The I.C.B.I.E. Blog

It’s always great when old friends say nice things about you, but when the praise comes from Felipe do Brazil, it’s even better.  Phillip Wagner, the founder of Rhythm of Hope (http://www.rhythmofhope.org/), found us three years ago, and since then, he has constantly cooked up new ways to help us.  First, he violently prodded us until we completed the 24-page application to Engineers without Borders, to realize our dream of an ICBIE theater.  EWB accepted our project and thanks the indefatigable team from Howard University, that is moving forward.  Then he sent us two very different volunteers that he mentored and chose for us:  Celeste Chia, who, with her friend Veronique, brought us their precious (and our sorely lacking) business skills, in an ongoing collaboration that only gets better and better, and Claire Bertaud, who taught English for us in 2008 and, though far away at university in England, has remained loyally attached to the ICBIE and our community.

Now Phillip has featured us in his blog, with a beautiful article that makes us blush from the start to the finish.

http://rhythmofhope.spaces.live.com/

Muito obrigado, Felipe!

(English translation below)

O ICBIE juntamente com Italia Amica, UFBA - departamentos de Letras Românicas, Instituto Italiano de Cultura do Rio de Janeiro, lançarão nesta próxima sexta, 26, na sede da Italia Amica, Av. Sete de Setembro, 1238, Casa d’Italia – Campo Grande, o livro “Oracoli e Miracoli” do romancista italiano Franco Mimmi.

Trata-se de uma história “noir” que se desenvolve entre a Itália e Salvador, na Bahia. O livro retoma as aventuras dos protagonistas do romance anterior “Un cielo cosi sporco”  (2001) (Um céu tão sujo), Oscarzinho e o Senador. Mas não é somente uma historia que representa e desvenda as falcatruas dos expertinhos, no pano de fundo da violência diária relatadas pela imprensa soteropolitana. O romance é ocasião de reflexão sobre a identidade contemporânea, e uma suposta, mas possível, “brasilianização” do mundo, por bem e por mal. A qualidade literária de Oracoli & Miracoli é dada por um certo citacionismo irônico e uma estrutura binária de marca pós-moderna. Uma leitura empolgante e de qualidade.

Today, February 26th, at the association Italia Amica in Av. Sete de Setembro, 1238, the ICBIE, together with Italia Amica, UFBA (the Federal University of Bahia) - department of Romance Languages, and the Italian Institute of Culture of Rio de Janeiro, will launch the book Oracoli & Miracoli (Oracles & Miracles), by the Italian writer Franco Mimmi.

The book is a whodunit detective story that revolves between Italy and Salvador, in Bahia, and continues with more adventures by the same protagonists of the author’s previous book, Un cielo così sporco (Such a Dirty Sky)  (2001), Oscarzinho and the Senator.  But it isn’t only a story that recounts and discloses the frauds of the devious protagonists, against a backdrop of daily violence that is culled from the local Salvador newspapers.  The novel is an opportunity to reflect upon contemporary identity, and with the supposition, ever more plausible, of a “Brazilianization” of the world, for better or worse.  The literary quality of Oracoli & Miracoli derives from a decidedly ironic use of quotes and clichés and a binary structure of post-modern derivation.  An exciting and high quality reading experience.

(English translation below)

As reuniões do Projeto Salvador Graffita, da Prefeitura Municipal de Salvador, que acontecem sempre, todas as sextas-feiras no salão nobre do ICBIE desde o início do ano passado, nesta sexta, 19, todos os participantes do projeto, juntamente com outros artistas plásticos, inclusive a grafiteira suíça “Tica” que veio à Bahia através do Projeto Cozinheiros Sem Fronteira. Todos tiveram a honra de contar com a participação especial do renomado pintor e escultor italiano Giuliano Ottaviani que veio à reunião com muitas idéias, trazendo o seu novo projeto a Salvador, “esculturas nas favelas”, e propôs um intercâmbio cultural, em que ele ensinaria aos grafiteiros técnicas, possibilitando-os concretizar seus graffites em esculturas. Assim como fez em São Paulo, com a escultura monumental em vidro-resina.

O salão estava cheio, todos os grafiteiros do Salvador Grafita presentes, inclusive o coordenador do projeto, Edvando Luiz Castro Pinto (o Tucunaré),

Foram os primeiros bons contatos para uma possível parceria futura.

Meg  Boaventura

The meetings of the Salvador Graffita Project and the officials from the Salvador City Hall take place every Friday in the big hall of the ICBIE since the beginning of last year, and, on last Friday the 19th, there were all the participants in the project, together with other plastic artists, including the Swiss graffiti artist “Tica,” who came to Bahia through the Chefs Without Borders Project.  Everyone who came had the honor of participating in a special event with the renowned Italian painter and sculptor Giuliano Ottaviani, who brought many ideas to the meeting,  as part of his new project in Salvador, “sculptures in the favelas,” a cultural exchange where he teaches the graffiti artists techniques that will permit them to transform their graffiti into sculptures, as he has already done in São Paulo, with his monumental sculpture in fiberglass.

