KUSH SHONA ART COLLECTION

2006-05-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

GIFTS

FOR ALL OCCASIONS

BROUGHT TO YOU

BY KUSH SHONA ARTISTS

Title: Beauty

Stone: Opalstone

Artist: Percy Mazhindu

Statement: Acknowledging your own beauty and the beauty in others is an important element of holistic healing, for we are all created beautiful.

Sale Price: $1, 400

Title: Baboon
Stone: Serpentine
Artist: Passmore Mashaya
In the fertile mountains, dwells the guardian of nature’s mysteries, the baboon- bold, fearless and strong.

Price: $4, 500

Title: Bird’s Wish
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Wisdom Zinyeka
Statement: Freedom unchained to the will Of society.

Price: $200

Title: Daughter-In-Law
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Clive Zimbiti

Statement: Humble and graceful, she presents
her tribute.

Price: $1,000

Title: Eagle Fishing
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Wisdom Zinyeka
Statement: Elegance and grace of the soaring eagle.

Price: $3, 200

Title: Feeling Cold

Stone: Opalstone

Artist: Tonderai

Statement: Loneliness has beset my heart after losing my parents.

Price: $1,000

Title: Feeling The Pain
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Gibson Mhute
Statement: Sensations of discomfort from head to toe.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Holding Life
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Marshford Kanyemba

Statement: Balancing the challenges of life through faith, humbleness, and patience.

Price: $400

Title: Me And My Partner
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Dawson Chivizhe
Statement: Souls bonded in spirit and flesh.

Price: $1,800

Title: Modeling Spirit

Stone: Springstone
Artist: Percy Mazhindu

Statement: A mystery to the earth.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Mother To The World
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Maxwell Dzvanga
Statement: Her love is bountiful.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Natural Lovers
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Rangarirayi Makunde
Statement: Our love was overwhelmed by destiny's fate.

Price: $1, 100

Title: Praying Head
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Dawson Chivizhe
Statement: With a solemn bow, I begin to pray for better tomorrow.

Price: $500

Title: Reserved
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Percy Mazhindu
Statement: A patient heart offers love in conflict.

Price: $1, 800

Title: Shy
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Sebarstan Chifamba
Statement: Preserving innocence.

Price: $900

Title: Three Sisters
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Nickson Muti
Statement: As they journey through life, they continue to find strength in their bond.

Price: $400

Title: Watching You
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Benjamin Mundara
Statement: A tribute to the guiding spirit that watches over us, A Shona cultural icon.

Price: $5, 000

2006-05-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

KUSH invites you to a scheduled screening of a short film telling the story of the KUSH Art As Advocacy Initiative. The events also feature an exhibition of KUSH Shona sculptures.

The first screening will be held on Friday night May 19th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 7348 Georgia Avenue NW. The second screening will be held on Saturday afternoon May 20th from 2pm to 4pm at the Culture Shop next door to Takoma Metro station.

Please join us as we celebrate the birth of this vision for using an indigenous African art form as a tool for advocacy. Please RSVP your attendance for either of the two screenings by leaving an RSVP message in the comments section of this post or by sending an email to kushworld@kushworld.org.

2006-05-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

PASSMORE MASHAYA

SHONA MASTER

The life of Passmore Mashaya is a story carved in stone. His enduring commitment to stone sculpture has seen him through fifteen years of a grueling fight to establish himself as a renowned artist. This unwavering commitment has influenced many, including ten of his brothers and cousins, some of whom, after working under his apprenticeship, have become notable artists themselves.

Passmore was born at Elim Mission Hospital in Nyanga, Zimbabwe in 1973. He received his elementary education at Mazarura Primary School and then moved on to do his high school course at St. Monica Secondary School. Both schools are in Nyanga.

