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The Fort Worth Botanic Garden is set to host its first-ever Zimbabwean sculpture exhibit, from April 15 through July 30. This event titled “ZimSculpt”, will feature more than 100 exquisite sculptures by several contemporary Zimbabwean artists. But these pieces will not be on display at any museum, instead they will be available for purchase while on site at the Botanic Garden.
These contemporary pieces, which are carved from various types of serpentine and semi-precious stone, are known as a Shona sculptures. These hand-crafted art pieces are said to often weigh a ton and can be as large as seven feet tall. This style of African art is said to be the most collected and can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Rodin Museum and in the homes of the Prince of Wales, Morgan Freeman, and the late Michael Jackson among others.
“Botanic gardens are the perfect venue for sculptures, and we’re thrilled to feature these impressive stone statues throughout the Garden,” says Bob Byers, executive vice president of the Botanic Garden. “We’re also elated that this exhibit is making its premiere in Fort Worth. We expect visitors to come from miles around.”
This exhibit will support 300 sculptors and their families in five different regions of Zimbabwe, according to a release. As part of the exhibit, onsite sculptors will demonstrate their artistry by carving statues using chisels, hammers, files and sandpaper to create beautiful works while guests watch and learn about the art.
“Once a sculpture in the exhibit is sold, it is replaced with another sculpture, by a different artist,” says “ZimSculpt” founder Vivienne Prince. “Therefore, the exhibit changes constantly. What visitors experience the first day of the show may be altogether different later in the exhibit.”
Visitors may purchase any of the sculptures on display in the Garden as well as the ones created by the onsite artists and those for sale in The Marketplace. The Marketplace will be open to guests seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patrons will have a chance to see and purchase hand-held to medium-size sculptures at this location. Commissioned pieces may be ordered and made onsite by the artists.
This limited engagement sculpture event is included in the price of Garden admission. Members receive free entry. For more information, visit fwbg.org/zimsculpt.
