Frankly I was very disappointed by the art in both museums, although this might have been due to the nature of their current special exhibits. I say this having very much enjoyed many art museums in Buenos Aires.

Is the art museum in Sao Paulo (I think there's just one, right, sort of on Plausita not far from Augusta?) very good?

It's a better option than going to the beach, oh wait, there's no beach in SP! I visited the MASP a few years ago, and while it's rather small it had a few masterpieces on display.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A..._Museum_of_Art

The one on Avenida Paulista near the Trianon park is the MASP, pretty good for getting an idea of Brazilian artists like Portinari if you never covered them in your college art history class.
Their other pieces are second tier (IMO) works by internationally famous artists. If you've been to museums in NYC or Europe, you might be disappointed, as I was, what with the hype about "the finest museum in SA"..

There is also the Pinacoteca, with more contemporary works.
http://www.pinacoteca.org.br/pinacoteca-en/

There is also the Lasar Segall museum, a house museum with his own works.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museu_Lasar_Segall
His works are also in the collection of MOMA in NYC.

If you are in SP at a certain time of a certain year, you could visit the Biennial.
http://www.biennialfoundation.org/bi...olo-biennialv/

For crafts, you could take a daytrip to Embu.

That should be a start for you.
There is a pretty busy contemporary gallery and atelier scene, but it is harder and more time consuming to find.

Here is a portrait of Mario de Andrade by Anna Malfatti whose works you can find at MASP iirc.
https://obrasanitamalfatti.files.wor...ticular-sp.jpg

Helpful tip for all travelers coming to watch the games.

Depending on the event you are going to, you might have a problem with transportation, with no private cars or taxis allowed at certain routes. Hence I suggest you get a Riocard instead, you can get it at certain locations and metro stations. Below is the site for you to check prices and where to buy them.

http://www.riocard.com/jogosrio2016/

To add to what Lighthand said, the Riocard is the best thing to get for transportation between the venues. Many of the BRTs will not be available if you do not have the card.

For events at Barra da Tijuca, from Botafago where the ticket pick-up is, is like a 2+ hour commute on public transportation. Anyone know if there's a quicker way there?

At what point are taxis/Ubers no allowed near the events? Since we may take an Uber as far as we can go and then take a bus to the event.

Your question is a little open ended.

It'll depend on the actual event venue, as well as any changes to the number of closed roads.

If you are thinking taxi/Uber option, I guess Barra Shopping could be one option to stop (at this time).

All of my events are at the Olympic Park so yeah, probably Barra Shopping

As long as the new metro line is running, which it *should* be, you can do that in like 45 min plus bus transfer to the actual grounds which isnt far.

Right...assuming it's working but from what I'm reading on the final assessments on the infrastructures being built/completed, I'm going to just assume the new line won't offer very reliable service, if it's running at all.

You shouldn't be worried. The line will open on August 1st for persons with Olympic credentials, on August 5th for ticket holders. Special day passes are needed in order to gain access on top of the venue tickets, since they do not pay the subway fare.

Take a look:

http://globoplay.globo.com/v/5187295/

The trains are already running... Reporters from globo were invited for a ride along last week. I don't know what problems, if any, have been discovered so far but to assume it won't be operating for the Olympics at this point is a mistake.

Looks like things are finally coming together.

Here is the best map I have found of the BRT, Metro and VRT. Hope it helps.

http://www.cidadeolimpica.rio/wp-con...nsporte_02.jpg

Best way to plan your travel is to use this website.

http://visit.rio/en/mobility/

You can use it to estimate travel time required (+ some safety factor).

Not for nuthin' but the same thing happened for the metro line in Salvador. It was introduced to the press....and then it was years more before any of it was online for general passengers. LOL Assume nothing in Brazil.