
BY PURCHASING THIS ITEM <= /b>*YOU* PROVIDE EMPLOYMEN= T FOR IMPOVERISHED SUB-SAHARAN COMMUNITIES AND *CONTRIBUTE* TO NGO GRASSROOTS = AIDS ORPHAN PROGRAMS

This item is purchased by = donating<= /a> to the fundraising programs of o= ur non-profit. The price is the min= imum donation for you to receive = ONE (1) original hand-carved:
Fair Trade African Stone Art CIRCLE OF LOVE aka framed dancers Medium: rapoko
full description
Country:	Zimbabwe	Shona sculptures impress, stimulate, and inspire. The piece is entitled “Circle (or ring) of Love” or ‘Dancers’ and i= s viewable from both sides. The sculpto= r carved the over 8” tall abstract, green mottled dark green speckled black, stone sculpture from a solid piece or raw soapstone; skillfully capturing and enshrining their interpretation of love and happiness. Love is universal. In the sculptor’s words: “when viewed fr= om a distance, the artwork’s smooth form, r= ounded habit, and flowing lines appear to the viewer as a peaceful, smiling, hap= py face. Get close and the happy face subtly and abruptly transforms into a dynamic dancing or playful couple.” Framing the couple with a ring of = au natural rock creates the outline of the face, when viewed from far. C= lose up, the frame focuses the viewer’s attention on the couple. The rough, unpolished, purposefully chisel-marked frame represents the rawness of li= fe that becomes oblivious to lovers in the intenseness of their intimate mom= ent. The dynamic couple oblivious of their surroundings stimulates the viewer = to recall warm memories and savor the joy and passion of present or past lov= ers, putting a smile on our happy faces! Peruse and scrutinize the superb artistr= y. Request more photographs by email if needed. This beautiful artwork is ge= nder neutral representing all couples in love. The sculpture is an outstanding example of the abstract styles and designs, so highly prized by these talented African artists. Valued by collectors worldwide, this piece make= s a great gift that anyone would be proud to own. No two sculptures, however similar in style, even by the same artist are the same; they are unique, original works of art. Similar Shona pieces of art sell for more than $150 in USA, EU, and Asian art galleries. W= e are able to offer them at moderate prices by contracting directly with the sculptor at fair trade prices. With the most basic of facilities and virtually no utilities to speak of other than raw muscle power and talent= , Zimbabweans at several carving co-operatives in Masvingo hew these magnificent sculptures lit= erally in the African bush in the hot sun. Décor uses: The piece shows great as a standalone work of art or in a collection. A delightful addition to any African, abstract art, or ethnic theme and décor at home = and the office. Start or add to your Shona stone art collection that visitors will notice and admire your good taste in art. Before too long, = you will be in stimulating conversations about the art and your talent as a collector. You can tell them how you found the beautiful sculpture suppor= ting the unemployed and AIDS-impacted communities in Africa at Kwaze-Kwasa [US= A] Inc. Gift: the sculpture is an interesting and different gift especially for that couple in love! We have sold many as wedding or engagement gifts. Suitable for any occasion or celebration and an easy and smart choice for that ‘hard-to-buy for’ or ‘who-has-everything’ person. P= rint this page to accompany the gift. The recipient will be thrilled to know t= he gift they received came to them by you generously supporting a good cause= . Care: Wipe with damp cloth. Should you scratch or damage = it, relax and see how easy it is to restore to pristine condition by following our simple and effective repair = guide! Shona Stone Art: Admired by Picasso and many other artists and sculptors, many art critics view Shona stone sculptors to be the worl= d’s greatest rock artists and sculptors of the current era. Some consider them amongst the all time greats, we do! More Shona Stone Art product information. Stone sculpting in Zimbabwe (‘the place of stone’) dates back to between the 12= ^th and 15^th century. The style of stone sculpturing known as Shona stone art, however, evolved in modern times (circa 1950 