Local News

Sculptures of Stone

October 25, 2007

By Cara Newby

The Missouri Botanical Garden, located off Shaw Boulevard, began hosting this year’s Chapungu sculpture exhibit on Sept. 28 and will continue through Oct. 31.

The Chapungu sculptures include such objects as animals, humans and legendary creatures. Altogether, there are 23 new sculptures on display in the garden.

“Chapungu” is the name of a powerful bird that is thought to be a good omen in the Shona culture from Zimbabwe. Chapungu artists create hand-carved sculptures from stone that depict their African culture.

Lynn Kerkemeyer, special exhibits manager, said, “All the sculptures are sawed by hand because the artists have such a connection with the stone.” The Shona people also value family and have a close relationship with the earth.

“Family is extremely strong; it is a privilege to care for the elder members of the family,” said Kerkemeyer.

Alisha Goebel, directory of the Chapungu gallery and gift shop, said, “Upcoming artists focus on family scenes or objects such as pumpkins or flowers. Some of the pieces in the gallery are more modern, while the pieces in the garden focus on nature, man or myth.”

The sculptures’ prices also vary as much as the different designs themselves, which are all available in the gift shop.

“The prices of their sculptures range anywhere from $10 to $20,000,” said Goebel. “The artists are very much into their culture. First-generation artists who are no longer living produced the most expensive ones.”

For an additional $5 per person, groups of 15 or more could book a private tour in advance, and school groups were offered the same opportunity. The exhibit was also available Thursdays, May 3 through Sept. 27 for night showings.

Kerkemeyer said: “The evening experience was a more relaxed atmosphere. There was live music, and people could walk around the garden with beverages, which is not usually allowed during the day. The sculptures looked quite similar during the night exhibits, but they were presented more mysteriously.”

Chapungu artists first appeared at the Missouri Botanical Garden in 2001, and they have returned in 2007 to showcase their new sculptures.

“I would recommend that people come see the Chapungu exhibit because it’s very spiritually and culturally rich,” said Kerkemeyer.

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