manual practice linked to community care. Yolanda Andrés has stated that the activity aims to “recover the value of shared time and the transmission of knowledge.”
Visual artist Julio Linares will close the proposals with Un pueblo imaginado, a live painting that recovers the figure of the itinerant portraitist. The portrayed residents will become symbolic and mythological characters, creating a visual memory of each locality that lies between reality and imagination. Julio Linares has explained that the work “arises from dialogue with the inhabitants and their surroundings.”
The programme will take place from July 17 to September 6 in the afternoons, adapted to the summer customs of each village. The main squares, parks, and public spaces will be the settings for these interventions, which aim to transform the daily lives of residents with accessible and participatory cultural offerings.
For the residents of these eleven municipalities, the initiative represents an opportunity to enjoy cutting-edge art without leaving their locality. In places like Patones de Abajo or Buitrago del Lozoya, where cultural offerings are usually more limited, these proposals acquire special value. The Community of Madrid hopes that the programme will also serve as a tourist attraction for visitors from other areas.
The Summer Scenes festival also includes theatre, music, and dance in 164 locations, but Living Art in the Square stands out for its participatory nature and commitment to contemporary creation. The organisers are confident that this year's edition will surpass the reception of previous ones, in which thousands of people were involved in the activities.
The specific dates and times for each intervention will be published soon on the Summer Scenes website. Interested residents can check the full programme and, in some cases, register to actively participate in the collective works. Without a doubt, a more creative summer with fewer excuses not to leave home.
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