The geographic landscape of Nyanga, with all of its beautiful scenery, played a very significant role in influencing him to take on art as his chosen field. In his childhood days it was a common pastime for boys to spend their free time involved in many forms of art. These included clay moulding, woodcarving, making toy cars with wire and several other forms of craft. Although for others this may have been nothing more than just a pastime, for Passmore it took on greater dimensions in life. This, in a way can be attributed to his lineage, which boasts such great artists as his uncle, the late Moses Mashaya, the phenomenal Agness Nyanhongo, and the versatile Joseph Munemo, among others.

After making up his mind to devote his life to stone sculpture, he worked alone for a while in Nyanga. Soon after he moved to the capital, Harare, to team up with more experienced artists. Before long his talent started to show and he was invited to participate in the Chapungu Artists Residency Programme for the most promising artists. This was in 1995-6. He was recalled for the same program again for the 1999-2000 period. Meanwhile he had established a home workshop and gallery, The Mash Home Gallery, and had enrolled some of his brothers and cousins as apprentices.

His earlier works derived their influence from his childhood. In them he recreated those childhood images he" used to make out of clay and other material, only this time they were given new dimensions. The fusion of animal and human figures that metamorphosed into almost mystical figures created the impression that there is an irrefutable oneness between all created things. Among these are works like "Water Spirit", "Landing Angel", "The Pacifier", "The Rainbird" and others.

Some of his latest works, however, are an exaltation of human relationships. This he attributes to his working together with his siblings and his realization that working as a family brings greater benefits not only to the artists themselves, but as a heritage to show that there is life in stone. Such titles as "Brothers", "Lovers", "Family", "Mother & Child", "Sisters", "Togetherness" and others are a clear indication of a man who places great respect on family ties and general human companionship.

Art collectors and buyers from the USA, Holland, Germany, England and several other countries have collected and exhibited his pieces abroad. One of his pieces titled "Princess" is exhibited in the palace of the Queen of England. In 2004, Passmore then went to California, USA where he stayed for more than half a year and worked with galleries like Spirit in Stone. He exhibited his works of art at Sonoma State University, Springstone Art Gardens at Glen Ellen, California for four times. He also exhibited at the Neighbourhood Church 301 North Orange Grove, Boulevard, Pasadena.

His interests in stonework are “lovers”, “mass sculpture” and he likes fishing, and driving posh cars as a pastime. Passmore is married with four children. His mission is to produce brilliant and marketable artworks and will share the proceeds with the less privileged members of his society in any part of the world.

“Behold,…the stone spoketh”- more than words could say. Praise Jah for thy talent

2006-05-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

THOMAS ZINYEKA

SHONA MASTER

Thomas is a man of high achievements. Born in 1972 in Masvingo province. He completed his primary education in the Nembudziya rural area of Gokwe. Upon arriving to Harare, he fell in love with the stone sculpting through his late great brother, Gladman Zinyeka who was of the Second Generation of sculptors. He enrolled at St. Mary's Mission in Chitungwiza for his secondary education in 1987, but due to his appetite for sculpturing, attendance at school decreased over time resulting in him stopping short at Ordinary level.

Immediately after stopping school, Thomas began his full time devotion to sculpting. Thomas expresses the inner feelings of his heart through stones of varying hardness such as Springstone, Fruit Serpentine, Cobalt, Dolomite and Opal. His sculpture themes and titles resonate Shona practices and beliefs. His work is aimed at informing and transforming human conscience.

2006-05-07T12:10:00.001-07:00

PERCY MAZHINDU

SHONA MASTER

Percy was born in 1970 in the Marondera rural area, where he attended primary and secondary schools. In 1985, Percy attended the Kwekwe School of Arts, where he first learned how to carve. Percy had not been initiated in stone carving, until he began studying under his relative Kennedy Musekiwa. Under the guidance of Kennedy, Percy studied how to sculpt various styles and how to use the stone. Percy grew up in a family that could afford to send him to school, but nonethless, he began carving small creations and selling them in the market to earn enough money to pay his school fees.

Growing up in the rural area, Percy remembered the small creatures that would move on the ground and used them as inspiration for his initial stone creations. Percy’s sculptures reflect Shona culture and advocate for peace in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean carving stones are rare and semi-precious hard stones found in and around the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe. This stone marvel is a 310-mile long mantra stone that stretches north-south across the center of Zimbabwe and is over 2.6 million years ago. Percy likes to work on Opalstone, Cobalt, and Fruit Serpentine, because they tend to come out with good color.

