ZimSculpt, an award-winning international exhibition of unique, handcrafted stone sculptures created by Zimbabwean artists, opens at the Houston Botanic Garden on March 23. Be among the first Houstonians to browse hundreds of semi-precious stone pieces, view live sculpting demonstrations, and shop a one-of-a-kind marketplace of fine African art by attending the opening day celebration for the exhibit.
ZimSculpt highlights the Shona sculpture tradition, which is named for the largest tribe in Zimbabwe. Since the 1960s, artists from various tribes in the south African nation, and beyond, have been transforming locally sourced serpentine stone into smooth, highly polished contemporary works that are the most collected type of African art in the world.
To bring the practice to life, sculptors Passmore Mupindiko and Percy Kuta will be on-site at the Garden during the run of the show giving live demonstrations of their process, using hand tools including chisels, hammers, and files. All sculptures, many of which are hand-held in size, including those created on-site during the run of the show, will be available for sale in the ZimSculpt Marketplace adjacent to the Garden’s Pine Grove.
The ZimSculpt exhibition is included in the cost of general admission to the Garden, which is $15 per adult, $10 per child/student on Saturday, March 23. Garden members may use the general admission benefit(s) associated with their membership level to see the exhibit for no additional charge.
Houston Botanic Garden offers free parking for most events, which are often held in climate-controlled environments, rain or shine. If you have specific questions, please email education@hbg.org.