Luzia Dantas de Araújo has been living in Currais Novos for over 30 years, and was born on the Rio Cachoeria smallholding, in São Vicente (RN) in 1937. Her wooden sculptures can be seen in museums, galleries and collector’s homes all over Brazil and abroad. “I never go anywhere. My daughter lives in Natal and when I need the doctor I go there and come back quickly. I like to be at home in Currais Novos.” Wherever she goes, Luzia always takes pieces of wood with her, together with a small sharp knife. “I was the first to make this sort of thing in Currais Novos. Once, a long time ago, I saw a piece by Chico Santeiro, who has passed away. My sister Ana Dantas, who has also died, used to work with wood. But I was the first. My mother used to make dolls out of watermelon skins for us to play with. And I started making dolls in wood. The neighbours started ordering some for their children, and the thing grew. I used to get pieces of imburana wood to make animals. I watched the rodeo shows, the oxen and horse races, and ran back home to reproduce everything. And so it went on. People would ask, and I would make. I know art in wood is not for everybody. Carving is easier, but making an entire figurine is hard.” Her pieces are rich in detail and movement, and the rodeo scenes are perfect. “I like to make things with a lot of detail. I use facial features that are familiar to me. I make each part separately and then glue them together. Each figurine has a different face. Sometimes people bring photographs to inspire the face of a saint, and sometimes the portraits are ugly, but when I make a face, it’s always beautiful.”