The hall was full, with all the Salvador grafita artists present, including the coordinator of the project, Edvando Luiz Castro Pinto (Tucunaré).

It was the first step for a possible future collaboration.

Meg  Boaventura

Photos by Júlio Costa

Everyone who is even vaguely acquainted with the ICBIE knows Júlio.  Well, now you can follow him even more closely, as he has opened a snazzy new website!  Check it out: http://juliocosta.hfree.com.br/index.html

AULA DI ITALIANO PER STRANIERI

(English translation below)

L’ICBIE Europa ONLUS ha attivato il corso di italiano per stranieri, grazie all’ospitalità dell’Associazione Culturale MOCOBO.
Ogni lunedi dalle 19 alle 20 le nostre bravissime insegnanti Loona e Monica danno lezione di italiano ad un’aula per ora composta solo da 3 simpaticissimi allievi.

Wen che arriva dalla Thailandia e non parla per niente l’italiano, Jhon (non so se il nome è esattamente cosi) originario dello Sri Lanka e che vive già da circa 4 mesi in Italia e naturalmente il nostro amico Ivanildo, direttamente da Salvador che sta visitando l’Italia e rimarrà nel nostro Paese ancora qualche settimana.

La lezione scorre piacevole grazie anche all’inventiva delle due insegnanti che sanno coinvolgere i loro allievi in divertenti giochi educativi per imparare la lingua italiana sempre con il sorriso e l’allegria che caratterizza il nostro giovane team ICBIE Europa ONLUS.

Continuate cosi e ci auguriamo che l’aula possa divenire sempre più numerosa.

Marcella

The Italian for Foreigners Class

ICBIE Europa has begun its course in Italian for Foreigners, thanks to our hosts at the MOCOBO Cultural Association.  Every Monday from 7 to 8 PM our great teachers Loona and Monica give Italian lessons to a class that consists, for now, of three extremely friendly students.

Wen, who comes from Thailand and who doesn’t speak any Italian, Jhon (I’m not certain that his name is spelled exactly right) is from Sri Lanka and has lived in Italy for about four months, and of course our friend Ivanildo, direct from Salvador, who is visiting Italy and will stay here for a few more weeks.

The lesson went smoothly, thanks to the creativity of the two teachers who know how to get their students involved in lively educational games, in order to teach the Italian language with the same smiles and joy that animate our vibrant young team at ICBIE Europa.

Keep up the good work and we hope that the class can get bigger and bigger.

Marcella

(English translation below)

O coordenador do Projeto Grafita Salvador, Edvandro “Tucunaré” Castro, a assessora Déa Avelar e Amine Reis da Prefeitura Municipal de Salvador, acompanhados pelos grafiteiros Boob, Covero, Pinel, Thito Lama, Bigu e Mônica visitaram ontem à tarde (10) a exposição do artista plástico italiano Giuliano Ottaviani, no Espaço Cultural do Aeroporto Internacional de Salvador, em cartaz até o final deste mês.

Conforme explicou Edvandro “Tucunaré”, a visita  foi uma ótima oportunidade de conhecer o belíssimo trabalho que ele vem desenvolvendo, além permitir aos artistas do projeto o conhecimento de novas técnicas, possibilidade da troca de experiências e o intercâmbio cultural. O artista Giuliano Ottaviani, é pintor, escultor e designer. Está fazendo pelo segundo ano consecutivo uma exposição com suas magníficas obras no Aeroporto Internacional de Salvador. Segundo a “manager” do artista, Lita Lopes Limey, Giuliano se apaixonou à primeira vista pelo Brasil quando desembarcou em São Paulo há doze anos atrás. Na época desenvolveu um trabalho social em conjunto com a prefeitura de Barueri ensinando os pichadores a fazer da arte um meio de reivindicar sem agredir a paisagem urbana, até então esses grafiteiros eram conhecidos como pichadores sendo discriminados como marginais oriundos da periferia.?Com isso Giuliano ganhou fama aqui no Brasil por ser o primeiro artista italiano a fazer um projeto escultural pela transformação de bairros pobres em verdadeiras obras de arte.

On the afternoon of February 10th, the coordinator of the Salvador Grafita Project, Edvandro “Tucunaré” Castro, the city assessor Déa Avelar and Amine Reis from Salvador City Hall, accompanied by graffiti artists Boob, Covero, Pinel, Thito Lama, Bigu and Mônica, visited the exposition by the Italian plastic artist Giuliano Ottaviani, in the Cultural Space of the Salvador International Airport, which is showing through the end of the month.

As Edvandro “Tucunaré” explained, the visit was a perfect opportunity to become acquainted with the beautiful work that he has been creating, in order to help the project’s artists to absorb new techniques, and as an opportunity to share ideas and have a nourishing cultural exchange.  The artist Giuliano Ottaviani is a painter, sculptor and designer.  He is showing his magnificent works at the Salvador International Airport for the second consecutive year.  According to the artist’s manager, Lita Lopes Limey, Giuliano fell in love with Brazil at first sight, when he landed in  São Paulo twelve years ago.  At that time, he was involved in social work together with the city of Barueri, teaching young graffiti taggers to use art as their message, without ruining the urban scenery, when, up to then, these grafiteiros were only known for their spray-scribbles, for which they were discriminated against, classed as trash from the peripheral slums.   Through that work, Giuliano became famous here in Brazil, for being the first Italian artist to pull off a cultural project that transformed the poor slums into veritable artworks.

