Craft 08- Gift Ideas

December 1, 2008 by National Gallery ·
Filed under: Art life

27th October – 14th December 2008
New ideas are never in short supply when it comes to art and craft and this year the National Gallery of Zimbabwe is hosting the first ‘Craft 08 Exhibition’. An exhibition of local craft work comprising of unique ethnic necklaces, earrings, bangles, t-shirts, cushions, wooden works, authentic and symbolic African objects and regalia. The exhibition aims to bring together a variety of crafts people in one location so as to allow interaction and at the same time presents business for Christmas buying public. The gifts on sale are affordable, original and suite any taste.

The exhibition of works is set up within the Gallery’s foyer and market courtyard and will be marketed widely amongst the local, corporate and diplomatic sectors. Open days have been scheduled for the 1st -15th and 29th of November 2008. Running concurrently with the exhibition will be a series of workshops and seminars for the exhibition crafts people. The range of training to be offered is essentially to enhance and upgrade the existing knowledge of the participant craft folk. Workshops will be held once a week from 3rd November – 14th December, on Monday mornings from 10:00a.m to 12:30p.m. Topics to be tackled include, Global Trend and Product Development; Introduction to the Internet, website and web based marketing: New Markets, Craft Fairs, Suppliers, Networks; and Marketing and Introduction and Opportunities through The Culture Fund.

The Craft 08 exhibition serves to expose the craft artist to the public, introduce them to new markets and concepts of training. This motion creates awareness of the development of the crafts in Zimbabwe and underlines a clear distinction from the visual arts of sculpture, paintings and drawings. Christmas comes once a year and this time it comes early as this journey will provide customers with the opportunity items for gifts of viewing exhibitions currently on display at the national Gallery. The style of the crafts people being both ethnic and aesthetic presents a platform to exhibit.

The beads, bones, metal, wood fabric and stone represent a classic Africa and provide an insight into an exceptional version of Africa. The decorative compositions offer an insight into the development from old to contemporary culture vitality of Africa while maintaining its originality.

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