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 FAMILY LOVE NATURE SPIRIT
A remarkable exhibit of contemporary African stone sculpture comes to Chicago from May 31 to October 31 as Chapungu: Custom and Legend, A Culture in Stone. The 90 sculptures displayed in the beautiful surroundings of the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Garfield Park Conservatory are drawn from the collection of the Chapungu Sculpture Park of Zimbabwe, Africa. They are the work of 35 sculptors—three generations of artists—most of whom are Shona. The Shona people are the majority ethnic group in Zimbabwe and have lived in southern Africa for more than 800 years. Through the sculptures, the artists speak of their cultural traditions, religious beliefs, social concerns and everyday life. Yet they communicate the experiences and emotions common to all people. These sculptures are presented in the following themed areas: The Family, Nature and the Environment, Custom and Legend, The Role of the Elders, Social Comment, The Spirit World, The Role of Women and Village Life. On view for the first time ever in the Chicago area, this exhibit has met with acclaim wherever it has traveled—including Kew Gardens in London, Musée Rodin in Paris and museums in Holland, Germany, Australia and Great Britain. Chapungu artists bring Africa closer to Chicago by accompanying the exhibit and publicly creating works of sculpture. Related programs also include guided tours, sculpture workshops and performances by Zimbabwe musicians. "This is the birth of a great new art, capable of speaking about the whole of creation, from personal and family feeling to the world of spirit, soul and self. It is a thrilling adventure of contemporary art."
Copyright © 2003 Chicago Botanic Garden, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. |
