The project is carried out by SESC, Social Service of Commerce, a private, non-profit organization with nationwide presence. SESC’s network in the state of São Paulo includes 36 centers that put on permanent exhibitions, as well as many other artistic initiatives, such as concerts, theatre plays, dance performances, film shows and literary meetings, to name a few. Its visual arts program focuses mainly on contemporary art, organizing collective and individual exhibitions by local and international artists from different generations. The program also features courses, workshops, seminars and other educational initiatives.
Frestas’ first edition, titled “What would be of the world without the things that don’t exist”, took place at SESC Sorocaba, from 8 October 2014 to 3 May 2015, and was curated by Josué Mattos. It featured the work of 115 Brazilian and international artists and was attended by 11 thousand local students and thousands of visitors. The exhibition area covered three thousand square meters of SESC facilities as well as other spaces made available by the Sorocaba City Hall, such as the Barracão Cultural (Cultural Warehouse), the Sorocabana Railroad Museum and the Scarpa palace.
Among the many international artists featured in the first edition of Frestas, in 2014, were: Anton Steenbock (Germany), Ana Galhardo (Argentina), Carlos Castro (Colombia), Nuria Guell (Spain), Kristina Norman (Estonia), Marcela Armas (Mexico), as well as Brazilian artists from different generations, such as: Barbara Wagner, Brígida Baltar, Bruno Moreschi, Bruno Vilela, Caetano Dias, Daniel Santiago, Lenora de Barros, Laura Belém, Lume Teatro, Raquel Stolf, Regina Parra, Rochelle Costi, Sandra Cinto, Veronica Stigger, and Tom Zé, to name a few.
The second edition of Frestas – Trienal de Artes (Gaps – Art Triennial) will be held from August to December 2017 and will include an exhibition at SESC Sorocaba, installations at the city’s historical sites, performances, seminars, publications and a number of educational initiatives. The project will be curated by Daniela Labra, historian and art critic, who will be assisted by curator Yudi Rafael. Fabio Tremonte will be the curator for the educational program.
