Draft _ Moving Stories and Travelling Rhythms

PENNY SIOPIS AND THE MANY JOURNEYS OF SKOKIAAN

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE IN BULAWAYO 2019

TEXTS BHUTOLEZWE KGOSI NYATHI

FOREWARD

DIRECTOR NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE IN BULAWAYO

CLIFORD ZULU CURATOR NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE IN BULAWAYO

OLGA SPEAKES CURATOR

PENNY SIOPIS ARTIST

TAFADZWA GWETAI ARTIST & WRITER

INTRODUCTION PENNY SIOPIS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY

MOVING STORIES AND TRAVELLING RHYTHMS

A MUSIC WHOSE DARK SIDE IS CLOSE TO THE SKIN

NOTES ON THE WORKSHOP: DIALOGUES WITH PENNY SIOPIS

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N at i o n a l G a l l e r y o f Z i m b a b w e i n B u l a w a y o

BUTHOLEZWE KGOSI NYATHI DIRECTOR NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE IN

S i n ce 1 9 7 4 , t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y i n B u l a w a y o ( N G B ) h a s e s t a b l i s h e d an indelible mark in promoting ar t and ar tists’ growth in the south w e s te r n r e g i o n o f Z i m b a b w e . A s t h e fo r e m o s t v i s u a l a r t s i n s t i t u t i o n , t h e N G B h a s t h e u n i q u e r o l e a n d m a n d ate o f p r e s e r v i n g a n d promoting the visual heritage of the region.

I n l i n e w i t h t h e p o l i c y o f o p e n i n g u p t h e N G B to r e g i o n a l a n d i nte r n at i o n a l a r t i s t i c e xc h a n g e s , t h e N G B w a s d e l i g hte d to h o s t Pe n n y S i o p i s fo r h e r s i te r e s p o n s i v e e x h i b i t i o n “ M o v i n g S to r i e s a n d Tra v e l l i n g R h y t h m s : Pe n n y S i o p i s a n d t h e m a n y j o u r n e y s o f S ko k i a a n ” .

B u l a w a y o h a s a r i c h h i s to r y a n d w e w e r e d e l i g hte d fo r Pe n n y to e x p l o r e t h e c i t y ’ s m u s i ca l h e r i t a g e t h r o u g h t h e l e n s o f

August

M u s a r u r w a ’ s h i t s o n g S ko k i a a n fr o m t h e 1 9 5 0 ’ s . T h e e x h i b i t i o n p r o v e d t h at i n d e e d h e r i t a g e ca n b e a s o u r ce o f co nte m p o ra r y c r e at i v i t y.

T h e g e n e ra l p u b l i c i n B u l a w a y o e n j o y e d t h e e x h i b i t i o n a s i t b r o u g ht to t h e fo r e t h e m u s i ca l e x p l o i t s o f A u g u s t M u s a r u r w a . 1 Yo u n g m u s i c i a n s i n t h e c i t y p a r t i c u l a r l y p at r o n i s e d t h e G a l l e r y d u r i n g t h e e x h i b i t i o n a s t h e y s o u g ht to d e r i v e i n s p i rat i o n fr o m t h e s to r y o f

BULAWAYO

A s a p u b l i c c u l t u ra l i n s t i t u t i o n , t h e N G B d e s i r e s to e x p a n d i t s s co p e o f r e a c h a n d i n fl u e n ce i n S o u t h e r n A fr i ca a n d b e y o n d . I t i s t h r o u g h e x h i b i t i o n s b y a r t i s t s s u c h a s Pe n n y S i o p i s t h at r e s i d e nt a r t i s t s at t h e N G B a n d i n B u l a w a y o i n g e n e ra l g e t to h a v e t h e i r c r e at i v e h o r i zo n s w i d e n e d .

C o m m i tte d to p u s h i n g a r t i s t i c fr o nt i e r s i n t h e c i t y, t h e N G B i s r e ce p t i v e to co n ce p t u a l a n d e x p e r i m e nt a l w o r k . T h r o u g h c u l t u ra l e xc h a n g e s , a d i v e r s i t y o f c u l t u ra l e x p r e s s i o n s i s e n h a n ce d .

