MWEYA Gallery

As told by Israel Chikumbirike
September 10, 2013 in Israel Chikumbirike, Shona Sculpture
Firstly I thank God Almighty for the gift of life he gave me and that as an artist. Sometimes I feel it’s hard to believe what comes and passes through me, a vision then a reality that can be witnessed by many. The way I perceive anything and everything that goes beyond what the naked eye can see. Given the t

ime to consider the time it has been there. I also keep hearing the echoes of what I thought was to myself that it is not mine alone but there so many other awaiting to benefit from them. I want to harness those echoes since they come from different directions so that many can hear or see the meaning clearly. As I have said, mine is a free gift direct from God that I never went to school for. Maybe difficult to share with others but I am going to try somehow. I feel privileged to work with stone especially to be able to extract what they give out for us to see what has been kept inside them for millions of years. I, being one among others to unveil them in my unique way give to me alone by God Almighty. I don’t take this idea lightly because considering the age of the stones I work on and the coincidence of getting them with something that I can easily translate what is in them to the world. Though I often feel that I am failing to exactly reach to the state where they are before I carve them out, at least I am trying. My passion is art, it is where most of my time is concentrated. I have other businesses but I feel so short and empty when I try to share the time between art and other business. Art given to as a gift, has no value or it is valueless because it cannot be compared to something else than to its own. It would be of value if it is given as gift, best of all for people to see and admire. My message to the potential collectors is generally, if it is the look that draws you near, it is the meaning will attach you to the piece in your way. You would have partnered with me in this way through the sculpture which I consider part of me that is difficult to part with. I would also like to be given the privilege to visit them when I have the chance. My existence on this earth and my gift of art are not in vain. I have given food and clothing to the needy in the past but, now I think I have a revelation to give them more than that by empowering them through creating income generating projects in their communities. This will be made possible through the collectors of my artwork, who would have partnered with me by their purchasing of my pieces and I will in turn donate ten percent towards the projects. Ten percent is the minimum but if the collector feels to give more to the projects, they will be more than welcome and can be introduced to the project. I feel that I am not for my own, the gift is not mine to keep but to share with whomever is interested and it has to benefit all around. So I will be very honored and relieved by being able to leave my mark through my God given gift. - Israel Chikumbirike
Tags: Israel Chikumbirike, Shona Sculpture
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How I discovered Israel Chikumbirike
July 29, 2013 in Shona Sculpture, MWEYA History, Israel Chikumbirike
We went to Africa in March of 1996 on our first ever buying trip. We met some stone carvers through a friend. After we bought from one, they would take us to another and so on. About 7 or 8 stops into the trip, we were led into this yard where I saw this beautiful large green sculpture. It was the most life like sculpture I had ever seen ! Then out walked this man with a big smile and an obvious gentleness, it was Israel Chikumbirike. He took us into his workshop and showed us the piece he was working on. We both were amazed to see such a lifelike piece of art made from stone. The piece he showed us was “The Caretaker”. We were not prepared to purchase such a piece right away, so regretfully, we passed. We said our farewells. We stayed in touch after our return home. Within six months after returning, business really took off so Jeff picked up the phone and called Israel. I got a recording that the line was disconnected. I was in shock. Was this the end? Through some creative thinking and some help from some friends in Africa, we managed to “motivate” a taxi driver to go to Israel’s house and bring him to a phone. Jeff recalls, “After about two days, my phone rang. I heard that unmistakable “Hello” from Israel. I asked if he still had “The Caretaker”. He said “yes”, but there was a German Art Dealer coming in two weeks to purchase it. I told him “No, that’s our piece.” He laughed and said “but you haven’t even seen it “ I asked him, “Is it done ?” he replied yes. I asked if he was happy with it, he said yes again. I asked him how much it was, he quoted me. I said “fine, where do I wire the money ?" Israel seemed confused by my willingness to trust him without much of an established relationship. I told him if we are to do business, there must be trust. So, I wired the funds, he sent the piece and the rest, you know………………. The Caretaker; Golden Verdite 38" x 28"
The Caretaker; Golden Verdite 38" x 28"

