these interests and needs are visible first and foremost in the sourcing of raw materials - in rio de janeiro state, the natural products most widely available - and most widely used - are bamboo and cattails, which are major parts of the ecosystem throughout the state.

with adaptive reuse of industrial and mass-produced products - like our girl from ipanema's cannily made handbag - and using simple and occasionally improvised tools, the carioca artisan can produce nearly anything - baskets, furniture, musical instruments, costumes, shoes, and hats are all among the products conjured through folkloric production methods.

there are pristine examples of brazilian folk art on display at the national museum dedicated to it - the museo de arte popular casa do pontal sits on the edge of the leafy prainha ecological preserve.