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ZimSculpt

Curators of Zimbabwean Sculpture Worldwide

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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Location: Dallas, TX, United States
Previously ran: 2017

For the first time ever in the southern U.S., the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will present the international blockbuster exhibition ZimSculpt, a world-renowned display of modern Zimbabwean stone sculptures, from April 15 to July 31, 2017.

You can contact us on 469 986 4818.  CLICK HERE for pictures of ALL the current sculptures throughout the garden.

ZimSculpt will feature more than 100 exquisite sculptures of several dozen contemporary Zimbabwean artists displayed throughout the garden, much like the previous Chihuly and Gary Lee Price exhibits shown at the Arboretum. Known as Shona sculpture, these contemporary pieces are carved from various types of serpentine and semi-precious stone, often weighing tons, and can be as large as seven feet tall. This sculpture is the most collected form of African art that can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Rodin Museum and in the homes of the Prince of Wales, the Rockefellers, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover and the late Michael Jackson.

ZimSculpt is passionate about promoting the work of some of the finest Zimbabwean sculptors. Therefore, as part of the exhibit, artists and sculptors Passmore Mupindiko and  Aron Kapembeza will demonstrate their artistry by carving statues using chisels, hammers, files and sandpaper to create these works, while guests watch and learn about this art.

Visitors may purchase any of the sculptures on display in the garden, as well as the ones created by the onsite artists and those in The Marketplace, located in Dallas Arboretum’s Pecan Grove. The Marketplace will be open to guests seven days a week and on Wednesday evenings, selling hand-held to medium size sculpture. Commissioned pieces can be ordered and made on site by the artists.

ZimSculpt, founded in Zimbabwe under the guidance of art collectors Vivienne and Joseph Croisette, believe ZimSculpt has become ‘the world’s premier exhibition of modern Zimbabwean sculpture.’  Interestingly, Zimbabwe means “house of stone,” and the country has a long history of stone carving beginning with artists from the 1950s who taught their children how to carve sculpture from stone, with this knowledge was passed down to succeeding generations. The Croisettes work with about 250 sculptors to build their collection, and have held exhibitions in the UK, USA and Canada and have been invited to Bahrain and Dubai.

According to Mark Wolf, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, “We are always looking for unique displays that will do well in a garden setting, and the magnificent contemporary stone statues will fit perfectly within our various gardens. We’re also thrilled that it will be the first time this exhibition will be featured in the southern U.S., thus attracting visitors from the area.”

During the beginning of the show on April 29 and 30, the Dallas Arboretum features Artscape Reimagined, its juried fine arts and crafts show. The Zimbabwean artists will demonstrate their artistry as a part of the weekend’s festivities.

Wolf added, “These unique art pieces resonate with roots from their African homeland. These statues are strong and delicate, stark and complex, contemporary and exquisitely handmade. Everything is done by hand at a high level with tools to carve these stones, and when guests see these artists chisel stone in person, they will see how much work goes into creating these works of art.”

ZimSculpt is supported in part by Dave Perry-Miller.

About the onsite artists:

Aron Kapembeza: Aron is one of Zimbabwe’s most successful and most represented artists; he is also a self-taught sculptor, specializing in Springstone and stone inlay. He maintains his studio and gallery in New Tafara, Harare. At a young age, he discovered that he could see the finished sculptures hidden in Springstone, and from that moment, a transformation began. His passion for the human form has made him develop his own expressive style – for example, taking womanhood from tender ages to motherhood. This can be seen in a wide range of gorgeous sculptures ranging from stylized to representational in the Marketplace and throughout the gardens.  Watch the TIME LAPSE video of Aron starting and finishing a sculpture!