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How I met a Shona Sculpture Master
July 29, 2013 in MWEYA History, Shona Sculpture


My third visit to Africa was in the Spring of 1997. This was the first trip to purchase items for our new African gallery Afridesia which we would open in February of 1998. Introducing Shona Sculpture

My partner, Maureen and I were filled with excitement and passion about introducing a little understood art form….Shona Sculpture. We stayed with some friends, Joe & Gina Azevedo in Ruwa, Zimbabwe. One day Joe asked us to take a ride with him as he had someone he wanted us to meet. We were adventurous, so we agreed. We turned off the main highway to a dirt road which started getting smaller and smaller. We then traversed a railroad crossing that looked like something you would see in an old Clark Gable movie. It was just magical! We continued on and made a left turn onto a path with tall corn on both sides and reeds growing in the middle island of the narrow path. Meeting Nicholas Mukomberanwa

After a few hundred yards, we came into a clearing and saw stone everywhere. Raw stones, works in progress and some finished pieces. There were about a dozen artist sitting there practicing their craft. It was so exhilarating! We then asked “Joe, where are we?” He said you are in the compound of Nicholas Mukomberanwa. Although we were neophytes in the art world, we knew this name. Most just called him Nicholas. Joe went inside and a few minutes later a smiling man came out and we were introduced to him. I couldn’t believe we were with Nicholas. We wanted to view his work and started walking towards his inside gallery but he asked us to sit at a table outside to talk about things first. He told us that he doesn’t allow just any dealer to purchase from him. He wanted to know more about us first. We were surprised as you could imagine but respected his wishes. I sat at the table under a tree with a business associate, Nicolas and his son Anderson who also an accomplished artist. We spoke about life, the Shona culture, Shona Sculpture, the art world and Zimbabwe. We all started to realize what a very deeply spiritual and intensely passionate man he was. He was like no other artist we met, before or since. He was not impressed by the thought of selling. He was more interested in discussing life and what inspires him. He was 57 when we met him and it was one of my best moments and one of the most educating experiences I ever had in Africa. As a new gallery owner I grew more impatient about acquiring pieces from him. I knew to have his work in Afridesia would be a feather in our cap. He still ignored my requests. Right about this time, my partner came over and joined us. We talked again about many things, but mostly those spiritually based. She happened to mention during our chat that she was an amateur palm reader. When Nicolas heard this, he immediately pushed his hand across the table and laid it in front of Maureen. We all laughed. It was a great moment. Maureen told him what she saw. He was smiling and summoned his attendant and said for me to go and enjoy his sculptures. He said to me “go in my gallery and have a look” and started laughing again. What an amazing moment. A Shona Sculpture Legend

I was just blown away by the spiritual power and presence of his Shona sculptures. We chose three of his pieces and two of his son’s, Anderson. As the years went by it became more apparent to me just how special a visit this was. Nicholas let very few inside his world. I saw him again in 1999 and then in 2002 I was told his son Anderson passed away and two months later Nicholas Mukomberanwa passed at age 62. A few months after that, Nicolas’ wife passed too. In a matter of months, the whole family was taken away from us. I think of those moments with him from time to time. I never realized until after we left that day as to how fortunate we were to have spent an afternoon with a man that was so many things. A Shona Sculpture legend, a beautiful and loving man, a passionate patriot of his traditional culture and certainly an old soul. Even as I am writing this, I can remember that day so well. We were certainly blessed to have such an intimate experience. On my last trip there in 2012 I drove by the entrance to his place which I am told is abandoned. I wanted to go in, but I did not. I felt that to see his place run down and abandoned would erase the memories I still have from that beautiful Spring day that I spent with a simple and humble man who happened to be a master in his art form.