Belmonte is a charming small town right at the edge of one of Brazil's biggest estuaries, the Jequitinhonha River. Located an hour and a half north of Porto Seguro, it's a place where you can relax looking at the river or walking on a very empty beach that runs for more than 30 miles.
While photographing Ser Manguezal, I stayed in a rental unit on this very quiet street in Belmonte in the state of Bahia. On my first day walking to the Jequitinhonha River, I passed in front of this blue and white house with this early 1900s facade. Despite so many houses in this town having a colonial look, this one caught my attention since it was abandoned. Every day I passed in front of this house and started thinking of what would be possible to do for the community/environment if I could get access to that space.
I went back to NY right after shooting the first part of the project, but it was early 2020 and what I didn't know was that the rest of the plan got held up indefinitely. At the end of 2020 when everything was uncertain, I had this idea for a space to be used as a residency for artists/scientists, a place where people would get together to study, create and teach social-environmental subjects.
The first step was made: the beautiful blue and white abandoned house was acquired and it has a temporary name: Casa da Cultura e Ciência de Belmonte (House of Culture and Science of Belmonte). I've done all that I could to start this dream, and for the next steps, I would need support to fix the floors, windows, ceiling/roof, electrical and plumbing.
This house is now part of the project Ser Manguezal and all its elements and achievements will compose its story.
GALLERY SPACE
The first two rooms right at the entrance of the house, it will be the gallery. Where it will have a permanent exhibit space that will change every 6 months or so. Sculptures, paintings, photography, music and interactive art.
ARTISTS BEDROOMS
There are three bedrooms with private bathrooms or it can be converted in two bedrooms to give more space to the residents.
LOCATION: Belmonte, Bahia