Sculpting enables Percy to continue helping people by employing others to play different roles in the creation process of an elegant Shona stone sculpture. Percy gives each piece its particular title with the hopes that he can help to shape how people think about issues.

Percy hopes that his sculptures enable others to understand the art of Shona stone carving.

2006-05-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

SEBARSTAN CHIFAMBA

SHONA MASTER

Sebastian is an emerging third generation Shona artist. Sebastian was born on August 5, 1982 in the Masvingo central district and lived there until 2000. The declining agricultural industries coupled with a shortage of oil and foreign currency resulted in exponential devaluation of the Zimbabwean dollar and an increase in prices for consumer goods. This severely impacted rural areas like Masvingo where Sebastian was living. Upon graduation from secondary school, Sebastian discovered that his rural homestead had become devoid of sustainable economic opportunities for self-reliance.

In Harare, Zimbabwean youths from the rural areas discovered that stone carving could provide a better chance for surviving the economic depression. The only challenge was to be physically able to hand mine the raw stones and spiritually capable of communicating with the spirit of the stone. When Sebastian arrived in Harare in distress over the situation in Masvingo, his elder brother offered to teach him the art he had come to master.

The lessons focused on understanding the difference between carving and carving nice quality pieces. For the young Shona artists, this economic crisis also meant an increase in the cost of raw stones and transportation for the stones. Sebastian was fortunate to have his elder brother as his teacher, because he was able bypass the expense of purchasing tools and raw stones to hone his skills.

His first piece “Feeling Cold” is a tribute to his father who passed away. In a March 2004 interview, Sebastian described his thought process before sculpting, “I look at the stone and see the shape inside, then I think about Zimbabwe and how we are living”.

It is no surprise that Sebastian prefers the hard stones. Shona Masters welcome the challenge of the hardest stones as they are the only stones that can allow the Shona artist to truly demonstrate his understanding of the stone, the spirit within the stone and the composition layers of the stone. Sebastian also favors the hard stones because they can last longer without breaking.

Sebastian is a rising star with a style that is heavily influenced by his rural upbringing and family.

2006-05-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

DAWSON CHIVIZHE

SHONA MASTER

Dawson finds his inspiration from God and the ancestral spirits. In the Shona language, they say it is a Shavu, which means the spirit behind you that inspires you to bring out your creativity. In Gweru, Mutapa Township in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe, Dawson "experienced his transition from boyhood to adulthood as he finished Primary level and entered Ordinary level in school.

Growing up in the rural homestead outside of Chivhu, Dawson's life experiences working on the farm enabled him to remain steadfast to the traditional Shona way of living. According to Dawson, “My father who was a former teacher always encouraged me to be self-reliant. He always gave biblical examples of men like Joseph the carpenter, an ancient artist who used his hands and brain to make a living.” Dawson then pursued his career as an artist making necklaces for which he developed fanfare and notoriety for his techniques and uses of color. This early test of his artistic capabilities groomed Dawson for the rigorous and challenging art of rare and semi-precious stone carving.

Dawson studied under the guidance of the highly acclaimed sculptor Thomas Zinyeka in Unit D of Chitungwiza. This historic Zimbabwean city is where the Prophet King Chaminuka once reigned and is also where many sculptors including Dawson's partner and long time friend Wisdom Zinyeka honed their artistic talents. From 2000-2003, Dawson and Wisdom together ran a workshop school in Unit D, where they taught aspiring youths the secret art of stone carving.

Dawson uses his art to educate the youth of Zimbabwe about their Shona culture in the midst of the urban craze for Western culture and material goods. Sculptures reflecting the Bushmen, warriors, hunters and Mbira players are a few examples of Shona cultural icons. Furthermore, a piece like Guiding My Blind Brother captures the ancient spirit of African culture, which is showing kindness and love unto others.

