HARARE - Tmbira Art Gallery is currently holding an exhibition for the Mutohwe Family Village to provide a roof on one of the houses and build other structures at the settlement.

The village is located in Nyamakoho in Mutoko and houses orphaned children from surrounding areas. Mutohwe Family Village’s goal is to raise children in an environment they are accustomed to among people they know.

The Tambira exhibition commenced two weeks ago and remarkable progress has already been realised in the first week of the exhibition with a record 10 pieces sold in five days.

Prices of the art and craft pieces range from $30-$500. The exhibitions are taking place at renowned sculptor Dominic Benhura’s Greendale studio.

Benjamin Mukushambengo, sales manager of Tambira arts said they are working with different artists in the exhibition. He said they would deduct a certain amount from the sales as a form of donation to the village.

“We have arts and crafts from different artists in and outside of Africa. Some of the pieces are part of private collections that have been donated to this worthy cause.

“We will deduct 25 percent from each piece sold and the rest will go to the artist or owner of the collections,” he said.

Some of the artists whose works are on sale include Whitecliff Mponda and Grasham Nyaude. Crafts from rural art centres are also on exhibition.

“All profits of the gallery will be going towards the village. We hope to have another exhibition as soon as possible as a follow up to this one. Our intention is to finish working on the roof before the rain start falling,” he said.

Tambira is part of Communities Can Do It a non-profit organisation aimed at helping communities and the vulnerable.

Communities Can Do It works with concerned communities to provide a future for orphaned children.
According to their website, one out of every four children in Zimbabwe is an orphan, a total of over 1,5 million in 2011.

Other pieces on sale are from local artist Joseph Muzondo an accomplished sculpture and graphics artist.
Muzondo takes pride in his original ideas and individualistic approach, he said, “My work is not Shona or European Art, it is Muzondo Sculpture.”

Crafts from deceased artist Valente Ngwenya Malangatana from Mozambique are also on display.

The crafts are part of a collection of Gill Atherstone, a trustee with the board of Communities Can Do It Trust.

The Mozambican artist depicted the violence and suffering of his country during its struggle for independence from Portugal and the subsequent 16-year civil war between the Marxist-Leninist ruling party Frelimo and the rebel group Renamo.

He depicted this through his large-scale boldly coloured paintings.

In 1997 he was named, Unesco artist for peace following his tireless contribution in question his country’s injustices.

Sam Uia and Fo-Ao artists from Botswana are some regional artists with collections at the exhibition.