Contemporay, yet steeped in the legends and traditions of this ancient African culture, Shona stone sculpture is a profound expression of human connections that transcend geography and time. Unlike formally trained Western artists, Shona carvers are primarily self-taught. They do not plan or pre-draw their sculptures. Instead, the image is inspired by the stone itself, or by ancestral family spirits. Sculptors often say the spirits visit their dreams and reveal the spirit within the rock.

As with others who believe in animism, including many Native Americans and the Shintoists of Japan, the Shona believe everything has a spirit, including plants and rocks. After quarrying the raw stone with pickaxe and pry bar, the carvers use simple handmade tools to release the spirit trapped within the multicolored serpentine. Once released, the spirits soar with dynamic, mythical themes that strike deep within the well-spring of our shared consciousness. Collectors say their pieces call to them, revealing what is perhaps a primal link between distant lands and cultures.

Excerpt from Zimbabwe Shona Sculpture

Photo on home page: "I am just free..." Colleen Madamombe. 19"h x 17"w x 13"d Springstone. $ 2750.

Colleen Madamombe

A free spirit, Colleen Madamombe was born in 1964 in Harare and is fast becoming an established figure amongst the Second Generation of Zimbabwean stone sculptors. She has won the award for Best Female Artist of Zimbabwe consecutively over the past three years and is considered amongst the finest new talents from this country.

"Worried" by Colleen Madamombe. 8"h x 8"w x 6"d Springstone. $1750.