A t a p e r s o n a l l e v e l , Pe n n y ’ s e x h i b i t i o n i s o f g r e at s i g n i fi ca n ce . I t w a s t h e fi r s t e x h i b i t i o n b y a n i nte r n at i o n a l a r t i s t t h at I p r e s i d e d o v e r u p o n a s s u m i n g l e a d e r s h i p a s Re g i o n a l D i r e c to r o f t h e N G B .

I joined the NGB in May 2019 and the exhibition opened in June 2 0 1 9 . Fu r t h e r i nt r i g u i n g fo r m e w a s t h e p r e s e nt at i o n o f t h e s u b j e c t m atte r – a m i x o f m e d i u m s n a m e l y p a i nt i n g s i n i n k a n d g l u e a n d a v i d e o a r t w o r k . T h e d e p t h o f r e s e a r c h a n d c r e at i v e e x p r e s s i o n w a s t h e i d e a l d e p i c t i o n o f t h e i nte l l e c t u a l i s m o f t h e v i s u a l a r t s t h at I y e a r n e d to s e e o n t h e w a l l s o f t h e N G B .

a s i n ce d e p a r te d l o ca l m u s i c i a n w h o a c h i e v e d g l o b a l r e co g n i t i o n .

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OLGA SPEAKES CURATOR

A s p ra w l i n g s i te - r e s p o n s i v e i n s t a l l at i o n o f d ra w i n g s , n e w s p a p e r s a n d fo u n d o b j e c t s , e nt i t l e d Tu n i n g T i m e , e x te n d i n g a c r o s s t h e c u r vat u r e s o f s p a c i o u s w a l l s ; B re at h l e ss a n d B l u e , a s e t o f s m a l l p a i nt i n g s i n i n k , g l u e a n d o i l p a i nt i n h a b i t i n g t h e o p p o s i te w a l l ; a v i d e o a r t w o r k W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! i n t h e n e x t r o o m fi l l i n g t h e a i r o f t h e g a l l e r y w i t h fa m i l i a r m e l o d y ; a d o c u m e nt a r y fi l m 2 e x p l o r i n g t h e h i s to r i e s o f to w n s h i p j a z z i n Z i m b a b w e – a l l t h e s e e l e m e nt s a r e b r o u g ht to g e t h e r i n t h e h i s to r i c r o o m s o f t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y o f Z i m b a b w e i n B u l a w a y o a s p a r t o f t h e e x h i b i t i o n t h at s e t s i n d i a l o g u e t h e m a n y n a r rat i v e s a n d m e m o r i e s , fi c t i o n a l a n d d o c u m e nt a r y a cco u nt s t h at w e r e i n s p i r e d b y t h e s to r y o f S ko k i a a n . 3

a l l t h e w a y i nto t h e p r e s e nt m o m e nt ; t h e u s e o f n e w s p a p e r s l o cate s t h e w o r k o n t h e s te p s o f t h e g a l l e r y w h e r e n e w s p a p e r s e l l e r s co nt i n u e to w r i te h i s to r y e v e r y d a y w i t h t h e i r n e w s h e a d l i n e s .

T h i s p i e ce o f m u s i c w a s co m p o s e d i n t h e n i n e te e n fo r t i e s b y Zimbabwean August Musarurwa and played by his band Bulawayo S w e e t R h y t h m s . I t w a s l ate r p e r fo r m e d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d b y m a n y m u s i c i a n s , i n c l u d i n g Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g , w h o v i s i te d t h e co u nt r y i n 1960 and met Musarurwa.

T h e v o i ce s o f t h e a r t i s t a n d t h e h i s to r i a n a r e e c h o e d b y t h e v o i ce s t h at a n i m ate t h e p a g e s o f Yv o n n e Ve ra ’ s fa m o u s n o v e l T h e S to n e V i rg i n s .

T h e s e v o i ce s r e c l a i m t h e i r o w n m e m o r i e s o f S atc h m o 4 a n d S ko k i a a n fr o m h i s to r i e s t h at e xc l u d e d t h e m . T h e i r w o r d s , w h i c h S i o p i s u s e s i n h e r i n s t a l l at i o n , a n d Ve ra ’ s i nte n s e , l y r i ca l a n d r h y t h m i c s t y l e , w h i c h S i o p i s i n v o ke s i n t h e m ate r i a l i t y o f h e r p a i nt i n g s a n d t h e i r t i t l e , fo r m a n o t h e r t h r e a d t h at w e a v e s i t s e l f i nto t h e e x h i b i t i o n w h e r e j o u r n e y s b e t w e e n m e m o r y, h i s to r y a n d t h e p r e s e nt m o m e nt n e v e r ce a s e to r e v e a l n e w t r u t h s t h at co u l d n o t b e d e fi n e d a s e i t h e r fa c t o r fi c t i o n .

