Tom Fudge : When you think of Zimbabwe, think of the Shona people. Ethnic Shona make up 80 percent of the country's population. And one of the things they are known for is their sculpture, an art that looks like no other on the planet.
The sculpted images are semi-abstract. Their glossed finish catches the light in alluring ways. The sculptures are meant to represent the spirit of life and the spirits of animals, and they do it in a way that's truly poetic.
The San Diego Natural History Museum's exhibit "Spirits in Stone - Art and Animals of Africa" runs July 11 through October 12, 2008.
Guests :
Anthony Ponter , curator of the Spirits in Stone exhibit. Anthony was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where he grew up among the Shona people.
Dr. Roger Bielasz , exhibit manager and collector of Shona art.
