The XIV Jardim Botânico Art Circuit

By Vânia Maciel, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO – Next weekend in and around charming, leafy Jardim Botânico, more than ninety artists spread throughout over fifty studios will open their doors to the public, offering a vast choice of things to see and do including exhibitions, art workshops, talks, gigs, theater plays and shopping.  It all takes place as part of the “14 Circuito das Artes do Jardim Botânico” (Fourteenth Jardim Botânico Art Circuit).

The event was conceived in 1998 by the artists Cattia Capistrano and Gabriella Civitate, who brought together some of the area’s best artists for a group exhibition.  Initially intended as part of the Botanical Gardens’ 190th anniversary celebrations, with time it has grown in terms of both public and prestige to become an important addition to the city’s cultural calendar.

With around 9,000 art exhibits divided between drawing, painting, sculpture, etching, ceramics, photography, furniture design and other visual arts disciplines and crafts, the event is spread mostly along and around Pacheco Leão and Lopes Quintas streets.  On and off Rua Jardim Botânico itself are further studios and the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Laje where many of Brazil’s finest have studied or taught. (The distance to travel to them from the Pacheco Leão /Lopes Quintas axis makes it advisable to take some form of transport.)

Exhibited in Pacheco Leão’s many ceramics studios, pieces range from the functional and utilitarian to the lofty art piece, and some at reasonable prices.  Of note are studios one, two and three and the works of fine jewelry artist Claudia Malaguti, the sculptural canvasses of Claudia Dowek and the ceramics of Cris Cabus, who will also be holding classes for two on Raku firing for R$35. All are located at the top of Barão de Oliveira Castro Street, off Pacheco Leão, towards Horto. Further down the road are Dora Wainer & Daphne Kuschnir ceramics in studio eight and rattan furniture at Aulio Sayão Romita’s studio nine.

Chilling out or dinning al fresco in one of the many fine Pacheco Leão eateries whilst overlooking the botanical gardens should also be on the menu after some studio visits.  Running parallel to the main art event is the Circuito Gastronômico now in its fifth edition and taking place around the neighborhood in participating restaurants where chefs will be developing new dishes exclusively for the event.

Also taking place is the Circuitinho (little circuit), putting together different art activities including an ecological recycling art workshop plus dance, yoga, circus classes, story telling, cooking, doll workshop, music and more all geared up to children and teenagers.

The Art Circuit will take place on August 28th and 29th between 12PM and 8PM.  A local map and detailed information about the event can be found at: www.circuitodasartes.com.br.