The KUSH Art As Advocacy project focuses on using “Sculptures as Storytellers” of the contemporary African experience. This presented Dawson with another opportunity to elevate and distinguish his unique carving style and most importantly, educate Zimbabweans through his art. Dawson’s carving style is classified within the genre of Creation Art, which is a blend of fine art carving characteristics and Abstract motions. Creation Art is the style made famous by the third generation Shona Masters.

In an interview October 2003 in Harare, Dawson explained that his art is to teach others "how to live and be one with life". Reaching out to the international community is as equally important for Dawson, as is reaching out to his communities in Zimbabwe, both in the rural and urban settings.

2006-05-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

WISDOM ZINYEKA

SHONA MASTER

The soft spoken and humble Wisdom Zinyeka in a recent taped conversation with Kush demonstrated the breath of knowledge, life experience and vision flowing through him at a relatively young age. It is equally apt that he bears the name Wisdom. Third generation artist Wisdom is from an acclaimed line of Shona master sculptors including the late Gladman Zinyeka and current second-generation master Thomas Zinyeka.

It is of no surprise to see Wisdom take on sculpting with such dedication, as his father was also a painting artist. Teaming up with Dawson Chivizhe in Chitungwiza has enabled Wisdom to elevate his spiritual meditations with another kindred spirit. Together their meditation evolved into pioneering a new living environment where artists can focus on developing their art into new dimensions of creativity and imagination. While practicing his craft for the last 10 years, Wisdom has heard the promises of many promoters, collectors and buyers of Shona art.

Now Wisdom doesn't have to listen to those empty promises since entering into partnership with Kush to design a holistic living environment rooted in ART for ADVOCACY, organic agricultural farming and sustainable technologies. In October 2003 Kush filmed an interview in which Wisdom shared some of his thoughts on life, Shona art, the Kush Zambezi Center and the future of Zimbabwe's youth.

On the subject of the Center he states, –"we are trying to create employment as well for the young youths, because at the moment our economy is down, even work is difficult to find, so we can help some youths teaching them the sculpture in addition to farming.” It is equally important to Wisdom that the youths learning on the farm are able to earn a living with their creative talents and energies, while contributing to the nation as a whole.

Wisdom stresses the need for peace so that Zimbabwean people can be united and have the strength to progress as individuals and as a nation. His pieces will carry themes that communicate messages of peace, love and harmony. In this way he can educate the Zimbabwean people about what they are capable of accomplishing when they are living together. Wisdom works in multicolored Opal Stone, Fruit Serpentine and Springstone.

2006-05-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

TONDERAI

SHONA MASTER

Tonderai was born in 1974 in Chitungwiza, where he grew up as the first born of his siblings and also attended Seke primary and secondary schools. Chitungwiza is the home of Zimbabwe’s Shona Prophet King Chaminuka and to growing community of burgeoning sculptors and master teachers. Tonderai was able to live at home with his parents while he studied stone carving.

Tonderai began honing his artistic talents from an early age with drawing in school. However, it was not until 1990 that Tonderai considered stone carving. As a secondary school student in Fourth Form, Tonderai began an apprenticeship in stone carving on a part-time basis under Nasbert, a Chitungwiza Shona artist. Then in 1992, he found the inspiration to commit himself full-time. He learned the arts working on action pieces that combined both abstract form and fine art figurative expressions.

The first piece that demonstrated Tonderai had completely absorbed his lessons in stone carving was titled “Under the Tree”. That sculpture featured a man sitting with his hands clasp. The inspiration for that piece he said “began with taking my mind long back to when our people would sit under the tree and clap their hands to the ancestors” in a March 2004 interview.

Tonderai has developed his own style from the experience that he gained working on action pieces and the knowledge gained from studying closely the teachings being offered by Nasbert. Tonderai described his style as “Shadow Faces of the People”. The creations are often carved in Springstone with each one expressing something different.

