Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Paraty • Paraty

ATELIER DO DALCIR

A master in the art of molding and giving life to clay

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Dalcir Ramiro is a native of Paraty and fell in love with clay at twenty years of age, having learned with experienced potters the age-old process of handling the raw material, molding it into shape and firing the clay. He is currently acknowledged as a talented sculptor and has developed his own techniques, yet the artist’s work bears essentially the same simplicity as when he was introduced to the universe of fired clay.

Dalcir also organizes “Encontro de Ceramistas de Paraty”, a four-day event that provides workshops, lectures, exhibitions and presentations, and welcomes well-known ceramist guests from the world over. A striking fact is that in all the Encounter’s previous editions a collective effort took place by all the artists present in order to create a work of art and donate it to the town. In addition, during the Flip literary festival Dalcir invites a local and an overseas artist to visit Paraty for one month and provide free courses to the local community.

On exhibition in his spacious studio, works embodying several techniques from different stages can be enjoyed. There are items that reflect the Japanese raku technique (which leaves the ceramic crackle glazed), huge mobiles that when seen from afar acquire different forms, and giant sculptures with female silhouettes that separate and complement each other in harmony, among numerous creations. Dalcir has for roughly one year been experimenting work with iron, and a few sculptures from this new phase may be viewed in his studio.

The artist has a collection of unusual stories covering these 40 years, such as the more than 2-meter tall sculpture named “Cunhã”, not for sale at any price. Once an American requested him to produce a small 20-centimeter replica of the sculpture, as this was the appropriate size for his collection. On another occasion, an Italian was enthralled by the item and after great insistence Dalcir took on the proposal to visit Milan and produce a copy of the Cunhã for his admirer.

The studio shared with his wife Luciana Marcílio – also a sculptor – is open to visitors and for children’s and adults’ courses Simply making contact with natural clay may awaken the artist that dwells in each of us.

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