During the Fall 2017 semester, Tulane University hosted the Brazil-based graffiti artist collective Grupo Opni. Professor Rosanne Adderley’s history class worked with the artist collective to recreate panels depicting slave rebellion in Brazil titled 1811 Rebellion and Palmares Rebellion in Brazil. The resulting artwork is now installed in the front office of the History Department, Hebert 115.
Grupo Opni is graffiti artist collective from São Mateus, Brazil with a mission of using art as a medium to celebrate Afro Brazilian culture and as a vehicle to provide a voice for disenfranchised groups from the periphery. Formed in 1997, Grupo Opni has since won many national awards for graffiti art in Brazil such as “Best Graffiti Group” in (2012: State of São Paulo) and “Best community project” in the “Cultural Territories Category” (2015: Governor’s Award). The group is also known for developing works for various artists in the Brazilian music scene such as MC’s, Crioulo, MV Bill, Dexter, Emicida, Charlie Brow Junior, O Rappa, Banda Black Rio, Ponot de Equilíbrio, among others. After participating in the 45th Jazz and Heritage Festival Brazilian Cultural Pavilion in 2014, Opni returned to New Orleans to present at Tulane University September 11-12, 2017.