2006-05-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

NICKSON MUTI

SHONA MASTER

Like many Zimbabweans, Nickson Muti’s roots began in the Mutare rural area where he was born on November 11, 1979. He attended primary school in Mutare, but after his mother passed away at a time, when he described himself as “too young,” his elder brother assumed responsibility for him. He then moved to Harare where he received his secondary school education and began his education in life, adjusting to the challenges of urban life as an orphan.

Zimbabwean youths living in and around Harare often receive their exposure to the sculpture arts through another established artist and Nickson’s experience was not different. In 1991, Nickson was introduced to the art of sculpting by 2nd generation artist, Tamo Kanyangee, as an assistant, who cleaned the pieces and in the process learned art and skill of stone sculpting. The economic hardships of Zimbabwean life often force young aspiring artists to accept less than favorable apprenticeships in order to break into the business.

Nickson transitioned himself from an apprentice to an artist with his first piece, “Believers.” This piece casted a church choir, which reflected his belief in the family unit and God. Nickson explained to Kush, “Everything we do and can do, we must believe to God.” Carving pieces of families expresses his love for his family and what family means to him and the importance of family within Shona culture. Going to church at an early age, with his mother, father and brother reinforced his connectedness with his family and spirituality. Those memories continue to inspire and motivate him. Sculpting enables Nickson to affirm his Shona culture and he expresses it in ways that can teach his fellow countrymen.

The economic potential of the art business offers hope to ghetto youths like Nickson, but that hope often seems bleak, especially when buyers try to give them unfair prices for their art. The daily challenges of selling in the Harare markets allow Nickson to appreciate the efforts of Kush to promote Shona artists and to help them improve their living conditions.

Only the hardest stones, like Serpentine and Springstone, bear the signature of Nickson Muti. The challenge of sculpting hard stones, the amount of effort it requires, and the satisfaction he feels when he’s done sculpting, assure Nickson that he has completed a piece worthy of his name and reputation. Nickson hopes that his effort will enable him to secure international exposure in galleries and museums.

2006-05-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

MAXWELL DZVANGA

SHONA MASTER

Maxwell was born on June 12, 1975 at the Marondera general Hospital, but grew up in Chief Chihota’s area. He spent most of his teenage years with his maternal family in Hwecka, where he also went to school. During his leisure time, Maxwell would mold different shapes of animals and human forms from mud. After completing his schooling, Maxwell joined up to learn sculpting with world renowned sculptor, Kennedy Musekiwa, who encouraged him to be an artist.

Kennedy Musekiwa, Picket Mazhindu and other artists that he worked with also inspired him. He worked with Kennedy as an assistant for several years. In his spare time, Maxwell would practice Kennedy’s teachings. Over time, his creations steadily improved. Kennedy introduced him to his customers and he was able to begin selling his works to foreign buyers. Maxwell feels that his art expresses his love and pride for his traditional Shona culture. Maxwell’s works are powerful and expressive creations. Overall his works are exhibited in Zimbabwe, U.K., U.S.A., Germany and Senegal.

Currently, Maxwell is working with other local artists in the KUSH Art As Advocacy Initiative dedicated to the creation of narrative and thematic art. Maxwell dreams of building his legacy as an artist that contributed to Zimbabwe’s cultural development. Maxwell is committed to recruiting young artists and supporting them to develop a life of their own through sculpting.

2006-05-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

BENJAMIN MUNDARA

SHONA MASTER

Benjamin Mundara is a second generation Shona Master. Benjamin was born in a hospital in Masvingo near Great Zimbabwe in 1966. He spent his early childhood traveling between Harare where his father was working and Masvingo. He attended primary and secondary schools in the rural area before leaving to seek opportunity in the city.

Benjamin tried his hand at several jobs in Masvingo before visiting his late brother Gladman Zinyeka, a first generation world renowned Shona Master, in 1990. Gladman gave support and assistance to Benjamin in several ways. Gladman gave Benjamin a place to stay and gave him a job. Eventually, Gladman taught Benjamin the theory and practical aspects of stone carving. Benjamin spent 1990-1993 studying under Gladman before venturing on his own.

