Home Grown Talent

Two of my favorite shops when I lived in San Francisco were Fabric 8 and Upper Playground. What sets these two spots apart from the rest of the retail menagerie in SF is their support for local artists, their connection to the streets and their fiercely independent spirit. When I first visited Rio in April, I stumbled upon what I feel to be these stores Brazilian brother (or sister, if you will. no need to get hung up on gender politics), Home Grown.

Owned and operated by my man Marco and his small crew of dedicated cariocas, Home Grown occupies an unassuming second story space up above the hustle and grind of Ipanema. The shelves and racks are stacked with clothes fabricated by local designers and the walls draw you into works of art directly related to the walls of Rio itself. The back of the shop stocks a formidable selection of Montana spray cans and caps to insure the cycle keeps on cycling.

On August 5th, Marco and the Home Grown cognoscenti hosted their third collective show featuring new work by local artists culled from the carioca street art movement: Marcelo Lamarca, Rafael Dória, Rafo Castro and João Burle. Unfortunately, due to a language snafu (my portuguese is crap. mario's english is good but he's been known to mix up tuesday and thursday), I missed the actual opening. The good news is that when I did show up Thursday, I had the place to my self to peep the new work. Below are a few of my favorite pieces for you all to enjoy. Each of them, in their own way, captures a bit of that carioca spirit that makes this cidade so marravilhosa!


by: Rafael Dória (spraypainted stencil on steel)


by: Rafael Dória (acrylic on canvas)


by: Rafo Castro (acrylic on canvas)


by: João Burle (spraypaint, acrylic on canvas)

When in Rio, pop into Home Grown, say 'what's up' to Marco and the crew and find a little piece of Rio to take home for your self!

Home Grown
Rua Maria Quiteria 68
Ipanema, RJ
+55 (21) 2513 2160
www.hg68.com.br

*update* there were a lot of other pieces i was feeling but my flicks of them didn't come out so hot. make sure you check the links to the home grown blog for more photos of the other artists work. respect to all the artists that participated!