Guia Cultural da Costa Verde

Paraty • Paraty

SEU JUBILEU & NICE

Masters in playful creations

Fashioning masks and giant puppets is a tradition in Paraty, in which João José da Silva Jr., better known as Jubileu, is a master.

In 1977, he and his brother-in-law Biba founded Assombrosos do Morro, a pioneering carnival street band known as “father of the dragnet” (in reference to its power of attracting participants). Tradition required the use of masks in order not to be recognized. The technique that was named papiê colê used wheat flour, water, wrapping paper or newspaper. And the giant dolls were horrifying! Currently other street bands with these dolls parade down the streets with their large unusual characters, some of which are constructed with complex internal bamboo frames.

For many years Jubileu and his wife Nice produced dozens of these dolls in their backyard and collected episodes from a number of carnival celebrations, as they created these floats for the town’s old schools of samba. Besides carnival, this couple prepares characters and special scenarios for a number of the town’s commemorations, in particular the Festa do Divino and Christmas.

Jubileu is also a public employee and teacher and has created striking scenery and characters for the Flip literary festival, in addition to a remarkable assignment for the Flipinha, preparing classic children’s literature scenery and puppets.

Anybody who has attended the Festa do Divino in Paraty has certainly encountered the giant likenesses of Boi de Pano (boi bumbá), Miota (tall puppet), Peneirinha (with a sieve on his head) and Cavalinho (donkey), all created by the husband and wife. There are a number of traditional presentations in Youtube featuring the giant dolls by Jubileu and his family, as well as the town’s carnival street bands.

When he retires, Jubileu intends to occupy himself solely with giant dolls and scenery, and to continue teaching his art to the new generations. His studio in the Jabaquara district is open to visitors by previous arrangement.

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