Origins and History of Pinacoteca APLUB
Pinacoteca APLUB de Arte Rio-Grandense was established as a private Brazilian institutional pinacoteca. The institution was founded by the Associação de Profissionais Liberais Universitários do Brasil (APLUB), an organization that traces its origins back to 1964. The collection itself was the result of the vision of doctor and businessman Rolf Udo Zelmanowicz, who idealized the assembly of these works.
The institution began its provisional operations in 1969. During this initial period, the pinacoteca was located at the APLUB headquarters on Avenida Júlio de Castilhos, nº 10. This early phase focused on gathering the foundational pieces that would define the institution's character within the region of Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The Collection and its Artists
The collection originated in the 1970s through the efforts of the Associação dos Profissionais Liberais Universitários – Aplub. At its inauguration, the holdings consisted of approximately 300 works. This foundation has since expanded to a total size of almost 800 works of art. The selection focuses on artists active in Rio Grande do Sul, establishing a specific regional character within the holdings.
The breadth of the collection includes works by Pedro Weingärtner, Ado Malagoli, and Francisco Stockinger. Other artists represented in the archive are Carlos Scliar, Iberê Camargo, Antonio Caringi, Gotuzzo, Aldo Locatelli, Vasco Prado, Porcella, Magliani, Petrucci, Regina Silveira, Carlos Tenius, and Nelson Boeira Faedrich. These artists contribute to a diverse visual record of the region's artistic production.
- Butterfly Hunter, about 1904 - Pedro Weingärtner
- In the Caldarium - Surprised Nymphs, about 1908 - Pedro Weingärtner
- Pompeian Women in the Frigidarium, about 1897 - Pedro Weingärtner
- Sewing in the Garden - Oscar Boeira
Recent Projects and Transfers
A significant shift in the management of the collection occurred following the signing of a Protocol of Intentions on November 13, 2013. This agreement was established at the Usina do Gasômetro between the Porto Alegre City Hall and the Fundação Aplub de Crédito Educativo (Fundaplub). The protocol was signed by Mayor José Fortunati, Secretary of Culture Roque Jacoby, and the President of Fundaplub, Nelson Wedekin.
The primary objective of this agreement is to transfer the collection to the City Hall to facilitate free exhibitions at the Usina do Gasômetro. This arrangement aims to ensure the works are accessible to the public through organized programming. In the initial stage of this transfer, more than 400 works were made available to the curatorship of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture (SMC).
