Page 18 - Zimbabwe Stone Sculpure 1st Edition

Introduction
Sixty years ago, the idea that a group of Black artists from Zimbabwe would make such a huge impact on the world of art would have been given little credence. Rhodesia, as the country
was then called, was not renowned for its art. However, seven years after Independence in 1980, veteran journalist Ray Wilkinson, in an article in Newsweek magazine on September 14, 1987, said: “Shona sculpture is perhaps the most important new art form to emerge from Africa in this century”.
So what is this sculpture from Zimbabwe? How did it begin? Who are the artists? What is the stone? All these commonly asked questions and more will be answered in this book. As the founder and owner of Stone Dynamics Gallery, I have participated in the growth and popularity of the sculpture for the last 30 years. I wanted to write this book to provide the wider public with an insight into the fascinating history of Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture, its influence on the international art world and its relevance today. I also wanted to commemorate 30 years of the Stone Dynamics Gallery and pay tribute to the artists I have worked with. It is
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