and 1960s). Many early proponents and current adherents are not necessarily from one of the many Shona tribes in Zimbabwe and northern Mozambique who predominate as practitioners of the art. Some are from different tribes within Zimbabwe = and others from neighboring countries throughout the sub-continent. Research shows that Shona Stone a= rt is not strictly a traditional Shona Tribe art that was somehow dormant si= nce the 15^th century but rather a unique contemporary African stone art. Rich in Shona culture and heritage the style shows influences from western art, tourist and art market demands, current events, and life in general. This does not detract from the artwork as artists ably express in stone their interpretations of life drawing on their natural talent.= The artists’, however, like to say that they broadly follow a basic tenant of the Shona people that is "live together and the culture will thrive.” Supposed= ly, the spirits of their ancestors come to them in their dreams, revealing the images that dwell within the rock. After quarrying the rock, with pickax = and pry bar, the sculptors’ use handmade and power tools to release the spiri= ts trapped within. Consequently, the artists’ call their sculptures ‘creatio= ns’. This creation style symbolizes the international and universal theme of l= ove and known as ‘circle of love’ or ‘dancers’ or ‘dancing lovers-in-a-frame’. Conceptualizing their artwork influenced by ancestors as being cultural is their way to explain their talent and creativity, especially for original work. Many sculptors produce the same styles repetitively and copy each o= ther with abandon especially styles or concepts that sell under the current economic mayhem, they are the essence of free marketers, producing what sells. Medium (Rapoko): The stone sculptors of Zimbabwe use different types of rock. Serpentine is overwhelmingly the stone of choice. Soapstone (steatite) called Rapoko (a= fter the local millet grain) stone in Zimbabwe (depending on its color) is one= of the softest and most widespread. The Mashava mine in the Masvingo distric= t, five hours south of Harare, where most of our art of this type originates= , is one of the many places where high quality soapstone occurs in Zimbabwe. Soapstone comes in hundreds of color tones from light through dark, often with various off-white to cream veins, mottling (orange, black, bro= wn) and black speckles that add to the beauty of the artwork. The colors resu= lt from infusions of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and copper in differi= ng crystal formations. Traditionally, clear floor polish wax is applied to e= ach soapstone sculpture to bring out a lustrous finish. Soapstone is mined wi= th crowbars, picks, and shovels only. Although somewhat soft, it is a very d= ense rock, denser than marble, slate, limestone, and even granite. If anything spills on the stone, it remains on the surface and does not penetrate into the impervious rock.
Region:	Masvingo
Artist:	Masvingo Co-Op<= /p>
Date:	2007
Type:	Sculpture
Original:	Stone Art
Medium:	Stone Steatite (Soapstone)
Local name:	Rapoko
Style:	Abstract
Theme:	Framed Lovers or Dancers

Pictures:	WYSIWYG*



WE SH= IP WORLDWIDE
<= /o:p>
Actual Dimensions and Data
height x length x wi= dth
inches	8⅝ x 7¼ x 1½
millimeters	216 x 184 x 38
Weight [Mass]	43.3 oz [1228 g]=




© Kwaze-Kwasa [US= A] Inc.
This is the = description of the sculpture in our possession. Thus, data are accurate and *what you= see in the accompanying photographs is what you get. Satisfaction guaranteed! Should you be dissatisfied for any reason whatsoever, the product may be swapped for a similar or any other product of similar or lesser value.
*Our = Zimbabwe team, like most Zimbabweans, have a difficult life with chronic food shor= tages, hyperinflation (the world’s worst in modern times), rampant and universal unemployment, and now tragically victims of the current political unrest.=
Your generous donation helps us provide sustainable employment to the impoverished communities and funding to their grassroot= s AIDS orphan programs<= /a>.

BY PURCHASING THIS ITEM <= /b>*YOU* PROVIDE EMPLOYMEN= T FOR IMPOVERISHED SUB-SAHARAN COMMUNITIES AND *CONTRIBUTE* TO NGO GRASSROOTS = AIDS ORPHAN PROGRAMS