Pe n n y S i o p i s ’ s v i d e o w o rk W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! u s e s m o nt a g e te c h n i q u e s to co m b i n e fo u n d fo o t a g e – a n o n y m o u s h o m e m o v i e s o f t h e s i x t i e s a n d s o m e m e d i a s e q u e n ce s o f A r m s t r o n g ’ s v i s i t to A fr i ca – w i t h te x t a n d m u s i c , c r e at i n g a n a r rat i v e t h at s p e a k s b e y o n d t h e s p e c i fi c h i s to r i ca l l y d o c u m e nte d c i r c u m s t a n ce s o f t h e e n co u nte r. T h e i n s t a l l at i o n p u l l s to g e t h e r m a n y t h r e a d s t h at e m e r g e fr o m t h e s to r y a n d fo l l o w s t h e m , t h r o u g h t h e m ate r i a l i t y o f t h e o b j e c t s a n d a s s o c i at i v e co n n e c t i o n s ,

The documentar y by Joyce Jenje Makwenda on the histor y of Zimbabwe To w n s h i p M u s i c p r o v i d e s a w i d e r co nte x t fo r t h e n a r rat i v e s e x p l o r e d i n t h e a r t w o r k s t h r o u g h m a n y p e r s o n a l i nte r v i e w s o f t h o s e w h o ke e p h i s to r y a l i v e i n t h e i r m e m o r y. I t d ra w s atte nt i o n to t h e j o u r n e y s o f m i g ra nt w o r ke r s t h at co n n e c te d B u l a w a y o w i t h J o h a n n e s b u r g a n d t h e w i d e r h i s to r y o f j a z z m u s i c t h at m o v e d a c r o s s b o r d e r s a n d b e y o n d r e s t r i c t i o n s i m p o s e d o n p e o p l e b y co l o n i a l r e g i m e s o n t h e co nt i n e nt .

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W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! single-channel video, sound 10 min 17 sec 2017

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Pe n n y S i o p i s m a k i n g Tu n i n g T i m e

Tu n i n g T i m e ( d e t a i l ) s i te - s p e c i fi c i n s t a l l at i o n 2019

PENNY SIOPIS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY IN BULAWAYO: THE STORY OF SKOKIAAN CLIFORD ZULU CURATOR, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE IN BULAWAYO

Z i m b a b w e a n a r t h a s h a d i t s fa i r s h a r e o f fr u s t rat i o n s a n d t r i u m p h s i n t h e p a s t t w e nt y y e a r s . N a v i g at i n g t h e e x p e c t at i o n s a g a i n s t r e a l i t i e s o f t h e l o ca l a n d i nte r n at i o n a l g a l l e r y s t a n d a r d s h a s b e e n a r o l l e r co a s te r.

A t t h e t i m e w h e n t h e m a j o r i t y o f Z i m b a b w e a n s w e r e b e g i n n i n g to a p p r e c i ate co nte m p o ra r y a r t p ra c t i ce i n Z i m b a b w e , m a n y fa c to r s h a v e co m e to p l a y a n d t h e co n s u m p t i o n a n d a p p r e c i at i o n o f t h e a r t s h a s s u ffe r e d t h e m o s t .

To t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y o f Z i m b a b w e i n B u l a w a y o ( N G Z B ) , t h e r e s i d e n c y 5 p r o g ra m m e e s t a b l i s h e d i n 2 0 1 7 e n s u r e s t h at w e a r e p r o v i d i n g s e r v i ce s m o s t co n d u c i v e to t h e a r t i s t s ’ c r e at i v e p r o ce s s .

