By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Integrated Circuit of Art Galleries (CIGA) begins in Rio today, Friday May 16th and will run through Sunday, May 18th. The event will feature over forty galleries spread across seven neighborhoods opening their doors to host special events including art openings, exhibitions, workshop visits, special performances and discussions with curators and artists.
Presented by ArtRio, this will be the inaugural edition of the three-day event that, according to its creators, aims to increase public interest in the visual arts.
Holding its third edition last year, the ArtRio International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, has seen a steady increase in interest among art connoisseurs, as Brazilian contemporary art grows more popular.
During ArtRio’s first edition in 2011, the fair hosted works from 83 galleries and saw over 46,000 attendees. It grossed an estimated R$120 million for the creators, artists and galleries involved in the event.
During the three days of the CIGA event, many artworks will again be on sale and vary in price, so new collectors have a chance to enter the growing art market.
Highlights for today include the opening ceremony for the exhibition “Reflexão” at Galeria Movimento Arte Contemporânea in Copacabana. Featuring works by São Paulo graffiti pioneer Walter Tada Nomura, better known as “Tinho.” The gallery will hold the exhibition’s opening from 7PM until 10PM.
On Saturday, events include a guided tour by artist Gabriel Secchin of his solo exhibition entitled “O Testemunho” in the Jaime Portas Vilaseca Galeria in Leblon and a guided tour by Rodrigo Martins of his exhibition at the Galeria Laura Marsiaj in Ipanema.
Finally Sunday will be more about art appreciation as events include; a stop at Casa França-Brasil for “Paintant Stories,” the solo exhibition of Argentinian artist Fabian Marcaccio and viewing of the exhibtions currently on display at Botafogo’s Casa Daros and Centro’s Museu de Arte do Rio.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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