News from the Brasil Arts Festival

BrasilArts and EMIT presented the Brasil Arts Festival, a multi-media event of Brazilian art, music and theater on August 20th at the Studio@620 Gallery in St. Petersburg. Paintings by Brazilian artists provided a backdrop for the music of bossa nova quintet Brisa do Brasil and Alex Santos. Performer Wilson Loria presented a scene from his one-man play "To the Winners", with provocative rhetoric balanced by dance and accordion. Alvon Griffin led guests in the batucada session, with hand drums and Brazilian percussion, that even got some guests dancing samba.
 

The Brasil Arts Festival - one of several
happenings at Studio@620

 

Alvon Griffin, prominent local percussionist and
music teacher, with Mara Carli of BrasilArts

 

Wilson Loria, performing in a scene
from his play, "To the Winners"

 

Wilson Loria, David Boston and Mara Carli take a photo op
while guests sample Brazilian culture.

 

St. Petersburg-based band Brisa do Brasil (fronted by David and
Andrea Manson) entertains the crowd with a selection of bossa nova
tunes and "MPB" (musica popular brasileira)

Alvon Griffin leads enthusiastic guests and musicians in the batucada

 

The Brasil Arts Festival drew over 150 people of all nationalities,
ages and persuasions from across the Tampa Bay region