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Born and raised in São Luís do Paraitinga, Frederico Ozanan de Castro Santos had no way of escaping the workshops where giant dolls and masks are traditionally made for carnival and other local events. “ I’m known as Ju Preto (Black Ju), a nickname I was given to differentiate me from a friend known as Ju Branco (White Ju). I was born in 1980 and my grandfather and great-grandfather were excellent carpenters. At 15 I started working at the workshops where the giant dolls where made. I used to help Benito unpicking rope, cleaning the floor, and going to buy bread. I did a bit of everything, and ended up learning the trade.” After finishing school Ju Preto went to Pindamonhangaba (SP) to study to be an art teacher, but always came back at weekends to work at the local craft art fair. “I spent over 10 years at that fair, then I opened my own workshop where I still make masks, dolls and other things linked to the story of the town, its characters and folklore.” Ju Preto has created miniature versions of the traditional dolls João Paulino and Maria Angu, which every years open and close the local carnival. |
