• Therese von Behr – 90th Birthday

    Jul 4, 20 • Marion • Cultural lifeComments Off on Therese von Behr – 90th BirthdayRead More »

    Therese von Behr (* 4.7.1930 Vilna, Lithuania), artist and famous citizen of Brasília, is well-known and appreciated for her wonderful water-colors of Brazilian flora and birds, and passioned by the biom Cerrado. Certainly by heritance and inspired by her mother Anna de Römer (1895 – 1974), a famous Polish painter and portraitist, Therese used and developed her talent during all of her life presenting us with an inumerous number of art works published in the two books „Flora do Planalto Central do Brasil“ and “Aves e Árvores do Brasil Central“ (unfortunately both editions are outsold and not yet reprinted).       Even in her nineties, Therese still gives private painting lessons and continues painting herself. Her booklet „A menina de Janopol“ (2018) describes her childhood in Lithuania by giving inside views of family traditions, daily life, observations of nature and personal memories in the course of the four seasons througout the year. It also is a testimonial of her moving childhood, her family’s emigration (caused by World War II) as refugees, from Lithuania via Riga, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Brussels finally to Germany.   Therese von Behr immigrated to Brazil in 1955 while getting married to Anatol Baron von Behr (1926 – 2016) native from Esthonia. They first settled down in Mato Grosso where her husband administrated fazendas. Two of her three sons, Henrique and Nicolas, were born there, Miguel

  • Burle Marx – Brazil’s most famous landscaper

    Apr 26, 20 • Marion • Architecture, TopicsComments Off on Burle Marx – Brazil’s most famous landscaperRead More »

    Burle Marx (1909 – 1994) was a famous landscaper and is well-known as for the green public areas and private gardens that he had designed in Brazil’s new capital during and after the construction period. Among others, may be mentioned the Praca dos Cristais (SMU), the gardens of the model quadra 308 SUL, the covered garden of the Palácio de Itamaraty (roof terrace), the Eixo Monumental, the Palácio de Justica, Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro (internal and external gardens) and other front-building green areas of  public buildings, but also f.e. the garden of the German Embassy.                                         Palácio do Itamaraty / roof terrace              Quadra modelo 108/308 SUL At the age of 19, during a stay in Germany for illness-recover-purposes, Burle Marx got in touch with the art works of Picasso, Matisse, Klee and van Gogh, which inspired him to study art. Consequently, upon his return to Rio de Janeiro, and encouraged by his friend Lucio Costa, he started at the National School of Fine Arts, where he also met with Oscar Niemeyer, Hélio Uchoa and Milton Roberto. His first garden project was the Casa Forte Plaza in Recife in 1934. The following year, while he was planning Euclides de Cunha Plaza, also in the capital of Pernambuco State,

  • Handicraft from Baniwa tribe

    Apr 23, 19 • Marion • TopicsComments Off on Handicraft from Baniwa tribeRead More »

    HOM-ing supports COOPIBEM, a cooperative of the Baniwa tribe in Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira / Amazonia by commercializing their handicraft work. Besides the production of traditional handicraft items all made of natural material, the cooperative tends to run a bi-lingual school in order to teach both Portuguese and Baniwa language to the children. It is also envisaged to develop eco-tourism in the village under sustainable aspects. The cooperative’s handicraft items are on direct sale with HOM-ing. You may even plan to visit Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira and stay in the house of tribe’s members. You have to catch the plane to Manaus; from there, you take or a smaller aircraft or the boat for a 3-4 days trip on the Rio Negro to reach the place. Your support is ver much welcomed. For more information, contact Marion by whatsup (61) 99646-

  • „Ponte Honestino Guimarães“: Who was Honestino and what happened to him?

