Urban Art Fair Returns to Rio in Lapa on December 7th

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The second edition of FAU021, the Feira de Arte Urbana (Urban Art Fair) will take place today, Sunday, December 7th, in the outdoor area of Fundição Progresso located in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Lapa. The free event will run from from 11AM to 8PM beside and underneath the famous Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches).

This edition of the Urban Arts Fair is packed with the best of urban art and entertainment. It will include a market; an art gallery with over forty artists represented; live painting and graffiti demonstrations; a skating area with a ramp and instructors available for skating classes; panel discussions; a temporary cinema with film screenings; and live DJs sets, poets, musicians, dancers and various other performers.

During the day, two stages will host the fair’s live musical acts. On the Palco Mistura de Ritmos (Mixture of Urban Rhythms Stage), the Beach Combers will play at 4PM; Paraphernália with Gabriela Rilley and B Negão will take over the stage at 6:30 PM; and Afrojazz with special guest Start RFAP will perform at 8:45 PM.

On the Espaço Rua (Street Space) stage, Manouche Carioca and Gipsy Jazz will start off the day at 3:30PM and well known Rio DJ Sany Pitbull will spin, joined by passinho dancers, Na Batalha, beginning at 8PM.

More DJs will take over the Lounge Festas Urbanas (Urban Party Lounge) during the day, as the Festa Breakz crew will start things off beginning at 4:20 PM, followed by Digital Dubs DJs spinning at 5:30PM. DJs from the LUV crew will close out the night in the lounge beginning at 6:30 PM.

Additional notable performers during the day will include, Cia Base who will present the piece “Futebol Voador” (Flying Soccer/Football) at 11AM and again at 5:30 PM, and Aline Valentim’s dance presentation, “Roda de Contos” (Tales of Roda, a type of dance gathering) at 11:30 AM and again at 4PM.

The fair’s art gallery will open at 1PM and run through 8PM. There attendees will find featured works by some of the best Brazilian and International urban artists including, 8 Bitches, Acme, Airá, Bives, Bobi, BR, Bunys, Cazé, Coas, Coletivo Naviu, Combone, Davi Máfia 44, Denne, Duim, Dux, ECO, Fabio Ema, Gil Faria, Guilherme Telles, Heitor Correa, Hugo Inglez, Kaja Man, Lamarca, Mário Bands, Memi, Ment, Meton, MGA, Next Two, OPS, Pakato Máfia 44, Pedro Jardim, Polígono, Rafo, SPAM, SWK, Tainan, Tarm, and Wark. Additionally, from 1PM to 7PM, ten artists will do live graffiti demonstrations.

Within the fair’s cinema, graffiti will also be a featured topic as the 2013 documentary “Cidade Cinza” (Grey City) directed by Marcelo Mesquita and Guilherme Valiengo will screen at 2:30 PM and again at 6:30 PM. The film tells the story of the rise of São Paulo street artists including Os Gemeos, Nina and Nunca, and the artists’ battle with the city, which sent crews to paint over a known and beloved wall which served as home to many of the street artists’ murals. A discussion with the director will take place between the two screens at 4PM.

Additionally, there will be a screening of the 2010 documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” directed by famed British street artist, Banksy, at 5:20 PM. See the official website here, for more information and a complete schedule of events.

What: FAU021: Feira de Arte Urbana 2nd Edition
When:Sunday, December 7th, 11AM to 8PM
Where: Fundição Progresso
Entrance: FREE/One kilogram of nonperishable food