Entertainment / Arts
Zambezi gallery brings art of Zimbabwe to Portsmouth
12 Jun 2011 at 15:26hrs | Views
Portsmouth just became more global with the opening of Zambezi on Market Street. This gallery showcases stone sculpture, batik fabric and exotic jewelry.
"Everything here is from Zimbabwe," said owner Dennis Dandawa. "I am also from Zimbabwe, but have lived in the region for the past 10 years."
Zambezi opened just two weeks ago and Dandawa reports that people are already visiting the gallery to see what it offers. The name of the gallery comes from the Zambezi River, one of Africa's four largest rivers, and where Victoria Falls flows into the Zambezi River.
"I first moved here to study high-tech and wound up being an HVAC technician," Dandawa said, "but art has always been on my mind.
Zambezi represents more than 200 artists from Zimbabwe.
Dandawa, who lives in Derry, wanted to open his gallery in Portsmouth because he loves the city and how much people appreciate art and different cultures.
"I want to be able to show people here what we have to offer from Zimbabwe," he said. "The stone sculptures are diverse and very interesting to people. They are beautiful."
Stone sculptures range from birds, fish, animals, fountains, torsos, flowers, abstracts and various combinations.
"The work is very imaginative," he said. "We don't have dolphins in Zimbabwe, but the artists make stone sculptures of dolphins. They are very creative."
More than seven types of stone are used in the sculptures including serpentine, verdite, opal, leopard rock and soapstone. Jewelry selections are made with a variety of materials including bamboo, glass and all types of beads. The batik fabric is available in many sizes, patterns, designs and colors. The pricing of the batik, as well as the stone sculptures, is priced for this economy, Dandawa said.
"Many people would say this is a terrible time to open a gallery," he said, "but the time was right for me. There are not many stone sculpture galleries in this region and I will showcase art from Zimbabwe."
This does not mean Zambezi will only carry sculpture from Zimbabwe. Dandawa said as he meets local and regional sculptors, he would enjoy hosting exhibits of local work. He welcomes visits from local sculptors.
"I want the people of Portsmouth to come in to my gallery and see what is here," he said. "They don't have to buy anything, but just come and look. I want them to love this art as much as I do."
Dandawa said he wanted to price his art to make it available to as many people as possible.
"Art feeds the soul," he said. "People need to be able to afford to have art in their homes or gardens."
Some of the stone sculptures on hand are suitable for gardens. There are also small fountains with frogs and other motifs available.
However, visitors need not settle for just small sculptures if they have something grander in mind. Though larger pieces are not able to fit into his gallery space, they are obtainable.
"I plan to work with hotels and hospitals and other places with public spaces," he said. "I want to showcase the sculptures in a variety of settings. We work with people who may want a big stone sculpture for their home or business."
Dandawa travels often to Zimbabwe to find pieces for his collection and gallery.
"I pick every single piece of art myself," he said. "I go to where the stones are mined. I do not call this African art, but instead art made by African artists."
Dandawa said he would be happy to work with anyone who wanted to consign a specific stone sculpture by design and size. He has many artists in Zimbabwe who can do beautiful, large pieces of sculpture.
"The response thus far has been so good," he said. "I hope to serve the area from Boston to Portland, too."
Dandawa said he and his staff were very happy to be in Portsmouth and they are hopeful the community will come and visit his gallery.
At a glance
Zambezi
Owner: Dennis Dandawa
206 Market St., Portsmouth
Phone: 436-3338
Web: www.zambezistone.com
Hours: Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed on Mondays
"Everything here is from Zimbabwe," said owner Dennis Dandawa. "I am also from Zimbabwe, but have lived in the region for the past 10 years."
Zambezi opened just two weeks ago and Dandawa reports that people are already visiting the gallery to see what it offers. The name of the gallery comes from the Zambezi River, one of Africa's four largest rivers, and where Victoria Falls flows into the Zambezi River.
"I first moved here to study high-tech and wound up being an HVAC technician," Dandawa said, "but art has always been on my mind.
Zambezi represents more than 200 artists from Zimbabwe.
Dandawa, who lives in Derry, wanted to open his gallery in Portsmouth because he loves the city and how much people appreciate art and different cultures.
"I want to be able to show people here what we have to offer from Zimbabwe," he said. "The stone sculptures are diverse and very interesting to people. They are beautiful."
Stone sculptures range from birds, fish, animals, fountains, torsos, flowers, abstracts and various combinations.
"The work is very imaginative," he said. "We don't have dolphins in Zimbabwe, but the artists make stone sculptures of dolphins. They are very creative."
More than seven types of stone are used in the sculptures including serpentine, verdite, opal, leopard rock and soapstone. Jewelry selections are made with a variety of materials including bamboo, glass and all types of beads. The batik fabric is available in many sizes, patterns, designs and colors. The pricing of the batik, as well as the stone sculptures, is priced for this economy, Dandawa said.
"Many people would say this is a terrible time to open a gallery," he said, "but the time was right for me. There are not many stone sculpture galleries in this region and I will showcase art from Zimbabwe."
This does not mean Zambezi will only carry sculpture from Zimbabwe. Dandawa said as he meets local and regional sculptors, he would enjoy hosting exhibits of local work. He welcomes visits from local sculptors.
"I want the people of Portsmouth to come in to my gallery and see what is here," he said. "They don't have to buy anything, but just come and look. I want them to love this art as much as I do."
Dandawa said he wanted to price his art to make it available to as many people as possible.
"Art feeds the soul," he said. "People need to be able to afford to have art in their homes or gardens."
However, visitors need not settle for just small sculptures if they have something grander in mind. Though larger pieces are not able to fit into his gallery space, they are obtainable.
"I plan to work with hotels and hospitals and other places with public spaces," he said. "I want to showcase the sculptures in a variety of settings. We work with people who may want a big stone sculpture for their home or business."
Dandawa travels often to Zimbabwe to find pieces for his collection and gallery.
"I pick every single piece of art myself," he said. "I go to where the stones are mined. I do not call this African art, but instead art made by African artists."
Dandawa said he would be happy to work with anyone who wanted to consign a specific stone sculpture by design and size. He has many artists in Zimbabwe who can do beautiful, large pieces of sculpture.
"The response thus far has been so good," he said. "I hope to serve the area from Boston to Portland, too."
Dandawa said he and his staff were very happy to be in Portsmouth and they are hopeful the community will come and visit his gallery.
At a glance
Zambezi
Owner: Dennis Dandawa
206 Market St., Portsmouth
Phone: 436-3338
Web: www.zambezistone.com
Hours: Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed on Mondays
Source - seacoastonline
