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Chicago, Illinois 60637 (773) 947-0600 740 East 56th Place

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Contact:

Raymond Ward (773) 947-0600 ext 228 rward@dusablemuseum.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BANDITS & HEROES, POETS & SAINTS: POPULAR ART OF THE NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL SCHEDULED TO OPEN AT THE DuSABLE MAY 9, 2014

Chicago, IL. (18 March 2014) --- The DuSable Museum of African American History is honored to present a new exhibition, Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Popular Art of the Northeast of Brazil. The exhibition will open on May 9, 2014 and continue through August 17, 2014 at the Museum which is located at 740 East 56th Place (57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue) in Chicago.

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Organized by Con/Vida-Popular Arts of the Americas, in partnership with The Wright Museum, Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints tells the story of how African, European and indigenous cultural traditions have interacted over a period of more than 500 years to form the distinctive culture of this fascinating area of the largest country in South America. Brazil is home to one of the largest populations of African descendants in the world, with more than 75 million people. During the 16th through 19th centuries, an estimated 5 million Africans were brought over to Brazil into slavery, ten times the estimated 500,000 Africans that were brought to the United States. Currently, most of Brazils population lives in the Northeast of Brazil where centuries of African, European, and Amerindian cultures have mingled to create a mixture of conventions that help in shaping Latin American heritage.

Exhibition curators Marion Jackson, Professor Emeriti of Art History at Wayne State University, and Barbara Cervenka O.P Professor Emeriti of Art at Siena Heights University, have traveled to the Northeast of Brazil during the past 20 years, working directly with popular artists and scholars to organize the exhibition. Cervenka observes While the Northeast is materially poor compared to Rio and Sao Paulo and the cities of the South of Brazil, the culture is vibrant and rich filled with good humor. The Northeast

is considered the historic and cultural heart of Brazil.

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Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints @ The DuSable Page Two Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints includes nearly 200 works of art by more than 50 artists. Two eminent photographers Adenor Gondim and Antonio Neto have helped work on the exhibition, providing photos and video footage showing festivals, ceremonies and pilgrimages. The exhibition is comprised of three segments that present the history and culture of Northeast Brazil through popular art. The first segment, The Land and Its People, reflects on the history of slavery in Brazil, from the rich plantations that produced a wealthy amount of agricultural produce along the coast to the rugged landscape of the inhospitable dry backlands of the fugitive slave communities. The second segment Expressions of Faith, explores the African-Brazilian religion of Candomble which combines traditional African roots and Roman Catholicism, while also exploring the evangelical faith of the Northeast. In the exhibition, life-size mannequins of prixas (forged iron symbols of African deities) wearing colorful vestments of Candomble can be viewed along with actual footage of the Candomble ceremony in Bahia. The third segment, Poetry, Celebration and Song, focuses on folk legends and popular festivals of the Nordestinos (People of the Northeast). Also featured in this segment is Literature de Cordel (Literature on a String), which is a popular form of poetry, retelling stories and legends. These poems are produced by itinerant singing poets who sell their songs in small, inexpensive chapbooks in rural markets and fairs

Funding for Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Popular Art of the Northeast of Brazil has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Michigan Humanities Council with additional support from Wayne State University, Tech Town and the Adrian Dominican Sisters. The Chicago presentation is supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. For more information on the exhibition please call 773-947-0600 or visit our website at www.dusablemuseum.org. The DuSable Museum of African American History gratefully acknowledges the Chicago Park Districts generous support of the Museum.

The DuSable Museum of African American History is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 NOON until 5:00 PM. Admission is $10 for adults ($8 for Chicago residents), $7 for students and senior citizens ($5 for Chicago residents) $3 for children ages 6 through 11 ($2 for Chicago residents) and children 5 years of age and younger are admitted free. The Museum may be reached by CTA buses #3, #4 and #55 and limited free parking is also available on the premises.

! About The DuSable Museum of African American History

The DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Our mission is to collect, preserve and display artifacts and objects that promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs and activities that illustrate African and African American history, culture and art. For more information on the Museum and its programs, please call (773) 947-0600 or visit us at www.dusablemuseum.org

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