Back with new inspirations!!!!

Another productive day at the studio. Ramon Aular gets inspired by the brightness of the color red and precise details of black flowers. I have never seen anyone with more patience than Ramon, so I can imagine he will continue on this for days.... Wait to see how it turns out!!!

While I, Juliana Aragao can't get the image of the infamous Copacabana sidewalk out of my head. I absolutely love the simple black and white contrast and captivating curved shape. It's definitely not finished yet, so will continue to work on it today and see what else comes to mind.... Maybe add some texture or perhaps a collage??

Copacabana Beach Sidewalk:

The mosaic sidewalks of Copacabana beach were designed by Burle Marx, Brazil's incredibly famous landscape planner. Each block has a unique pattern, and the sidewalk right next to the actual beach is designed in the signature black and white wave pattern that is now a trademark of Copacabana and all of Brazil. It is also a traditional Portuguese style pavement mosaic used of many pedestrian areas in Portugal and now seen all of Brazil. 

Cant get enough of Rio's Carnival!!!!

Rio is simply a magical place and now that we are back in Miami we are missing these magical moments.

At the camarote...

At the concentrations waiting about 2 hours before the school parades...

Getting ready for the parade...

During the parade...

Just finished....

with our good friend Daphne...

Going back home!!!

 Thankfully we have pictures to share these amazing experiences with you...

Instituto Cultural Inhotim Museum

INHOTIM

When travelling to Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais, save a date to visit this unique contemporary art museum, Inhotim. With nine galleries and several installations by Brazilian and international artists, Inhotim sprawls over 3,000 acres of preserve forest and gardens designed impeccably according to Burle Marx. The complex is located in the town of Brumadinho, about 60 km from Belo Horizonte. About 350 artworks by 80 different artists are on display at Inhotim. In 2010 it also inaugurated its botanical garden.  You can find a variety of Brazilian plant species around the museums five lakes. The park is home to at least 136 species of birds. The landscape was designed to perfections and is as much an attraction as the man made artwork you will view at Inhotim. Definitely worth going, you will be amazed! 

Grande Rio Feijoada!

This past Sunday was the famous Grande Rio feijoada which is a typical dish in Portuguese and Brazilian cuisine and considered by many as the national dish. The basic ingredients of the feijoada are beans, fresh pork or beef. It is usually served with rice, sausage and fried yuca. The Grande Rio feijoada is a huge event in Rio where many people want to attend. This year it was hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel and lasted from noon till 10pm with lots of drinking and samba dancing involved. Here are come pictures below...

 

Another important aspect during the carnival is designing the shirts for the VIP parties called camarote. This is basically the ticket to the party where everyone is wearing the same shirt for entry. It is a nice way to see people's creativity when designing the shirts and transforming into dresses, skirts, tops, and even pants! Next Sunday and Monday (19th and 20th) I will post many different styles of shirts that I come across in the Grande Rio camarote!
This one for example is a strapless top with a unique twist. Let me try to explain how I got to this 10 minute masterpiece!
1- Cut the entire bottom of the shirt (to make it shorter) and the 2 inches off both sleeves. 
2- Cut across the neck line through the sleeves of the shirt without removing the entire sleeve.
3- Turn the shirt inside and put it on (At this point you cant wear the shirt because the sleeves and neck are cut off but hold it the right side up).
4- Tie a string around the chest and tie a bow in the back.
5- Now let the shirt fold over and you will be wearing a strapless shirt with a bit of ruffles.
Got it??

 

Grande Rio Samba School

Academicos da Grande Rio is one of the best samba schools of the special group in the Rio Carnival. The school is headquartered in a suburbs of Rio in Duque de Caxias. It is also considered the school with the most celebrities nationally and internationally such as Giselle Bundchen, Fernanda Lima, Anna Hickman and many more.
Now is final countdown only one week away and the work load is massive at the baracao (production warehouse). Costume designers sewing bead by bead, and gluing each and every feather. Workers still painting the enormous floats and installing every electrical wiring for the big parade.  Time is extremely precious but next weekend the schools will look flawless, shinning bright down the avenue and the crowds chanting the samba enredo (song). We only have one important task prior to the big day, learn the samba song and drill it in our heads! Not too bad...

Baracao

Hard workers

**Pictures of the floats and costumes still cant be posted before the parade but I promise to post them nest week after the competition! 

Good Morning RIO!

 Woke up to the beautiful view! Priceless...

Now going to the "Baracao" where everything is produced for the carnival from the costumes to the floats. Ill keep you posted later today... 

Ready for Summer, Samba and Rio Carnival???

As some of you may know, February is the best month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; its the CARNIVAL!

I finally arrived in Rio today and expecting my partner in crime Ramon this coming week. We are dancing in the samba parade next weekend in my childhood school called Grande Rio. And of course our great friend, Rodner Figueroa "the fashionista", will be joining us the second day of the samba parade! 

Ramon and I last Carnival... 

About the Carnival:

Samba schools are very large groups of performers, financed by respected organizations who work year round in preparation for Carnival. Samba schools perform in the Sambadrome, which runs four entire nights. They are a part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single school is declared the winner, according to costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance.

Stay posted for our daily activities and what to do when YOU are in Rio! xo