    Mar 12, 19 • Marion • TopicsComments Off on „Ponte Honestino Guimarães“: Who was Honestino and what happened to him?Read More »

    The Ponte Honestino Guimaraes (formerly named „Ponte Costa e Silva“), had been designed by Oscar Niemeyer and built and inaugurated in 1976. Till 2015, the bridge remained to be the last public building named after a protagonist of Brazil’s dictatorship. In several attempts (1999, 2003 and 2012), the renomination of the bridge had been discussed. Finally, in August 2015, after an intensive discussion, the Câmara Legislativa do DF approved to alter the bridge’s name from „Costa e Silva“ (military president) to „Honestino Guimarães“(students’ leader), putting an end to the renomination of public buildings in Brasília as a process of redemocratization, started in 1985. The House of Deputies’ approval was celebrated as a political and ideological victory. As to José Otávio Nogueira Guimaraes, professor of history of the UnB and coordinator of the Comissão Anísio Teixeira Memória e Verdades, the bridge’s renomination will be of importance for the actual democracy: „People, by crossing this bridge, will ask themselves who Honestino was, what happened to him, and this will strengthen the necessity of reflecting about democracy and improve human rights“. Honestino Monteiro Guimarães: He was an important students’ leader during dictatorship, and dissapeared on October 10, 1973, in Rio de Janeiro, after being caught for the sixth time. He started his combat in the „movimento secundarista“ and joint the Ação Popular (AP). As a student at UnB, Honestino was elected for the Diretório Acadêmico de Geologia and, in 1967, although imprisoned, was elected

  • Espaço Cultural Renato Russo 508 Sul

    Dec 2, 18 • Marion • Cultural life, TopicsComments Off on Espaço Cultural Renato Russo 508 SulRead More »

       The story of this space begins in 1974, when sheds, that housed the headquarters of the extinct Fundacao Cultural do Distrito Federal, become the Teatro Galpao. The first play staged here was „O homem que Enganou o Diabo e ainda Pedia Troco“, by journalist Luiz Gutemberg under direction of Lais Aderne. A success of public and critic. In 1975, diplomat Wladimir Murtinho, by that time head of Secretaria de Educacao e Cultura, was enthusiastic about the possibilities of the space, which in 1977 was remodelled and renamed Centro de Criatividade. This included, besides the Galpao Theater, the Galpaozinho and the art galleries. It became a meeting point of the artists of the city. Under the name of Espaco Cultural 508 Sul, the place underwent renovations and after four years having been closed , it was reopened in 1993 with a strong vocation for training in the arts. In 2003, as homage to the leader of the band Legiao Urbana, the place was renamed Espaco Cultural Renato Russo and further consolidated itself an essential part of the artistic and cultural formation of the youth of the Federal District. Ten years later, in 2013, the space was closed once again, initially to make adjustments in electrical and hydraulic installations, fire fighting and accessibility. In November 2016, without altering its characteristics, a new reform was initiated, preserving its tradition and its history. On top of that, the

  • “A Arte Decora” – Rosana Cardoso, tiles & mosaics

    Jul 17, 18 • Marion • Cultural life, TopicsComments Off on “A Arte Decora” – Rosana Cardoso, tiles & mosaicsRead More »

    Rosana Cardoso is considered a tiles’ seeker since 30 years. What started as a hobby, rescuing old wall and floor tiles from historical sites (churches, colonial houses) to be demolished, and collecting them, turned out to become a profession. Besides restoring old pieces, the artist nowadays produces tiles with traditional motives, but also in the style of Athos Bulcao, and personalized mosaics. Her private collection counts with unique artworks of Athos Bulcao, Burle Marx and others. Shop-atelier at 510 SUL, bl.

  • Brasília Palace Hotel

    Jul 5, 18 • Marion • Gastronomia, History, TopicsComments Off on Brasília Palace HotelRead More »