Benjamin made a smooth transition to stone carving because he was also a skilled artist, who started drawing since three years old. He credits the development of his drawing skills to the teachers in grade 1 who forced each student to draw his/her father. His first most memorable sculpture is “Shy Lady”, which he carved while studying under Gladman in 1992.

Benjamin sculpts primarily abstracts, which enables him to express his inspiration. His sculptures express love, how we live, how life goes on, how development is happening in Africa, and Shona culture. Benjamin believes that Africans must rely on their culture. Benjamin proclaimed in a March 2004 interview that “you need to give time to communicate with the spirit of the stone in order to use the whole stone.” Benjamin is not the type of artist that spends 1-3 days carving a sculpture in order to turn around and sell it quickly.

Benjamin works on several of the hardest stones such as Opal, Cobalt, Verdite, Fruit Serpentine, and Springstone. Benjamin examines each stone for its hardness and color. Using his art to expand both local awareness and international exposure of Shona art, Benjamin wants to show fellow Zimbabweans that stone carving is a good thing that can provide a living.

Benjamin titles his pieces with names that teach and give people another type of courage, because as he explains it, “if a stone can have a title like ‘hold on to life’, people can look at it and say if the stone can hold on to life, then why not me?” Benjamin has begun the training and apprenticeships within his own family by teaching his wife, younger brother, younger brother’s wife, and two of his sons.

2006-05-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

GIFTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

BROUGHT TO YOU

BY KUSH SHONA ARTISTS

Title: Beauty

Stone: Opalstone

Artist: Percy Mazhindu

Statement: Acknowledging your own beauty and the beauty in others is an important element of holistic healing, for we are all created beautiful.

Sale Price: $1, 400

Title: Baboon
Stone: Serpentine
Artist: Passmore Mashaya
In the fertile mountains, dwells the guardian of nature’s mysteries, the baboon- bold, fearless and strong.

Price: $4, 500

Title: Bird’s Wish
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Wisdom Zinyeka
Statement: Freedom unchained to the will Of society.

Price: $200

Title: Daughter-In-Law
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Clive Zimbiti

Statement: Humble and graceful, she presents
her tribute.

Price: $1,000

Title: Eagle Fishing
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Wisdom Zinyeka
Statement: Elegance and grace of the soaring eagle.

Price: $3, 200

Title: Feeling Cold

Stone: Opalstone

Artist: Tonderai

Statement: Loneliness has beset my heart after losing my parents.

Price: $1,000

Title: Feeling The Pain
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Gibson Mhute
Statement: Sensations of discomfort from head to toe.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Holding Life
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Marshford Kanyemba

Statement: Balancing the challenges of life through faith, humbleness, and patience.

Price: $400

Title: Me And My Partner
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Dawson Chivizhe
Statement: Souls bonded in spirit and flesh.

Price: $1,800

Title: Modeling Spirit

Stone: Springstone
Artist: Percy Mazhindu

Statement: A mystery to the earth.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Mother To The World
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Maxwell Dzvanga
Statement: Her love is bountiful.

Price: $1, 400

Title: Natural Lovers
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Rangarirayi Makunde
Statement: Our love was overwhelmed by destiny's fate.

Price: $1, 100

Title: Praying Head
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Dawson Chivizhe
Statement: With a solemn bow, I begin to pray for better tomorrow.

Price: $500

Title: Reserved
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Percy Mazhindu
Statement: A patient heart offers love in conflict.

Price: $1, 800

Title: Shy
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Sebarstan Chifamba
Statement: Preserving innocence.

Price: $900

Title: Three Sisters
Stone: Springstone
Artist: Nickson Muti
Statement: As they journey through life, they continue to find strength in their bond.

Price: $400

Title: Watching You
Stone: Opalstone
Artist: Benjamin Mundara
Statement: A tribute to the guiding spirit that watches over us, A Shona cultural icon.

