After two years, ZimArt welcomes artist-in-residence with new exhibit in August
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Loading... - Aluna Musau
- 03 Aug 2022
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In Tapiwa Mapuranga’s hometown of Nyanga, Zimbabwe — the birthplace of Shona sculpture — he fell in love with stone carving.
Learning from elders, Mapuranga’s experiences growing up in the eastern Zimbabwe town formed his creations. His sculptures took on the shape of what he saw and knew: loving families, the power of music and song, the deep connections borne from close-knit communities, nature — and the simple, beautiful joys of life.
Now, after years of honing his talent, Mapuranga, 51, is bringing his uniquely expressive style of Shona sculpting to the Peterborough area. He is the artist-in-residence at ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery — the first sculptor from Zimbabwe to make the outdoor gallery his temporary home and workplace since the pandemic began.
“Meeting the people here is just fantastic,” Mapuranga, a first-time visitor to Canada, told The Examiner.
Mapuranga’s work will be shown in an exhibition entitled Stories in Stone, which runs from Aug. 6 to Sept. 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Along with Mapuranga’s pieces, more than 200 sculptures, created by 50 plus artists, will also be on display at ZimArt at 855 Second Line Rd. in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township. They’re all available for purchase.
As the gallery’s artist-in-residence, Mapuranga is also leading a series of immersive workshops — a two-day introductory program and a five-day “master carver” program — for beginners and experienced carvers alike.
“I love teaching people what I know about my experience, so I’m sharing this with the people of Canada. Back home, I teach the young ones. I’ve also taught in neighbouring countries Zambia and Mozambique and South Africa,” Mapuranga said. Read More…