    The Brasília Palace Hotel was the second building to be finalized in the new capital. Contruction works started in September 1957 and the hotel, originally named Hotel de Turismo, was inaugurated on June 30, 1958, the same day as the Palácio do Planalto. At that time, it had been decided that no other building of the new capital could be inaugurated before the presidential palace. It was the principal place to host the authorities coming to Brasília to watch the construction works going on. The building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, and possesses two artworks of Athos Bulcao: a huge outdoor tiled wall and a panel in the banqueting-hall (the former dining hall).                             With 13.000 covered square meters, the hotel was projected with a length of 160 meters and 3 floors. Composed of a metal structure, it was the first construction work using steel “Made in Brazil”. In total, 905 tons of nationally produced steel were needed. The hotel also was the first in Brazil equipped with air-condition. The banqueting-hall „Athos Bulcao” received great artists like Chico Buarque, Elis Regina, Toquinho and Vinicius de Moraes. The music “Água de Beber” was performed in the hotel bar for the first time, in 1959. Half of the hotel’s capacity hosted the American Embassy for about 10 months, from May 1960 till

  • Walking Tour: 308 SUL – model quarter

    May 5, 18 • Marion • City ToursComments Off on Walking Tour: 308 SUL – model quarterRead More »

    Devised by urbanist Lucio Costa (1902 – 1998) as the basic element of the Pilot Plan, this model quarter had been the first to be built in town, together with 108 SUL which had been designed completely by Oscar Niemeyer (1907 – 2012).     It is made up of four residential superblocks, and counts with the complete infrastructure of daily life, such as kindergarten, school, library, health center, church (Igrejinha d N.S. da Fatima), social club (Clube da Vizinhanca) and movie theater (Cine Brasília).     The landscaping is by Roberto Burle Marx. The model quarter was listed as District Heritage on April 20, 2009. The Walking Tour includes the visit of the chapel Igrejinha da N.S. de Fatima (with tiles by Athos Bulcao) and also gives you the opportunity to meet D. Lourivaldo, owner of the „Banca da 308 SUL“, the first and thus oldest kiosk in town.     Availability: any day of the week, to be booked for closed groups Duration: 1 ½ hours Number of participants: max. 8 Investment: R$ 45 p.p

  • Tiradentes – April, 21 – Brasilia’s Birthday

    Apr 21, 18 • Marion • HistoryComments Off on Tiradentes – April, 21 – Brasilia’s BirthdayRead More »

    Tiradentes and the Inconfidência Mineira In the last quarter of the 18th century, Vila Rica de Nossa Senhora do Pilar do Ouro Preto was a dynamic place. Gold had brought great wealth to the city and this was translated into fine religious and secular buildings. Much of the artistry that went into these constructions and their decoration was home-grown, such as the genuis of O Aleijadinho. In conjunction with this flowering of the arts an intellectual society developed. And yet all this went on under the heavy hand of the Portuguese crown, which demanded its fifth share (the quinto), imposed punitive taxes and forbade local industries to operate. While the artists and artisans could not travel and had to seek inspiration in what was around them, the intellectuals were often from families who sent their young to Europe to further their education. So, when the gold yields began to decline and the Portuguese demands became even more exorbitant, some members of society began to look to Europe and North America for ways to free Minas Gerais from the crown. One side of the argument was the view of the governor, the Visconde de Barbacena, who refused to admit that the mines were exhausted and that poverty was beginning to affect the community. As far as he was concerned, there was no gold because it was being smuggled out of the

  • Walking Tour “Bosque dos Constituintes & SAFS”

    Mar 30, 18 • Marion • City Tours, TopicsComments Off on Walking Tour “Bosque dos Constituintes & SAFS”Read More »

    This Walking Tour starts at the „Bosque dos Constituintes“ which is located at the lower part of the Esplanada dos Ministerios and hosts cultural institutions like the „Espaco Israel Pinheiro“ and the „Espaco Oscar Niemeyer“.       Crossing the park, we enter into the area of SAFS with its imposing architectural buildings like – Procuradoria Geral da República (PGR) – Tribunal de Contas da Uniao (TCU) – Superior Tribunal Federal (STF) – Itamaraty        You will certainly experience this part of Brasília in a new way and with exceptional different views onto buildings that you already know.        Also cultural works (originals / reproductions) of Athos Bulcao, Candido Portinari and Omar Franco can be visited during this excursion.   Availability: on any working day, for min. 4 persons Duration: 2 hours (10 – 12 a.m.) Investment: R$ 50 per person

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