Art on the Streets of Brazil

"Street Art with Street Kids"

2011-12-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

Mariane lives in an abandoned building- turned squatter's housing where many families live in extreme squaller.

Ignored by society and considered nothing more than thieves and drug addicts, street children and teens are a common sight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through street poetry and painting, the "Street Art With Street Kids" project aims to give these youth the opportunity to express their thoughts, dreams, and their humanity to their fellow citizens, defying the stereotypes against them. This year I organized a series of 8 workshops with street youth as well as teens from nearby favelas (slums) in Rio's northern zone, where the project took place. They wrote poetry relating to their lives, expressed themselves through drawing and painting, and had discussions about a variety of social topics, culminating in the creation of 3 works of public art. I partnered with 2 poets and the youth NGO São Martinho. The project was filmed by British documentary film maker Tristan Daws, who will create a short documentary focused on the project and the kids' lives. This was a pilot project, intended to lead to a much larger project in size and scope in 2012 and beyond, including a full length documentary that will explore the world of street children in Rio and accompany my journey with them as we learn together and create art on the streets with the help of guest poets, artists, musicians, and filmmakers.

The youth painted their poetry and artistic expressions, which I incorporated into portraits of 2 of the participants.

One of the kids painted himself on the left: notice that he made himself a king with a crown on his head. Another painted his mother, which can be seen in the cheek of the portrait.

me with the one of the finished pieces, which includes this poem/ rap by one of the teens:

"Listen here, I will speak if you want to see me, the goal is to speak on the subject of freedom.
You become free with your money in your hand without becoming involved in trafficking, drugs or conspiracy.
My mother always taught that I must have the strength of will if I want my freedom.
Drug dealing kills, listen as I speak, my example is my father, who my grandma didn't want to listen to.
Although my grandma spoke, her son left this world two days later,
She struggled."

--Richardson Dyonisis dos Santos, age 14

teenage participants who live on the streets of Rio, facing many challenges.

After developing their ideas in the classroom, the youth got to work on the wall, writing their poems and expressing themselves with drawings and abstract painting.


The artistic expressions filled the entire background of the piece, in a approach that I call "Expressive Group Painting."

me with the kids and staff from São Martinho

City of God (Cidade de Deus) Mural Project

2011-12-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

The City of God-- Cidade de Deus-- a poor community on Rio de Janeiro's west side that was made famous around the world for crime, extreme violence and poverty by the 2002 hit film by the same name. Having spent a great deal of time living and working in this community over the last 3 years, I have experienced much more of the positive side than the negative: the warmth of the people, the vibrant culture and the dedication of local institutions in the face of decades of neglect by the State. I partnered with a local Anglican church and four community organizations (ASVI, CEACC, Casa da Santa Ana and Alfazendo) in order to create four murals that combine familiar biblical stories with imagery of local people, history and social issues. The project began in 2010 and continued with a second phase in 2011, and included weeks of workshops in which local children, teens, adults and elders came together to learn and share their experiences with each other. The workshops focused on public art, local history and the relevant biblical texts, all of which went into the designs for the murals. Special thanks to Father Nicholas and all the participants of the project, it's been a great experience working with you all!!

This vision of the community, inspired by the biblical vision, portrays a future where the river is no longer polluted, and people are able to live happy, healthy lives.

This tryptic features a combination of the City of God community and imagery from the biblical City of God, known as the New Jerusalem, a utopian vision of the future in both the New and Old Testaments. The concept of this mural is to use the name of the neighborhood as inspiration for a future free from the social problems and inequalities of today.

Detail, portraying the suffering and pain that is to be left behind.


detail

detail: the background incorporates the abstract expressions of the participants as well as stencil art reflecting ancient cultures from around the world, from the Egyptians to the Aztecs to the Greeks.

The mural was preceded by two weeks of workshops with local youth, adults and the elderly. Together, we learned about art, community history, and how the biblical City of God can inspire our modern-day social issues.

Two of the most enthusiastic artists: Karen and Carlos

Time line: The Story of the City of God

To see the whole 10- piece time line, click here

In 1964, the government hired architect to design a new community for workers who would build the new Barra da Tijuca beach neighborhood, as well as people from various favelas (shanty towns) around Rio de Janiero.

