Arriving in Vitória, Espírito Santo

It was hard to know what to expect. I had never been to Brasil let alone South America. I was leaving the end of winter and arriving at the end of summer. As far as air travel goes, the flights (three of them) were all on time and remarkably stress free. So, in the blink of an eye, after falling asleep watching The Martian somewhere over the Amazon rainforest, I arrived in São Paulo, the biggest city in the Southern Hemisphere. I would be back later in the month to do a mural with Parede Viva, but then it was just a connection on my way to Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo. 

Upon my arrival in Vitória, I was met by Carla and Beata from the U. S. Consulate,  who are helping to coordinate my visit. We headed to our, not at all uncomfortable, hotel along the beach. After figuring out my key card, I went straight to the window to see this – 

 

I was in Brasil, exhausted and thrilled.  And then as I scanned the picturesque scene below, I started to notice all of the yellow and green shirts and flags moving towards the bridge that connects Vitória to it’s older twin city, Vila Vehla. There were streams of them, young and old, on bikes, in cars, walking all in the direction of the bridge. It was a protest, a massive protest in Vitória and  across the country by millions of others. It’s focus was the current president Dilma and the former one Lula and to what extent they were involved in corruption. Judging by the crowds, the answer was a clear yes, and they wanted change, now.

Looking back at the long swooping bridge high above the water (far right in the photo above), I could see that it had turned completely yellow and green with protesters, like a field of dandelions moving ever so slightly to the south. Traffic was blocked. The protesters had shut it down, just like recent Black Lives Matter actions back home. I couldn’t help it, I had to go out and see for myself. Outside in the thick humid air with horns blaring, I walked down the middle of the four-lane street with everyone else. There was a positive almost jovial spirit, many people wearing Brazilian soccer jerseys or capes made from the Brazilian flag. A few had on t-shirts that demanded the impeachment of the president. Dusk fell and the crowds reversed their course, heading home as if they had been at a holiday parade.

Those were my first few hours in Brasil.

The bridge I can see from my window  - A Gazeta newspaper

A deep disorienting sleep of the traveler. Breakfast buffet – so many delicious fruits! I met with Carla and Beata to talk about the role and interests of the U. S. Consulate in the project. And then finally I saw Karen, my artist counterpart, and Roger our translator. We had met (sort of) on Skype so it was a relief to see each other for real. I liked them immediately.  We walked over to Escola Municipal Maria Leonor Pereira da Silva ten minutes away through a streetscape not unlike downtown Kansas City. Here’s the front of the school – our ‘before the mural’ shot.   

 

(next up…the Vitória mural design)

Brazil bound!

Next week I’m leaving for a month-long trip to Brazil where I’ll be leading mural projects in Vitória, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. My visit is part of a program sponsored by the U. S. State Department, and coordinated by the Meridian International Center for Diplomacy. It is an incredible opportunity. I am excited, to say the least, and honored to have been selected. Three other artists will be doing murals in other countries - Michelle Angela Ortiz in Cuba, Joel Bergner in India and Laurel True in Turkey. You can read Meridian’s post about our projects here.

I’ve been preparing for months, trying to learn a little Portuguese, reading about the political, social and cultural life of Brazil and doing advanced planning with the three community-based groups who will be my partners.

In Vitória I’ll be working closely with the artist Karen Valentim and students at a local secondary school. In Rio, which will be a quick 3-day project, I’m going to collaborate with art students from Oi Kabum! And in São Paulo, the arts-based organization Parede Viva will be my host and partner. I will be blogging regularly about my experience and the progress of the murals. You can follow me here and on Instagram @ daveloewenstein

deseje-me sorte!
Dave

"Called to Walls" Premiere in Lawrence, KS!

 

“Out of view of the high art world and the hip gallery scene comes this heartening story of unlikely partners in middle American working together to reexamine their histories, celebrate what makes their towns unique, and imagine their futures in the form of monumental community murals led by Lawrence artist Dave Loewenstein. Called to Walls is a thoughtful and uplifting film that not only leaves viewers reassessing their notions of art, but also with an itch to go out and do it themselves!”

Go to the "Called to Walls" website for more information

Save Our State

"Save Our State"

Grandpa's second act as a sculptor

My grandfather on my mom's side spent most of his working life employed with the family's file and index company in Kankakee, Illinois. Although it wasn't where his true passion lay (he preferred building stuff), he did his best. In 1954, when grandpa Gil was forty-six, he had a heart attack. A few years later he had a second one, which inspired him to take early retirement. With his kids, including my mom, in college and just enough savings, grandpa Gil resolved to pursue his true passion - sculpture.

For the next fifteen years he studied and created, producing a remarkable body of work in a wide range of materials. He also kept a scrapbook that documented his new vocation, including photos, articles, show announcements and other ephemera. Recently this scrapbook was handed down to me from my mom. This winter, I put together a little book based on it to share with family and friends.

You can check it out for yourself here (click on the image).

Grandpa Gil died when I was just four, but I have always felt a strong connection to him -  especially as an artist. I remember the two of us sitting outside of his and my grandma's Carmel, California apartment picking up and examining stones in their driveway. With great care and seriousness we shared our observations and curiosities. It is one of my first memories.

Studio Open House!

Saturday, December 19th 
411 East 9th Street
Noon - 6pm

Check out the latest cool stuff from me and my friends Amber Hansen, Nicholas Ward and Jill Ensley +  a sneak preview of the soon to be released documentary "Called to Walls." There will be treats...

SOS - Save Our State

Interview on Kansas City public radio

I was a guest on KCUR's program Central Standard along with Hector Casanova and Amber Hansen to discuss murals and the upcoming documentary "Called to Walls." You can listen to the interview here.