Zimbabwean Sculptures Showcased in Distillery Distric

Zimbabwean Sculptures Showcased in Distillery District

12 July 2011 One Comment

By Tendisai Cromwell

Beautifully crafted Zimbabwean stone sculptures adorned a cobblestone Distillery District street on July 8 and 9. The exhibit showcased the works of 30 artists whose sculptures embodied Zimbabwean family life, femininity, nature, animals, and spirituality. Grouped by theme and artist, 150 impressive sculptures were displayed atop chopped tree trunks and distributed all throughout Trinity street.

The exhibit, curated by Fran Fearnley, owner of ZimArt, draws upon a Zimbabwean tradition of displaying sculptures outdoors.

“Stone is a natural material so to be able to show it outside somehow brings it back to the roots of where it all comes from,” Fran explains.

Zimbabwe itself means ‘House of Stone’ and is home to a World Heritage Site of stone ruins emanating from the Great Zimbabwe civilization.

“Stone is part of the fabric of the country,” Fran says explaining that the emergence of a rich artist tradition of stone sculpting is of little wonder in a country where stone is an abundant natural resource.

Zimbabwean artist Lewtin Mugavazi was on site crafting a sculpture live. Curious onlookers approached Lewtin to watch her

Letwin Mugavazi

bring life to stone and offer her words of praise.

Growing up in a family of artists, Lewtin has been sculpting for 19 years and inherited her artist skills from her elder brothers. In a craft dominated by men, Lewtin is a refreshing face as a female sculptor. For this reason, Lewtin explains that women are the inspiration for many of her works.

“I was inspired by women’s lives in Zimbabwe. In all my sculptures I celebrate the life of a woman.”

Lewtin will return to Zimbabwe after spending three months in Canada as a resident artist with ZimArt, offering sculpting workshops at the gallery.

She says that her works have been well-received by the international community and contribute to a positive image of Zimbabwe.

“People are appreciating that there is something good which comes out of Zimbabwe through the artworks which we do.”

The exhibit was well-attended and there was a palpable air of intrigue and excitement about the sculptures.

“I think in seeing this work you see dignity, you see tenderness, you see such a celebration of life. For me that’s something I’m much more conscious of when I’m in Zimbabwe” Fran says.

With the exception of traveling exhibits, these sculptures are permanent fixtures at the Rice Lake Gallery located in Rice Lake, Ontario, 90 minutes east of Toronto.

For more information about exhibits, ZimArt and the Rice Lake gallery please visit the website: www.zimart.ca

Letwin Mugavazi Profile: www.zimart.ca/artist_bios/Letwin%20Mugavazi.pdf

Tendisai Cromwell is a freelance writer and editorial intern for swaymag.ca.