Book 'Floating Letters' receives a new edition and will be taken to public schools in Pará
With editing by the State Department of Culture, the work presents the work of letter openers - an art that navigates the region
On the night of this Friday (31), the 2nd edition of the book "Floating Letters" was launched, published for the first time in 2021 by the State Department of Culture (Secult). The event took place at the Caixa Cultural Belém, with a book signing session by the author, Fernanda Martins.
The work will undergo an educational circulation through the public education network of Pará, with distribution to 200 schools. The initiative is sponsored by the Federal Government, via Caixa Econômica, and in partnership with Secult and the State Department of Education (Seduc). The realization is by the Institute Floating Letters.
"The partnership of the state government, through Secult, with researcher and designer Fernanda Martins, was very successful. The first edition of the book was a huge success. It sold out very quickly and revealed a great interest in this very singular aesthetic expression that navigates our rivers. We congratulate Caixa Cultural for the sensitivity in embracing this project at the launch of this second edition, making this book reach public schools and other audiences," emphasized the Secretary of State for Culture, Ursula Vidal.
Incentive - The proposal is for teachers to discuss in the classroom themes such as heritage, visual language, belonging, and riverside identity. The book will be used to stimulate this conversation and encourage the appreciation of local references among students.
The book results from two decades of research, documentation, and listening to master letter openers — popular artists who hand-paint names and ornaments on boats since 1925, consolidating a secular Amazonian graphic language.
"The opportunity to relaunch is wonderful because the book is an object that remains, it is an object that people keep, it has a long life and a multiplication of the message. There was a desire, many people wanted it, so much so that it sold out very quickly in the first edition, and the opportunity for us to have a second edition validates the work," emphasized Fernanda Martins.
Reissue - The 1st edition of the work, launched in 2021 during the 24th Pan-Amazonian Book and Multivoices Fair, was a finalist for the Jabuti Award. Now, the book receives a reissue, sponsored by the Federal Government/Caixa, in a print run of 2,000 copies aimed at public schools and libraries in Pará.
"The continuation of this partnership with Secult, now with Caixa as well, allowed the work to be expanded beyond the book. It ended up turning into workshops in other units of Caixa Cultural. With this, we take Amazonian openers to other capitals in Brazil. And soon to the schools here in Pará," the author revealed.
The letter opener Edson Moraes contributed to the construction of the book and was also present at the event. "I started by observing some friends, and I was born with this painting instinct. People started paying me, and it became my job. Fernanda did the mapping. It was some friends first, and in the second meeting, I was already there, and we are still here today, thank God and very happy," Edson said.
The paulista Érica Takahashi, passing through Belém, took advantage of Friday night to get to know the new Caixa Cultural and participated in the launch. "It is the first time I have contact with the work, and what motivated me to make this purchase today was the desire to have more knowledge about the issue of letter openers. I find it very interesting, as well as the regional culture here. I flipped through the book, and it’s super beautiful," said Érica.
The book can be purchased at https://solardoleitor.lojavirtualnuvem.com.br/produtos/letras-q-flutuam/
Text: Juliana Amaral - Ascom/Secult