I n s te a d o f a r t i c u l at i n g t h e i m p a c t , i t i s e s s e nt i a l to e n co u ra g e g r e ate r i n v e s t m e nt a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r a r t i s t s to d e v e l o p n e w w o r k . T h e i nte r e s t a n d p a r t i c i p at i o n i n t h e r e s i d e n c y p r o g ra m m e b y a S o u t h A fr i ca n a r t i s t , Pe n n y S i o p i s , w a s a w e l co m e s u r p r i s e to e v e r y o n e , at a t i m e w h e n m a n y p e o p l e w e r e n o t s o ke e n o n t h e co u nt r y. To t h e N G Z B , t h i s w a s a n h o n o u ra b l e o p p o r t u n i t y to a s s e s s t h e ca p a b i l i t y to h o s t a n i nte r n at i o n a l a w a r d w i n n i n g a r t i s t i n a r e s i d e n c y i n Z i m b a b w e .

Fo r t h e a d m i n i s t rat i o n o f t h e r e s i d e n c y, i t w a s a l e s s o n a b o u t t h e i m p o r t a n ce o f r e s e a r c h , p l a n n i n g a n d b e i n g o r g a n i s e d . T h e e x p l o rat i o n o f t h e s to r y o f S ko k i a a n i n t h e p r o j e c t t i t l e d “ M o v i n g S to r i e s a n d Tra v e l l i n g R h y t h m s : Pe n n y S i o p i s a n d t h e m a n y j o u r n e y s o f S ko k i a a n ” w a s a p o w e r fu l a w a ke n i n g to t h e i m p o r t a n ce o f a r c h i v i n g .

T h e r e s i d e n c y w a s s t r u c t u r e d i n t w o p a r t s , w i t h t h e fi r s t p a r t i n A p r i l b e i n g a r e s e a r c h t r i p b y t h e a r t i s t , Pe n n y S i o p i s , a n d t h e c u rato r, O l g a S p e a ke s , w i t h w h o m s h e w a s w o r k i n g , to p r e p a r e fo r t h e e x h i b i t i o n , t h e t a l k a n d t h e a r t i s t s ’ w o r k s h o p . T h e t r i p a l s o s o u g ht to i d e nt i f y m ate r i a l s fo r S i o p i s ’ s i te - s p e c i fi c – i n s t a l l at i o n , t h at w o u l d r e fl e c t t h e n at u r e o f t h e e x h i b i t i o n s i te b e i n g i n B u l a w a y o , Z i m b a b w e , w h e r e t h e m u s i c co m p o s i t i o n S ko k i a a n w a s co n ce i v e d a n d p e r fo r m e d fo r t h e fi r s t time by a legendary Zimbabwean jazz musician, August Musarurwa.

O t h e r o b j e c t i v e s i n c l u d e d g e tt i n g to k n o w t h e s p a ce fo r t h e i n s t a l l at i o n , m e e t i n g s w i t h a Z i m b a b w e a n m u s i c a r c h i v i s t a n d r e s e a r c h e r J o y ce J e n j e M a kw e n d a a n d t h e s c r e e n i n g o f h e r d o c u m e nt a r y ; e s t a b l i s h i n g co nt a c t s w i t h l o ca l s w h o m a y h a v e k n o w n M u s a r u r w a o r h a d atte n d e d Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g ’ s co n ce r t t h at to o k p l a ce i n 1 9 6 0 at t h e M c D o n a l d H a l l 6 i n t h e M z i l i ka z i d i s t r i c t i n B u l a w a y o . T h e i n i t i a l r e s e a r c h t r i p a l s o s o u g ht to i n v i te t h e l o ca l co m m u n i t y w h o m a y b e i nte r e s te d i n t h e project .

T h e s e co n d p a r t o f t h e r e s i d e n c y t h at to o k p l a ce a fe w w e e k s a f te r t h e r e s e a r c h p h a s e w a s m o r e h a n d s o n , p u tt i n g i nto p ra c t i ce a n d w o r k i n g to w a r d s c r e at i n g w o r k fo r t h e e x h i b i t i o n , s e tt i n g u p a n d r u n n i n g a t h r e e d a y a r t i s t s ’ w o r k s h o p w i t h l o ca l Z i m b a b w e a n a r t i s t s 7 fr o m d i ffe r e nt p a r t s o f t h e co u nt r y a n d co n d u c t i n g a n a r t i s t ’ s t a l k b y Pe n n y S i o p i s fo r t h e l o ca l a r t co m m u n i t y.

