Proposed Course Materials for the Capela de São Miguel Arcanjo in São Paulo: Architecture, Art, and Archaeology Creating Bonds with the Community

• Grant number: 23/10741-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Fundamentals of Architecture and Urbanism
• Principal Investigator: Renata Maria de Almeida Martins
• Grantee: Isabella Cavalcanti Betioli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06538-9 - Baroque-açu: Portuguese America in the art geography of the global South, AP.JP2

Abstract

This undergraduate research project aims to create course materials about the Capela de São Miguel Arcanjo, located in São Miguel Paulista, east São Paulo. The main focus is to explore its history from the perspective of invisible social actors who have been marginalized over the centuries, using an interdisciplinary approach that correlates architecture, art, archaeology, history, and heritage education.The target audience for the course materials is school-age children and youth. Its primary objective is to encourage diverse discussions not only about local history and memory but also about the transformation of São Paulo and Brazil. The ultimate goal is to disseminate knowledge and foster new connections between the cultural asset and the diverse community. The final product will build upon and expand the existing research on the Capela de São Miguel Arcanjo, its history, its concreteness, and its importance to the neighborhood community of São Miguel Paulista, as well as exploring the concept of heritage education, and diverse, new and comprehensive ways for the establishment of educational bonds with society. The course materials will be formulated not only based on a theoretical bibliographic search but also through analyzing various course materials, allowing for a better approach to the subject matter.This project was initiated due to a dearth from São Paulo's Archaeology Center - CASP, which proposed the production of this course materials. Consequently, articulating CASP´s requests and reflecting on the insights gained from courses, essays, and technical visits, it was concluded that developing course materials that addressed the history of the chapel, above all, focusing on indigenous protagonism would be highly relevant. This exploration will encompass the village of Ururaí, the Jesuit settlement, the presence of Franciscans, and enslaved Africans, and consider the urban evolution of the region up to the present day, involving various social actors over an extended period. The archaeological studies conducted at the site in 2006 hold immense significance in comprehending its history from a perspective that encompasses indigenous, African, and mestizo cultures. This contribution goes beyond enriching the fields of architecture and art history through the expansion of interdisciplinary methodologies; it also fosters collaboration with heritage education and plays a vital role in establishing and strengthening bonds with the local community and society at large.Finally, it is worth noting that this project also aligns with the objectives of the FAPESP Young Investigator Grant Phase 2 "Barroco Açu" (process nº 2021/06538-9), in progress at FAU-USP.