Jonathan Levine and Choque Cultural Gallery have joined forces to help bring eight Brazilian artists to the United States so that they can attend the opening of their massive group art show on February 17.

Last Wednesday, Levine hosted the first of three events that form the core of a Brazilian arts and culture initiative, called Ruas de Sao Paulo. “We wanted to bring these eight Brazilian street artists and their gallery representatives,” Levine said. “They get to come up here for two weeks, all but one have ever been to the United States, and basically do this community initiative where they paint a school in the Bronx, as well as painting at Five Points in Long Island, and some different locations in New York City.”

Brazilian street and graffiti art has become quite popular in the States, thanks in part to the success of “Graffiti Brazil” a photo retrospective or street art through out the South American Country. The book focuses primarily on character art from artists ranging from Os Gemeos to Pichadores. “We are working with eight of the artists from that book and the people who made that book,” Levine says. “The auction is the first event to help us raise funds, because it’s so expensive to bring the artists here. All the artists that I work with donated work for this event including Shag, Shepard Fairey, and Ron English.”

So why focus on Brazil?

“I went to Brazil for few weeks last year just to explore this new art scene, and I met all these amazing people and had this life affirming experience,” Levine recalls. “So now I want to bring the experience here so that everyone else can have it to.”

A Survey of Brazilian Street Art from Sao Paulo is presented in association with Choque Cultural Gallery. Artists ncluded: Boleta, Fefe, Highraff, Kboco, Onesto, Speto, Titi Freak, and Zezao. The event will run from Feb 17 thru Mar 17, 2007
Opening reception - Saturday, February 17, 6pm-9pm