Mestre Reis - José Carlos Alves Reis

Born in Parnaíba, Piauí, on 25 February 1952, Reis took up the craft in 1972. His skill and creativity more than compensate for the absence of a formal academic training.

He has taken part in numerous fairs and salons, notably the 2nd Salon of Fine Arts in Teresina (1976), Encontro com a Cultura in Parnaíba (1979) and the 2nd Salon of Santeiro Art (1981). He held solo shows at the Escola Lélio Avelino in Teresina (1975), in Brasília (1980) and in Vitória, Espírito Santo (1983), and took part in the Meeting of Master Woodcraftsmen at the Ministry of Labour in Brasília (1987) and in the 7th and 20th Latin American Meetings of Folklore and Craft, both in Caruaru, Pernambuco, besides many fairs and exhibitions in several Brazilian states.