Passmore Mupindiko: Passmore started carving at a young age; his favorite medium was wood. After a life-changing visit to a famous art community called Tengenenge in Zimbabwe, he was convinced by the proprietor Tom Blomfield, to start sculpting in stone.  He now creates all his work in stone, focusing on leaf bowls (used for attracting birds), slender guinea fowl, shells, and leaf heads. His work has been exhibited all over the world, including countries such as France, Holland, South Africa, Germany and Denmark.

Press & Media Coverage

Good Morning Texas with Shannon Powell Hart (TV)

Dallas Today with Kandace (TV)

Dallas Weekly Mag ZimSculpt 5.05.2017

Paper City Magazine

Classic Cafe 101 FM Radio

Mommys Minivan Monologues VLOG i (with Curator Vivienne Croisette)
Mommys Minivan Monologues VLOG ii (with artists Passmore Mupindiko & Aron Kapembeza)

Featured Exhibitions

  • Upcoming 15 April – 30 JulyFort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas
    Upcoming 15 April – 30 July
    Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Texas
  • 2022Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, USA
    2022
    Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, USA
  • 2021 & 2017Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, United States
    2021 & 2017
    Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, United States
  • 2019 & 2018Toronto Botanical Garden, Canada
    2019 & 2018
    Toronto Botanical Garden, Canada
  • 2017Toledo Botanical Garden, United States
    2017
    Toledo Botanical Garden, United States
  • 2015Muttart Conservatory, Canada
    2015
    Muttart Conservatory, Canada
  • 2014-15Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, United States
    2014-15
    Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, United States
  • 2012-13 & 2006-7The Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada
    2012-13 & 2006-7
    The Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada
  • 2013Dow Gardens, USA
    2013
    Dow Gardens, USA
  • 2012-13Naples Botanical Garden, United States
    2012-13
    Naples Botanical Garden, United States
  • 2009-11VanDusen Botanical Garden, Canada
    2009-11
    VanDusen Botanical Garden, Canada
  • 2004-6 & 2011Loseley Park, UK
    2004-6 & 2011
    Loseley Park, UK
  • 2006-11RHS Chelsea Flower Show, UK
    2006-11
    RHS Chelsea Flower Show, UK
  • 2008-10Knebworth House, UK
    2008-10
    Knebworth House, UK
  • 2008-10Herstmonceux Castle (Queens University), UK
    2008-10
    Herstmonceux Castle (Queens University), UK
  • 2005-7Cannizaro Park, UK
    2005-7
    Cannizaro Park, UK
  • 2003-5Ingatestone Hall, UK
    2003-5
    Ingatestone Hall, UK

About ZimSculpt

Based in Harare, ZimSculpt is passionate about promoting the work of some of the finest Zimbabwean sculptors. By holding exhibitions around the world and making sculptures available for purchase online, we let you experience some of the finest contemporary stone sculpture.
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Upcoming Exhibition

  • Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth , Texas
    15 April – 30 July

Partner with ZimSculpt

ZimSculpt partners with people around the world. Contact us if you are interested in hosting an exhibition or are interested in selling our sculptures.
Learn more

Past Exhibitions

  • Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, USA (2022)
  • Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, United States (2021 & 2017)
  • Toronto Botanical Garden, Canada (2019 & 2018)
  • Toledo Botanical Garden, United States (2017)
  • Muttart Conservatory, Canada (2015)
  • Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, United States (2014-15)
  • The Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada (2012-13 & 2006-7)
  • Dow Gardens, USA (2013)
  • Naples Botanical Garden, United States (2012-13)
  • Loseley Park, UK (2004-6 & 2011)
  • RHS Chelsea Flower Show, UK (2006-11)
  • Knebworth House, UK (2008-10)
  • Herstmonceux Castle (Queens University), UK (2008-10)
  • Cannizaro Park, UK (2005-7)
  • Ingatestone Hall, UK (2003-5)
View more
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Promotion counts as much as the art, and if the promotion is right the art will be right, and if the promotion is wrong it will go wrong, and that’s the whole answer. The future is in the hands of the promoters.

Frank McEwenquoted in Smith 1995
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