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Mural 50 in Barbosa Ferraz

11/18/2016

23 Comments

 
Picture

Every mural is unique.  They each have their own story about how they came to pass.  Mural 50 in Barbosa Ferraz was no exception, but it was exceptional. 

I taught.  I know that teachers hope to make a difference in the lives of their students.  My host, Geremias, is one of those lucky teachers who knows he is making a positive impact in the lives of his students.  He sees it every day, and they adore him.  He told me upon arrival at the airport that meeting me was his "Freedom Writers" moment.  (If you haven't seen the movie, it's a feel-good teacher movie.) But I know that every day in Ge's class was actually a positive teacher-student interaction right out of the script. 

I asked Ge how he ever found me.  Like a gazillion other teachers, he discovered my art on a Google search for educational clipart.  There’s just no denying it.  My art is all over the internet, correctly used and shamelessly stolen. Geremias uses it in his classroom and on PowerPoint presentations for his students.  Finally, one day he wrote to me and asked if I would like to come to Brasil (spelled with an “s” in Portuguese). 

My mama didn’t raise no fool.  I said, “Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” and plans started.  He and his delightful students raised the money for me to come to South America.  I was told that more than once, people assured this wonderful teacher that nobody from North America would actually come to Brasil to paint with his students.  Those people of little faith had obviously not read my blog or wandered my website.  I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to experience Brasil.

It was a long haul to Barborsa Ferraz.  Landing in São Paulo was only the beginning of the journey.  There were three more airports to sort through in Portuguese, which I clearly didn’t speak.  But, right from the start I knew I was in for a magnificent experience.  Eight people, wearing t-shirts with my art, awaited my arrival.  It was a three-hour journey to get to the airport.  I never felt so humbled by a warm welcoming in my life.

I sat down with Ge and a few others to brainstorm the mural design.  I wanted to write the word “BRASIL” in the design, but with different themes filling the individual letters.  Inside the first letter, the art was dedicated to the host city of Barbosa Ferraz with its Catholic Church, a welcoming statue and a South American cowboy.  In the “R”, I threw in my map (as usual) and three local animals in the area.  You probably know of the macaw, but if you are like me, you may not know the capybara and the quati.  The “A” was dedicated to the local breadbasket of vegetables that the area is noted for as well as the wonderful women who cook for the students each day. 

The fourth letter, which you might think should be a “Z” if you didn’t live in Brasil, had a classroom situation with a teacher and students.  You don’t win any prize if you guess who the teacher looks like.  You’d be foolish if you couldn’t figure that out.  The “I” has some of the subjects studied.  History is indicated by Pedro Alvares Cabral who is the reason they all speak Portuguese, having claimed Brasil for Portugal in 1500.  The mosaic globe represents art and geography.  The lines in the basketball flow into DNA for sports and biology.  And, my personal favorite is a letter in English that claims, “I study English so I can speak to people from Ohio!”  Most of them couldn’t.  In the letter “L”, some of their additional interests in soccer, music, flying kites (who knew?) and mobile phones were depicted.

Now, I never just throw the letters up on the mural and make it easy for people to read.  It’s a mystery to figure out.  In fact, most people can’t do it, even with clues.  Of course, once you realize completely what you are looking at, it’s a whole lot more fun to watch others struggle to figure out the secret as well.  In all the time we painted, only one person instantly recognized that it was lettering which spelled her country.  I liked her instantly.

The first day we painted was a national holiday.  Now seriously, what kind of teacher can get students to come in to school on a vacation day?  I told you this was a special teacher.
Picture
One of my dedicated helpers in Barbosa Ferraz
Not many of those present spoke English.  However, thanks to technology like Google Translate, communication was not a real issue.  It seems that everyone except me owns a smart phone.  I had a really fun day.

Now, just to give you an idea of the kind of people I painted with, I asked if we could start out with a little dance music and shake up some paint for a video.  Usually, if I get three or four uninhibited people, I am delighted.  But, this was Brasil and I passed out every paint can I had.  They shook everything they had to K.C. and the Sunshine Band’s “Shake Your Booty” before the conga line circled the room and then danced their way out the door.  Yes, it was a party atmosphere from the get go.

I tend to like as little stress as possible when I paint (or any other time in my life).  I find it easiest if I only have six to eight painters at a time.  Any more than that and the stress multiplies.  I always make that point very clear well before arriving in country.  However, on this day, an average of fifteen painters worked constantly.  It was all that could squeeze into the work space.  And, it was truly one of the easiest days I’ve ever had at a mural.

It wasn’t until the day ended that I learned that these agriculture students in JAA (sort of like Future Farmers of America) were actually from five different cities, multiple schools within those cites, and included current students, graduates, spouses and teachers.  They came together as one to paint the mural at the Escola Municipal José Arno Turke School.  When they left, they lingered and hugged like long lost family members who didn’t want to say goodbye.  And, everyone got hugged, including the gringo in their midst who really couldn’t speak to hardly anyone.

