Art Rua Returns to Rio de Janeiro September 10th-13th

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The urban festival and fair Art Rua returns for its fifth year on September 10th. Running concurrently with Art Rio through the 13th, the free to the public festival features the best of Rio’s street artists and the galleries who represent them as well as live music and cuisine. Additionally, the festival will welcome São Paulo galleries and street artists.

Following its success last year, the festival’s main center will again be the Centro Cultural Ação da Cidadania, located in the city’s Port Zone. Built by André Rebolledo in 1871 as the first warehouse in the Port Zone, the center is an approximately 14,000 m2 two-story space. It was Reformed in 2002 by architect Hélio Pellegrino, joining many other structures in that area of the city, that have undergone major renovations during the last two decades.

During the festival, the spacious center will house gallery displays, large panel exhibitions, solo project displays, installations, live music performances and DJ sets and culinary stands.

The large panels/murals on display this year will be created by the artists Onesto, Titi Freak, Alto Contraste, Tinho, Mag Magrela, Enivo, and Zeh Palito.

Artists presenting solo projects during the festival include Rodrigo Villas Boas, Felipe Guga, William Baglione, Mateu Velasco, Gustavo Amaral, Bruno Life, Jow Whitaker Pontes of NOO, Claudio Reston, Gio Simões Glasner, and Danielle Cukierman. Additionally, RERO, Fiotim, SNSTSIA, and Look Street will present installations and Cristiano Kana will present the exposition “Full House.”

The featured galleries from Rio de Janeiro include Cicero Papelaria, Taco Rock Walls, Galeria 95, Huma, Art Rua l Funky, Urban Arts, Vanguarda Vanguarda, O Formigueiro, 1500 Babilônia, and Galeria do Porto. Galleries from São Paulo will include Casa 7, King Cap, Ponder70, A7MA, and Verve. Additionally the festival will welcome the Belo Horizonte gallery, Quarto Amado and the Pernambuco gallery, Nuvem.

The gastronomy section of the festival, curated by Pedro Benoliel, will include Brasa BBQ with the curator and chef Pedro Benoliel; Refeitório with chef Aylton Mineiro; La Choriceria with chef Gonzalo Vidal; Che Boludo with chef Santiago Bebiano; Bar do Toninho with Chef Antonio Laffargue; Botero em pé -with chef Bruno Magalhães; Ribz with chef Bruno Vaz; Jeffrey; and Vegtal.

Each night of the festival, the center will fill with music beginning at 6:30 PM, with the exception of opening night on the 10th when Pierre Gambiani will perform live and DJ João Fernando will spin beginning at 9PM.

On Friday, September 11th, the group, Panamerica, will perform at 6:30 PM, followed by Bambina Pylosophy at 8:30 PM. The band Cash Crash will start the night on Saturday, September 12th at 6:30 PM, with Water and Man following at 8:30 PM. Nitú will perform at 6:30 PM on Sunday, September 13th and the group Quinteto Nuclear will close out the festival with their performance beginning at 8:30 PM.

There will also an official after hours party entitled, LED, on Friday, September 11th. The Twelves will perform live and DJs Bernardo Campos, Mustache, Kinkid and Nepal will spin. Entry fee will be R$50 – R$120.

Additionally during the festival, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday tours of the city and its urban art will be offered by Find Your Rio, from 3PM to 6PM (two-hour tours), and from Rio Street Art Tour from at 4PM (one hour tour).

See the official Art Rua 2015 Facebook page for a complete program of events and for more information about the participating artists, galleries, musicians, and food vendors.

What: Art Rua
When: September 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. The opening ceremony on September 10th will be held from 6PM to 12AM. On the 11th, 12th, and 13th, the festvial will be open from 2PM to 10PM.
Where: Centro Cultural Ação da Cidadania, Av. Barão de Tefé, 75, Saúde
Entrance: FREE