"A Tiny Infinity"

Shona sculptors often say that they are inspired by their dreams. The spirits of their ancestors speak to them in their dreams, and allow the sculptors to release the spirit within the stone. These spirits not only reveal themselves in the sculpture, they guide the entire sculpting process. The result is an inspiring dialogue between carved forms and the natural ruggedness of the rock.

Springstone comes from the Guruve mine in northern Zimbabwe. It is one of the hardest stones found in the country and has an elevated density allowing it to be polished to a bright shine. Springstone contains high deposits of iron which can sometimes be seen in a reddish-brown outer layer on the stone. The iron also makes it an incredibly hard stone to carve by hand.

Dating back to 1956 until today, stone sculptures in Zimbabwe are the best-known manifestation of African contemporary art. Northern Zimbabwe has uniquely large amounts of carvable stone. The stone was so important to the people that the name ‘Shona’ is derived from a word in their native language that means ‘house of stone.’ There is no technical artistic training in Shona sculpture. Sculpting skills are passed down through families and the large and hard stones are carved with only a hammer and chisel.