#7

ArtRua: um tapa at Gamboa

After four days, the successful exhibit ArtRua comes to an end, but it's not really over, even for those who didn't attend. The example remains and the works now "hanged" on the walls, give color to the deserted port area.

Parallel to the International Fair of Contemporary Art in Rio de Janeiro (ArtRio), which happened from the 7th to the 11/09, the exhibit "street art" ArtRua shacked the port area with a installation in a old warehouse in Gamboa (Rua Pedro Ernesto, 29). In four days of event, the exhibit revealed to be a success, countless number of visitors and it even left a precious legacy to the local dwellers. In other words, ArtRua is over, but the good example, memories and the innumerable works (graffiti) spread around the evolving area, color the forsaken and neglecting port area (now "with a new face").

The idea ArtRua came from the Institute R.U.A, with the support of the Rio de Janeiro´s Cultural Secretary. The institute was founded last year, by André Bretas, Pedro Villela e Wagner Nascimento, in order to promote a urban  revitalization through its own art, the example at the Wall of Bambas of Lapa; project a View over the Stones (a graffiti with portuguese pavement); Project Romero Brito and Santa Crew; Painting of the Sapucai cabin, project Graffiti Fence; Project of the Pole light at Arpoador and decorative paintings at the Conservation Secretary. 

The installation at Warehouse Gamboa was just an example of how graffiti occupies such an important role on society. Now it's not only, praised on the streets, but in fact it's being valued in art galleries and auctions. However the street art role goes beyond this exhibit. "Much more then a art exhibit, ArtRua wants to become a nucleus of cultural incentive to artistic exchange and after that work is done, we will leave this city even more wondrous.” explains André Bretas, one of the founders of the Institute Rua ,  from Human Gallery and who has done more than 10 years research in urban art trends. 

Gathering some of the most famous artists of the scene Rio-São Paulo and, also worldwide, ArtRua took not only the concept of street art but also the feeling of inclusion to a extremely needy area. At the event, besides the most modern techniques of graffiti, stencil, poster art, sticker art, the visitors could still see specific installations, projections, circus performances, DJ’s, VJ’s and some bands, all united around the new meaning of the concept street art brought (in all aspects) ). It even included a van service, that linked the two events (ArtRio and ArtRua).

Contrasting with a horror movie set, the sort of ghost city image of the port region, the colored works  of the famous graffiti artists marked the well chosen spot for the event. Now, if you walk in the streets of    Gamboa (which is not that easy, let's say), you will able to see graffittis from the artists (Choque Cultural (SP), Babel, Galeria Movimento, HUMA, Instituto R.U.A): Akuma, Acme, Eco, Ment, SWK, Combone, Jou, Leo Uzai, Marinho, Tinho, TM1, Mateus Velasco, Zezão, Rafo Castro, Coletivo Gráfico, Big, Mack, Chivitz, Minhau, Muda, Piá, Gais, who recently had a work sold at the famous Philips de Pury auction in London.

The brand has been registered..... with a lot of dedication and work, the success came. The exhibit looked amazing and everything went very well. This gives us a reason to think and even pop a question: why not give a purpose to this warehouse? Or when will we have cultural warehouses spread around different regions in Rio de Janeiro? Maybe the solution is a UPP? ("Uh People's Power")

For those who want to see exclusive pictures of the event, the advice is to take a sneak peak at the photographer Henrique Madeira  blog!!!

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