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Ke y to t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e e x h i b i t i o n , w i t h t h e o p e n i n g m a r k i n g t h e i t s e n d , t h e r e s i d e n c y m a n a g e d to b r i n g to g e t h e r va r i o u s a r t i s t s fr o m Z i m b a b w e to a c r e at i v e a n d i nte l l e c t u a l e n v i r o n m e nt t h at r e s u l te d i n w o r k i n g to g e t h e r a n d s h a r i n g i d e a s a n d e x p e r i e n ce s a c r o s s c u l t u ra l a n d c r e at i v e p o l i t i c s b e t w e e n B u l a w a y o a n d H a ra r e .

T h e r e s u l t s w e r e a s to n i s h i n g l y p o w e r fu l a n d m a r ke d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s h a r i n g s p a ce s a n d w o r k i n g co l l a b o rat i v e l y b e t w e e n artists in the south and the north of Zimbabwe.

T h e V i s i t i n g - A r t i s t s - i n - Re s i d e n c y Pr o g ra m m e i s t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y o f Z i m b a b w e ’ s r e s p o n s e to t h e c h a l l e n g i n g e n v i r o n m e nt t h at m a ke s i t h a r d to m a i nt a i n v i s i b i l i t y a n d ke e p t h e v i s u a l a r t s i n t h e co u nt r y a l i v e . T h e r e s i d e n c y h a s b e e n n u r t u r i n g s o m e o f t h e m o s t p r o m i s i n g c r e at i v e w o r k to d a y, o ffe r i n g a p l at fo r m fo r i n s p i rat i o n a n d s u p p o r t to l o ca l a n d v i s i t i n g a r t i s t s at a t i m e w h e n o u tco m e s a r e a m b i g u o u s a n d h a r d to q u a nt i f y.

T h e r e s i d e n c y e n co u ra g e s a fra g m e nte d s o c i e t y to ce l e b rate c r e at i v e p e o p l e a n d c r e at i v e p r o ce s s ; i t va l u e s e x p e r i m e nt at i o n a n d t h e e x p l o rat i o n o f n e w i d e a s . E n a b l i n g fr e e d o m to c r e ate i n a n e w s p a ce i s n e ce s s a r y fo r a l l c r e at i v e a cco m p l i s h m e nt . I t i s m o r e i m p o r t a nt n o w t h a n e v e r fo r a r t i s t s to h a v e t h e fr e e d o m a n d s u p p o r t to d e v e l o p w o r k w i t h o u t e x p e c t at i o n s o f i m m e d i ate m ate r i a l o u tco m e . B u t s u p p o r t i n g a r t i s t s a n d t h e i r c r e at i v e d e v e l o p m e nt i s a r i s k y b u s i n e s s , i t i s n o t e a s i l y m e a s u r e d b y i t s i m p a c t o r i n co m e g e n e rate d , r e s u l t s o f te n e m e r g e m o nt h s o r y e a r s a f te r a p a r t i c u l a r p r o j e c t . T h e g r e ate s t i m p a c t s - o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l a r t i s t s t h e m s e l v e s , o n t h e i r co m m u n i t i e s a n d a u d i e n ce s – a r e n o t a l w a y s t a n g i b l e . B u t t h e y d o h a v e a c u m u l at i v e i m p a c t o v e r t i m e . Pe r h a p s , t h e c r i t i ca l q u e s t i o n i s h o w t h e g a l l e r y a n d s t a ke h o l d e r s a s s e s s t h e i m p a c t o f t h e r e s i d e n c y p r o g ra m m e .

Tu n i n g T i m e ( d e t a i l ) s i te - s p e c i fi c i n s t a l l at i o n 2019

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A MUSIC WHOSE DARK SIDE IS CLOSE TO THE SKIN PENNY SIOPIS ARTIST

I fi r s t v i s i te d B u l a w a y o a r o u n d 1 9 9 5 . I h a d co m e to d e l i v e r t h e

w r i te r w h o co u l d t u r n o n h e r h i s to r y, e x p l o r e t ra u m a , v i o l e n ce a n d

o p e n i n g a d d r e s s fo r a n e x h i b i t i o n o f a B u l a w a y o a r t i s t w h o h a d

t a b o o s u b j e c t s l i ke ra p e a n d i n fa nt i c i d e . 9 S h e w a s s e l f - r e fl e x i v e , a n d

b e e n m y s t u d e nt at W i t s . 8 I t w a s t h e n t h at I m e t Yv o n n e Ve ra j u s t