Text and photos by J.F. Paranaguá

While Celeste and Veronique were staying at the ICBIE during the holidays, they visited the beautiful Bahian fazenda of our friend Paranaguá.  Here is his reportage of the happy day. (English translation below)

Brincando no parque
No último dia 2 completou um mês a visita dos amigos Veronique, Romaine, Jean-Michel, Tom e Celeste, e meus familiares em nossa propriedade rural na localidade de Pedras, município de Santo Amaro.

O grupo curtiu muito o parque infantil existente no local, que construímos para diversão das nossas filhas Ana Luisa, Iamani e Irani e seus amiguinhos. As cenas comprovam os momentos de descontração: Jean-Michel na corda radical e no galho de uma mangueira; Romaine no balanço; Veronique no cavalinho com Tom e desfilando pela redondeza em Netuno; Celeste no amarelinho; Romaine na gangorra; Tom tentando saborear o biribiri – fruto amargo, usado para salada e suco; dentre outras brincadeiras.

O clima motivou minha mulher Shirley a servir o almoço no parque, um churrasco como prato principal, acompanhado por uma variedade de saladas, cerveja bem gelada e vinho. Detalhe: lembrei-me de preparar uma surpresa especial para Romaine, retribuindo o mesmo prato “galinha a molho pardo” típico da culinária do Caribe, onde reside, que nos ofereceu na residência de Veronique em Paris.

Playing in the Park
On February 2nd it was a month since the visit of my friends Veronique, Romaine, Jean-Michel, Tom and Celeste, who joined my family at our rural property in Pedras, in the city of Santo Amaro.

The group really liked the children’s park on the property, which we built to entertain our daughters Ana Luisa, Iamani and Irani and their playmates.  The scenes in the photos show us fooling around: Jean-Michel climbing the rops and in the branches of a mangueira tree; Romaine on the swing; Veronique on the pony with Tom and cruising through the surroundings; Celeste on the hopscotch patch; Romaine on the seesaw; Tom tasting some biribiri – a bitter fruit used for salads and juice; among the other passtimes.

The warm weather caused my wife Shirley to serve the lunch in the park, a churrasco as the main course, accompanied by a variety of salads, good cold beer and wine.  A detail:  I remembered to prepare a special surprise for Romaine, paying her back for the “chicken with Creole sauce,” the typical cuisine of the Caribbean, where she comes from, and which she offered us at Veronique’s place in Paris.

It’s been awhile since news has been posted here, but that’s not to say that ICBIE Europa has been on an exotic holiday or something.  Quite on the contrary!  Never before have so many people been working so hard, and even better, the results of their efforts have resulted in substantial developments that bring honor to the Association.

Recent months have seen a concerted effort to obtain a place to hold our courses.  After confronting a lot of complicated bureaucracy, applying to several Municipalities in Rome, we finally opted to search out another established non-profit association already receiving city facilities, and, thanks to the rich web of personal connections, we were able to strike an agreement with the Mocobo Cultural Association, which also offers courses, including capoeira, and is located in Via Pellegrino Matteucci 98 (Ostiense).  Not wasting any time, the first lesson in Italian for Foreigners will begin next Monday, February 8th!  The first lesson will be free; whoever wishes to continue will only have to become a member of ICBIE Europa and pay €10, as the courses and materials are free of charge.  We have already found a group of Palestinian refugees who will take the course, but if you can think of anyone who may be interested, please help us to publicize this important offering.

We are also planning to activate other courses, including digital photography and Portuguese for Italians, in other locations around the city.  We’ll keep you informed!

Because our activities are expanding, our crew has decided to break into separate groups, in order to concentrate on specific areas of interest.  Here is a summary of our new committees:

-         AMMINISTRAZIONE : Pina, Monica, Loona
-         BANDI/PROGETTI : Roberto, Paolo, Marcella, Loona, Consuelo
-         COMUNICAZIONE e PROPAGANDA: Guido, Paolo, Loona, Damiano
-         EVENTI: Paolo, Damiano

We are also preparing for important visits from Salvador.   On Friday Ivanildo will become our fifth ICBIE student to see Rome, while Júlio and Thais will be coming in April:  We’re doing our best to arrange all the necessary Pomp and Circumstance.

Last Saturday night, Paolo, Roberto, Damiano and I did a two-hour presentation at a cozy little restaurant in Trastevere called Ti dirò, run by a very hospitable American lady named Holly Vernon.  Having such an ample stretch of time to tell the whole ICBIE story was a good incentive to put together a DVD presentation with hundreds of photos and several videos.  It was a nasty cold evening, but about twenty-five people attended, including a few familiar faces, including Annie Neumann and her friend Stephany, who were both in Salvador just a year ago.  We couldn’t have had a warmer reception, and many thanks to Holly and all the people at Ti dirò.

Roy Zimmerman