It seems like a long time since I updated this blog, well actually it is. I just got caught up in my trip and catching up when I got back. I must say it was good to be home, I miss it so much already. Hopefully I will be able to go back soon.
In my third week I visited my husband”s rural home in Guruve. I stayed with my beautiful sister-in-law, Tete Maggie. She stays at a farm where she runs a small shop but what I had not realised was that she stays so close to Tengenenge Arts Centre. Actually the artists come to get their groceries from my sister-in-law. Let me go back, Tengenenge Arts Village is an open air sculpture gallery that was founded by Tom Blomefield and is now run by the well known artist Dominic Benhura. For more information about Tengenenge please go to their website here.
As close as Tete Maggie lives to the center it was her first time to visit, so she was just as amazed as I was because I had not realised there would be so many beautiful sculptures. We were met by the centre”s salesperson, Blessing, who took us around the gallery. There are about two hundred artists who have their artwork showcased. I initially felt overwhelmed because there is so much there to see and choosing just one piece that you like is very difficult. Here are the pictures of my experience:
The Office:
Tete Maggie:
The Salesman Blessing:
Pardon my expression but that chair was hot!!
The head:
Spinning Heads
Zimbabwe bird replica:
This was done by my sister-in-law Tete Patie (my husbands family has many artists so not really suprised):
Taurai Rukodzi – really liked his art:
Coming from the well:
Artists at work:
I had the honorable pleasure of meeting Mr Amali, the oldest artist at Tengenenge born in 1914 and still chipping at the rocks!
I can talk about the art all day, but what really touched my heart were the people that make the centre. When you talk to them about their art they do not consider themselves as being talented, they do it because they are passionate about their work. It is who they are. The do not try to complicate their art, their art is left to your interpretation. When you see a piece you make it what you want it to be.
Lastly, I would like to appeal to my fellow Zimbabweans to support these artists. Its nice that they get people from other countries coming to buy from them but I honestly think it would also mean so much more if the local people also supported them in the same manner that the musicians are supported.
Please find more pictures at my Flickr page here.