Though the government had created the neighborhood, they quickly abandoned it. With the absence of the State, the neighborhood had a great deal of poverty, violence, and lack of services. Beginning in the '80's, drug dealers effectively controlled the community, and shootouts with police and rival factions were common.

The Garden of Eden: Brazil style! painted during the 2010 project

detail from the Garden of Eden mural

Participants from the 2010 project, featuring 35 local teens from the NGO ASVI.

A Brazilian family meal, reminiscent of the Last Supper, painted during the 2010 project

The Exodus, the favela... detail from the Last Supper mural

Brazil: Community Art 2005- 2011

2011-12-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

"Felipe's Story" painted on the outside wall of the arts center BloomBars in DC. It is a portrait of a boy who lives in the City of God; he is a member of the family I always stay with.

Since 2005 I have been going to Brazil to create public art, work with youth, teach Art and English, study Brazilian Portuguese, soak up the culture and spend time with amazing people. My time has been divided between 2 cities: Salvador da Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. When in Salvador, I always stay with a family and spiritual community of Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian religion. This experience has been a big influence on my imagery and artistic style. When in Rio, I stay with a family in the City of God (Cidade de Deus), a poor community known as a favela, which was made famous by the 2002 film of the same name. I worked in the community as a teacher and led community art projects in 2009, 2010, and will be back this year as well. For these projects I have worked in collaboration with the non-profit organization CUFA (Central Unica Das Favelas), a local Anglican church congregation, and the youth organization ASVI. I also visited Brasilia and its poor suburbs last year as a visiting artist. For this trip, organized by the organization Partners of the Americas, I made presentations to schools and community centers, led mural projects and workshops with local youth, had an exhibition of my work, and collaborated with local graffiti artists. I have also painted several Brazilian-themed murals in the US.

Joel Bergner: 2010 Visiting Artist in Brasilia, DF

In 2010 I was invited to the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, by the organization Partners of the Americas. I held an exhibition of photography of my murals, made presentations of my work at schools and community centers, led mural projects with local youth and collaborated with local graffiti artists. All the details are on the project blog: http://brasiliavisitingartist.blogspot.com/

"A Sereia" painted in Celândia, DF

"Sob o Sol dos Orixás:" The Afro-Brazilian Series

"Oxum," painted in Salvador, Bahia at the Terreiro de Caboclo Sultão das Matas

In 2005 I went to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil for the first of many times. I taught English and art workshops, studied Portuguese, painted, and met many amazing friends who opened me up to a new world. This region is known for its strong Afro-Brazilian culture, and during my time there I lived and taught classes in a community of Candomblé, a religion based on the spirituality of the Yoruba people of West Africa that survived the slave trade and has thrived in modern-day Brazil. I made close, lasting friendships and was inspired by the beautiful ceremonies and ancient rituals, which are practiced by people who are perfectly comfortable with the modern world of internet and cell phones. While there, I painted a series of 5 deities, called orixás, for the community.

After returning to the US, I painted a large mural celebrating Bahian culture and spirituality in San Francisco, “Sob o Sol dos Orixás (Under the Sun of the Orishas)” located on 24th Street and Capp. I also painted a Bahian piece for the Brazilian restaurant Brazil Café in Berkeley, called “Um Olhar nas Ruas da Bahia (A Glance on the Streets of Bahia).”

details:

"Sob o Sol dos Orixás" located in San Francisco (Mission District)

This is the neighborhood where I stayed in Salvador.

Yemanjá, orixá of the sea

detail highlighting the use of real shells in the artwork.

Xangó, orixá of storms, thunder and lightning, and justice.

detail

"Um Olhar nas Ruas da Bahia" located in Berkeley, CA in Brazil Café

"Oxossi" Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Terreiro Caboclo Sultão das Matas

"Iansã" Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Terreiro Caboclo Sultão das Matas

"Caboclo" Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Terreiro Caboclo Sultão das Matas

"3 Gerações" (3 Generations), painted in 2009 the City of God, shows three generations of men, all looking toward the next for guidance, love, and support.