Very fortunately for me, many of the painters from the “holiday mural day” were students in Geremias’ class.  They painted with me throughout the week.  The hugs, kind words, presents, warmth and Facebook friendships continued as the mural moved towards completion. 

This mural is going to have a dedication ceremony.  It promises to be one for the record books.  My friends in Brasil certainly know how to say, “Obrigado”, but no thanks are needed.  They have shown their gratitude from day one.  Well, actually, night one which ended 34 hours of travel at one in the morning.
23 Comments
Geremias link
11/18/2016 05:10:09 pm

Phillip, a wonderful week for a wonderful mural...
I can only say, very, very, thank you.

Reply
Phillip
11/19/2016 01:16:27 am

And, Geremias, I can only say (but possibly not spell correctly, "De nada, de nada, de nada."

Reply
Viviane
11/18/2016 05:19:19 pm

Ficou Maravilhoso!!! Gostaria muito de ter ido até Barbosa acompanhar, porém não foi possível, Phillip, seu trabalho é incrível, assim como você, apesar de não me arriscar no inglês (Deixo isso com o Alisson) Foi um prazer imenso te conhecer e passar alguns momentos com você!

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:19:22 am

Viviane, you don't ever have to worry about your English. You have Alisson and Google Translate. It would have been wonderful to have you paint, but it was also nice sharing pizza with you. :-)
Phillip

Reply
Jeferson Diego
11/18/2016 05:22:29 pm

Foi um dia maravilhoso,alegre e divertido!!
Jamais esquecerei a dança, Shake Your Boot
foi demais!! kkk :D

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:23:38 am

Jeferson,
My murals are always maravilhoso but I've never had a dance experience like you and your friends. What a joyful moment! What a wonderful JAA family you are part of!
Phillip

Reply
Hérick André
11/18/2016 05:34:52 pm

Ficou muito bom parabéns

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:24:54 am


Estou muito satisfeito que você gosta. Obrigado.

Reply
Jeferson Silva de Souza
11/18/2016 05:55:08 pm

Ficou perfeito, realizado com sucesso o primeiro de muitos no Brasil se Deus quiser.. Parabéns pelo trabalho maravilhoso...

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:26:36 am


Eu realmente espero que seja o primeiro de muitos murais no Brasil. Eu sei que quero voltar novamente e novamente e novamente. Obrigado.

Reply
Kaique Barreto
11/18/2016 06:23:02 pm

Phillip, estou ansioso para chegar a hora de nos conhecermos, não pude ir ajudar no mural mais imagino que tenha sido uma ótima experiência participar.
Muitíssimo Obrigado por ter vindo ao Brasil👏

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:28:32 am


Espero que algum dia - em uma de minhas muitas visitas ao Brasil - que você possa pintar comigo. É sempre uma experiência maravilhosa, mas desta vez tem sido muito mais especial que habitual. Obrigado.

Reply
Viniccius (Vini-Amor)
11/18/2016 09:34:43 pm

Like I said ... We just thank you for providing us with this wonderful emotion ... thank you so much ... You made and it still makes a difference in our lives

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 01:31:21 am

Vini-Amor,
Thank you for being part of the reason I've had such a wonderful experience in Brazil. Your friendship has made a difference in my time in your lovely country and in my life. Obrigado.

Reply
Amanda Marconi link
11/19/2016 02:18:11 am

Philip Martin meus parabéns o mural ficou lindo incrível.
Sem palavras pra agradecer a você por ter nos dado à oportunidade de poder lhe conhecer!! Muito obrigado, você realmente é uma pessoa incrível com um talento esplêndido....Deus te abençoe sempre ^_^

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/19/2016 02:40:21 am

Amanda, Obrigado por sua ajuda com o projeto. Eu não posso fazer isso sozinho. É sempre melhor com uma comunidade e você faz parte de uma comunidade incrível - a família JAA.

Reply
Amanda Marconi
11/19/2016 02:46:16 am

Melhor trabalho em equipe de todos... obrigado Philip👏

Jenny D
11/19/2016 04:37:46 am

This is such a cool story and awesome mural!
The way you made the letters reminds me a bit of how you wrote USA and colored it red, white and blue. I think you told me that you first drew that when you were in 4th grade and you teacher was not impressed.

Reply
Phillip
11/19/2016 04:42:03 am

I am glad you like the story and art.
Now, I am really impressed with your memory about that art. What can I say? Not everyone recognizes talent. Even teachers make mistakes. 😀

Reply
Alefe
11/19/2016 06:49:41 am

Awesome stuff

Reply
Phillip
11/19/2016 09:26:06 am

awesome people working together

Reply
Mari
11/20/2016 01:53:30 pm


It was very exciting to paint the mural, I'm sure those moments were kept forever in each of us. Thank you

Reply
Phillip Martin
11/20/2016 03:59:13 pm

The best part of the murals is the community effort. I'm so pleased you are pleased with participation.
Phillip

Reply



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