Notes on Brazil

Here is a list I have compiled for someone wanting a (gringa's) insider look at some Brazilian culture. A lot of the music I haven't listened to yet, and I tried to link as much as I could. Enjoy!

ART/DESIGN
Roberto de Vicq - designer who made Bembo Zoo
Gui Borchert - works for R/GA in NYC, Nike's Design by Nature, eyepunch.com
Gianguido Bonfanti - artist and illustrator
Ivan Cardoso - photographer, filmographer we saw an exhibit on him at the MAM
Favela Paintings Project - bringing art and culture to the favelas
Bananaplac - new eco-material made from banana fibers that kids @ESDI developed

SAYINGS
segura esse abacaxi - to solve a problem (lit. peel the pineapple)
deus é brasiliero - lit. god is brazilian, which is why brazil is so beautiful
depende da chuva - depends on the rain
está viajando na maionesa - someone who is not quite with it (lit. traveling in mayonnaise)
café com leite - someone who has everything easy

LITERATURE
João Guimarães Rosa Grande Sertão Veredas (The Devil to Pay in the Backlands in English)

MOVIES
Tropa de Elite(not yet released in English), Cidade de Deus (City of God in English),
Mutum, Quase Dois Irmãos, Ônibus 174 (Bus 174 in English)


MUSIC
brazilian electronic - Fernanda Porto
axé (music from the north of brazil) - Ivete Sangalo, Jamil, Banda Eva
ritmo bahía (african influence) - Babadonovo
pop rock - Skank, Charlie Brown Junior, Jotaquest
sertanejo (similar to country music in the states) - Bruno e Marrone
mpb (música popular brasileira) - Marisa Monte, Dejavam, Ana Carolina, Caetano Veloso, Tribalistas, Gilberto Gil, Elis Regina, Céu
bossa nova - Jorge Ben, Tom Jobim

BEAUTIFUL PLACES AROUND RIO
Ipanema, Ilha Grande, Búzios, Cabo Frio (Praia de Forte), Prainha (just south of Rio), Parque do Flamengo : ), Lapa, Jardim Botánico, Santa Teresa