The making of devotional rugs encourages Holy Week in several cities in Minas Gerais. In Ouro Preto, this Saturday (30), from 8pm, the streets will be colored collaboratively, as tradition dictates. The Ouro Preto Art Foundation (FAOP) will contribute to the preservation of the craft, by setting up carpets at two points along the route of the Resurrection Procession, held on the morning of Easter Sunday.
A true celebration around faith, through a popular artistic expression that spans centuries. On Getúlio Vargas Street, in front of FAOP’s Nello Nuno Art Gallery, the carpet will be inspired by the centenary of the modernists’ visit to Ouro Preto. The design will have elements that refer to the works of artist Tarsila do Amaral, in particular, based on religious themes. Another carpet will be assembled in the Antônio Dias neighborhood, where the FAOP mansion is located, which houses the Art and Crafts Center.
“It is with great joy that FAOP, in yet another year, contributes to this celebration, which represents art and faith so well in our State. As every year, we are together with the Ouro Pretos in this action, which is already intertwined with the history of our institution in the city”, says Jefferson da Fonseca, president of the Ouro Preto Art Foundation (FAOP).
The Ouro-Pretanos are preserving a tradition that began in 1733. In the old Vila Rica, at the height of the gold period, the Catholic church promoted the Eucharistic Triumph, a celebration that marked the reopening of the Matriz do Pilar, today called Basílica do Pilar. Windows, balconies and, above all, the streets were decorated for the transfer of the “Blessed Sacrament”, from the Rosário Church to the Pilar Church. The tradition of sawdust rugs in Ouro Preto, also called Devotional Rugs, was born there.
(Ascom Faop/Disclosure)
However, the making of carpets goes beyond the religious character, due to their artistic and cultural conception. Cesar Teixeira, from FAOP’s Technical Promotion and Extension Office, highlights that one of the first actions of the Foundation, created 55 years ago, was to rescue this tradition, which was weakened in the city. “Since then, FAOP has been promoting the craft. “In addition to contributing to making food on religious dates, the institution promotes courses, workshops and workshops on the activity in various parts of the state.”
In partnership with the Centro de Arte Popular, in Circuito Liberdade, FAOP held a workshop between 20 and 22/03 that took participants through the universe of tricentennial activity. The result, of course, was the creation of a beautiful rug.