Price: $5, 000

2006-05-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

SCHEDULED VIDEO SCREENINGS of KUSH ART AS ADVOCACY:

On Saturday May 12, 2006, the first-ever public showing of this film will be held at American Security & Communication's business location at 7348 Georgia Avenue NW at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Geranium Street NW, which is two blocks north of Walter Reed. The video will be played between 4-6PM.

A second screening is scheduled for Saturday May 20, 2006 at the Culture Shop, which is located next door to the Takoma Metro station at 341 Carroll Avenue. The video will be played during the hours of 1-4PM.

2006-05-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

KUSH invites you to a scheduled screening of a short film telling the story of the KUSH Art As Advocacy Initiative. The events also feature an exhibition of KUSH Shona sculptures.

The first screening will be held on Friday night May 19th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 7348 Georgia Avenue NW. The second screening will be held on Saturday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at the Culture Shop next door to Takoma Metro station.

Please join us as we celebrate the birth of this powerful vision for using an indigenous African art form as a tool for advocacy. Please RSVP your attendance for either of the two screenings by leaving an RSVP message in the comments section of this post or by sending an email to kushworld@kushworld.org.

2006-03-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce the extension of the KUSH Shona art exhibition at the offices of American Security & Communications during regular business hours: weekdays, 9am - 5pm. In case you are unable to view the exhibition during regular business hours, you can make an appointment by calling 800.810.KUSH or sending an email to kushworld@kushworld.org.

2006-02-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

Images from the Saturday February 25th sale.

View the slideshow

2006-02-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

OVERVIEW

American Security and Communications (ASC) and Kush Inc. (KUSH) agreed to host a jointly sponsored SHONA ART EXHIBIT during Black History Month, 2006, to increase awareness and raise funds for people of the Sudan using art as a tool for advocacy. The ASC-KUSH initiative is a unique community development partnership between a minority-owned commercial enterprise and an international charitable organization. Both are locally based entities within adjacent Northwest DC communities--Shepherd Park and Takoma Park DC, historic neighborhoods that attract culturally diverse, socially conscious and politically active residents. Individuals with a shared African heritage and a long-standing involvement in
community development founded ASC and KUSH.

PARTNERSHIP GOAL

The partnership strives to promote solidarity, cross-cultural exchange, mutual learning and sharing of ideas and information that will lead to a greater impact on the lives of the Sudanese. Specifically, the partnership focuses its resources on serving as a bridge for other Americans wishing to provide assistance to the reconstruction efforts in the Sudan and those seeking to discover and learn more about the Shona artists and how they are being empowered to create sculptures and poetry as tools for advocacy.

EXHIBITION TIME-LINE

Monday, February 20^th through Friday, February 24^th, 2006, between 11am-5pm individuals can view the exhibition, purchase sculptures or make contributions. The event will close with a reception on Saturday, February 25^th from 3-7 pm.

LOCATION

7348 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20012
at the offices of American Security & Communications

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

ASC is a family-owned, security company, focused on providing customized solutions for residential and commercial security needs by integrating the most advanced, state-of-the art technology and reliable equipment. Conveniently located in Georgia Avenue's Gateway Community, ASC is the only licensed alarm company headquartered in Washington DC.

KUSH is a 501(c)(3) international, charitable organization registered in Delaware, USA and in Nairobi, Kenya with the Sudan Relief and Reconstruction Commission as an indigenous Sudanese NGO, which is providing a vehicle for international participation and support of artistic, cultural and economic development initiatives in Africa, beginning in Sudan and Zimbabwe.

CONTACT INFO:
Sandra Cox, ASC (202) 829-7327
sandra.cox@ascprotects.com, www.ascprotects.com
Jeff Campbell, KUSH (800) 810-5874
kushworld@kushworld.org, www.kushworld.org

2006-01-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Click here
for some basic information about KUSH

OR

visit www.kushworld.org.

2006-01-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

SHONA ART SALE

Sponsored by KUSH Inc. and
American Security & Communications

at 7348 Georgia Avenue, NW

Preview: Friday, February 17th, 6-8 pm
Opening: Saturday, February 18th, 3-7pm
Closing: Saturday, February 25th, 3-7pm