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“CRAB could not fail to support the Museu Casa do Pontal at this time. We share the same DNA in the works we exhibit to the public. Craftsmanship and Folk Art go hand in hand and are a reflection of our country's popular artistic production. It is very sad to have a space like the Museu do Pontal closed to the public. That is why we have formed a solidarity partnership,” explained the new manager of the Sebrae Reference Center, Rony Oliveira.
The Museu Casa do Pontal collection holds the largest assembly of works by Brazilian artisans: more than 500 pieces representing the culture of 11 states and the Federal District. They were gathered by French designer Jacques Van de Beuque over more than 40 years of traveling throughout Brazil. The pieces were housed in a large mansion in Recreio dos Bandeirantes until April 2019, when it was flooded. Almost all the pieces were saved, but the museum closed its doors to visitors.
It would be a shame to leave them locked away without visitors while funds to repair the Casa do Pontal are being raised and renovations are underway. For this reason, the Brazilian Craftsmanship Reference Center (CRAB Sebrae) has occupied 7 exhibition rooms for visitors to journey through Brazilian folk art. The installations speak to daily life, emotional relationships, work, trades, the traditions of Brazilian artisans, and national culture. There are works by masters such as Vitalino, Zé Caboclo, Manoel Eudócio, Antônio Luiz, and GTO (Geraldo Teles de Oliveira from Itapecerica/MG), along with a room entirely dedicated to Adalton Fernandes' Carnival, featuring hundreds of characters.
The exhibition, titled Brasilidade na Arte Popular will be on display until November 9, 2019, at the historic CRAB mansion in Praça Tiradentes, downtown Rio de Janeiro, and can be viewed for free from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.