To Be Tupi is dedicated to promoting the unique handicrafts and works of communities and artists worldwide.

       We are presenting our first collection of wonderfully handmade houseware, ceramic, jewellery and fashion accessories from various Brazilian organisations, artisans and artists. Also featured is the Anaki Project, bringing the ancient and skilful ceramic crafts of the indigenous peoples of Colombia.

       In 2005, To Be Tupi will also promote and support partnerships between designers and communities, with the aim of creating collections with strong cultural identity and of refined quality. A good example is the houseware and fashion accessories brought to the UK market by Hexadesign, also present in our Christmas 2004 events.

       The name To Be Tupi was suggested by Arnaldo Baptista, one of the most important names in Brazilian music. The logo is by artist/designer Camila Trajber.

       The Tupis was the one of largest Brazilian indigenous nations before the arrival of the Portuguese in the country in 1500. Tupi plays an important role in the Brazilian identity and language. Oswald de Andrade was the first poet to mix Shakespeare with Tupi. He raised the question 'Tupi or not Tupi' during the Brazilian Modernist movement that started in the 1920's.

       The communities, organizations and projects present in our 2004 events

       Aldeia do Futuro is a NGO working with lower income women in the Brazilian southeastern city Americanópolis. Together they develop products reinventing traditional handicraft techniques. Their pieces quickly became trendy in fashion and houseware Brazilian shops.

       Layne Marques started with a small collection of decorative/aromatic balls sharing her time between work and home. Using natural grains such as coffee, chickpeas and beans and spices as cinnamon sticks and cloves, Layne creates wonderfully finished decorative balls. With the orders increasing, Layne could open an atelier and offer employment for people around her neighbourhood in São Paulo.

       Anaki Project is dedicated to promote in UK and Europe objects uniquely hand made by various indigenous Colombian tribes. Masks, figurines, vases, reflect the techniques used by the Pre-Colombian communities. Each object has a meaning and tells the daily history, mysticism and religiosity of various inhabitant cultures in the Pre-Hispanic Colombia, such as the Muiscas, Chibchas, Tairona, Tumaco.

       Ivone Rigobello is a Brazilian artist interested in seeds and their primary colours to create handmade distinctive houseware pieces. The power of their shapes and textures echoes an explicit reference to various ethnic tribes from Brazil and Africa. Ivone has an atelier in São Paulo city and also gives workshops to Brazilian communities.

       Mônica Grohmann Aitken is a Brazilian artist, engraver, painter, teacher and potter working in the potteries region of Staffordshire. Mônica creates unique hand-thrown functional stoneware and hand-built fired pieces.

       IPE (Institute of Ecologic Resource) is the third largest Brazilian NGO and for more than 12 years has been working to safeguard the biodiversity. Among its various projects IPE runs schemes aiming at increasing the income of communities living within and around the protected areas. Their products have become a hit both in Brazil and abroad.

       Hexadesign is a Company focused in developing unique and innovative designs for homeware and fashion. They work with artisans and communities all over Brazil, NGOs and also manufacturers, combining their production capacity and processes with the high level of manual techniques. This way, Hexadesign contributes for the dissemination of the Brazilian culture and design in conjunction with the communities.

       Atelier Nicéia Ribeiro creates trendy handbags and scarves made with recycled fabrics by housewives and elderly women living in João Pessoa city, Brazil. This activity is a way to increase their household income and promote social interaction.

       Lucinha Barbosa customises fashion accessories such canvas belts using beads. She also makes brooches, rings and earrings using a mix of buttons. She normally sells only to friends, but we loved her work so much and convinced her to be part of To Be Tupi.

Also present:

Metal work, by Arnaldo Fioretto

Seeds and dry flowers in boxed trays, by Rose Lopes

TO BE TUPI A collection of handmade houseware, ceramic, jewellery and fashion accessories from various Brazilian organisations, artisans and artists.

Also featured is the Anaki Project, bringing the ancient and skilful ceramic crafts of the indigenous peoples of Colombia.

To Be Tupi has a special collection @ Ziriguidum shop, Camden Lock, Camden Town Market, London.

Further info CLICK HERE

or www.tobetupi.com