Archive Mode. Call Liberdade, Diáspora do Brasil ended on 5/21/22, 11:12 PM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls


Liberdade, Diáspora do Brasil

This exhibition, titled Liberdade, Portuguese for Liberty, invites Brazilian American artists to participate in a research project that examines Brazilian diaspora within the United States. This is a graduate student research project will culminate with the presentation of a multimedia art exhibition. The goal of this exhibition is to explore the immigration stories of Brazilian Americans and their experiences relating to the Brazilian diaspora within the United States. The exhibition aims to represent a diverse array of artists who have Brazilian nationality or ancestry.


About the Curator

Sarah Jane Stoll is a graduate student at the Maryland Institute College of Art who was awarded with the opprotunity to join The Space for Creative Black Imagination as a Making & Research Fellow for the Spring of 2022. She currently works as a Visual Arts teacher at the Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, CT where she teaches painting, drawing, and Photography. PSA hosts a community of Brazilian students who participate in arts courses and activities. Sarah is a current UI/UX Design MPS Graduate Student at MICA where she completed her Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2017. Her father was born in São Luís, Maranhão where Sarah's grandfather, a pastor, owned a bookstore during the 1950s. During the 70s, the family moved south to São Paulo where Sarah's father attended high school. Sarah's grandparents were teachers in São Paulo. After a lively nursing career, Sarah's grandmother taught chemistry, philosophy, fashion, and subjects of faith. Sarah's grandparents founded a church in New Jersey that hosts a large Brazilian community. Currently, her grandmother is writing an autobiography about raising her two sons in Brazil. Currently in Connecticut, Sarah cares for her father and grandmother. If you would like to learn more about Sarah as an artist and teacher, you can visit her website by clicking here.


Inspiração

Sarah was inspired by her father, William Stoll, and his willingness to explore the world. He bravely travelled to the United States during the 1970s to study in college. Before beginning his studies, he worked as a fisherman on a shrimp boat in Florida and spent his time on shore working as a mechanic. It was not long before he was accepted at Northern Illinois University, where he met his Norwegian American wife while studying Philosophy and Sculpture. Craving sun and sand, the couple moved to California to start their new life together. William worked as a carpenter, fixing houses, while attaining his MBA, MIS and Finance degrees from the University of California. During this time, Sarah was born and he dedicated his life to providing for her.

After graduation, William enjoyed a long career as an IT executive. Seeking the best educational opportunities for his children, the family moved into a quiet, colonial, Connecticut farmhouse not far from Brazlian communities and cultural centers in Massachusetts. Not long after the birth of his second daughter, Sophia, William’s parents moved to the United States and founded a Church in New Jersey that fostered a Brazilian community. William’s career lead him to New York City, where brought Sarah to the MoMA and major cultural institutions in order to inspire her as a young artist. Despite surviving tick borne encephalitis, and its resulting disability, William Stoll continues to lead and inspire the lives he touches from his residence at a nursing facility in Manchester, CT. This exhibition hopes to explore the brave stories of other Brazilians who decided to make the United States their home. 

Film Photography Left to Right: Portrait of William Stoll. Center: William with his mother, Irma, sitting on the steps of their São Luís home with gaurd dog Leão. Left: Flora Villa, the family home and bookstore where William was born. (There are current errors with the site images, thank you for your patience as we update the site.)


Individual Artist Interviews 

During the selection process, artists have the option to participate in an interview. The purpose of the interview is to explore Brazilian diaspora within the United States and the perspective of Brazilian Americans. We would love to hear you talk about your artwork, and what your artwork means to you. Artists who participate in an interview, or the Artist Talk, may enter in a raffle to win a $50.00 gift card.
 

Virtual Opening and Artist Talk

Artists also have the opprotuntiy to participate in a virtual Artist Talk when the exhibition opens in May. This date is anticipated for May 6th, 2022.
 

How to Register and Submit Artwork

Please watch the following video to learn how to register and submit your artwork to this opprotutnity through artcall.org. There is no application fee.