h e r w o r k a s ke d q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f a r t , o f t h e a r t i s t ,

a s s h e w a s a b o u t to t a ke o ffi ce a s D i r e c to r G e n e ra l o f t h e N at i o n a l

and all in the most poetic prose. But even when the sensuousness

G a l l e r y - a p o s i t i o n s h e h e l d fo r fi v e y e a r s . I n A p r i l 2 0 1 9 I r e t u r n e d

o f h e r n o n - n a r rat i v i t y, t h e te x t u r e , co l o u r, to n e a n d fl u i d i t y o f h e r

to t h e c i t y, t h i s t i m e fo r a s i te v i s i t fo r m y o w n e x h i b i t i o n M o v i n g

fo r m w a s e m b ra ce d , t h i s d i s co u r s e s t i l l l e f t m e w a nt i n g . Fo r w h at ?

S to ri e s a n d Tra v e l l i n g R h y t h m s . T h e b u i l d i n g h e l d t h e s a m e g ra n d e u r

I a m n o t s u r e . I s e e m e d to n e e d a n o t h e r w a y o f ‘ r e a d i n g ’ h e r, a w a y

a s i t h a d d o n e i n t h e n i n e t i e s , a n d t h e p o l i s h e d w o o d e n fl o o r s t i l l

fr o m a ca d e m i c co n s t ra i nt a n d p r o d u c t ; m o r e i n t u n e w i t h p r o v i s i o n a l

c r e a ke d u n d e r m y s te p . T h e d i ffe r e n ce w a s t h at I h a d s i n ce m e t

fo r m s o f e x p r e s s i o n . T h e r e i s s o m u c h m o v e m e nt i n h e r e l l i p s e s . A n d

Yv o n n e Ve ra t h e w r i te r, w h o s e w o r d s h a d fi l l e d m e w i t h s o m u c h

h e r i m a g e r y h a s t h e p a ra d ox i ca l m u t a b i l i t y o f a n c i e nt s t i l l i m a g e s -

m o r e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e c i t y. A n d h e r p r e s e n ce fi l l e d t h e g a l l e r y.

t h e y a n i m ate w h e n ca l l e d u p , t h e y s i n g . I w o n d e r e d a b o u t h e r a c t u a l p r o ce s s o f w r i t i n g , h o w s h e e n g a g e d i n t h e a c t , h o w t h i n g s ca m e

Tw o m o nt h s l ate r I r e t u r n e d to i n s t a l l m y s h o w . T h at ’ s w h e n I m e t

to g e t h e r. I i m a g i n e d s h e i m p r o v i s e d , d ra w i n g o n a l l o f h e r l i fe a n d

Ve ra ’ s m o t h e r, E r i c h a G w e t a i . W e h a d te a i n h e r h o m e . W e l o o ke d

w h at ca m e b e fo r e .

at p h o to g ra p h s , s p o ke fo r l o n g . T h e a f te r n o o n l i g ht fa d e d . T h e r e w a s n o e l e c t r i c i t y i n B u l a w a y o . W h e n w e co u l d n o l o n g e r s e e e a c h

I t w a s m y o w n i m p r o v i s at i o n a l w a y o f w o r k i n g t h at b r o u g ht m e b a c k

o t h e r, E r i c h a fe tc h e d a p o r t a b l e ra d i o w h i c h h a d a n i nte r n a l l i g ht .

to Ve ra . I n 2 0 1 6 I w a s r e s e a r c h i n g t h e j a z z co m p o s i t i o n S ko k i a a n i n

She turned down the sound.

m a k i n g m y fi l m W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! 1 0 T h e t u n e , fa m o u s l y co v e r e d b y Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g , w a s co m p o s e d b y Z i m b a b w e a n A u g u s t M u s a r u r w a .

I fi r s t e n co u nte r e d Ve ra ’ s w o r k i n a n a ca d e m i c co nte x t , fra m e d w i t h i n

T h e w o r k w a s to b e co m e t h e h e a r t o f M o v i n g S to r i e s a n d Tra v e l l i n g

p o s t- co l o n i a l i s m a n d fe m i n i s m . H e r e w a s a g i f te d A fr i ca n w o m a n

R h y t h m s , s p a r k i n g t h e o t h e r w o r k s o n t h e s h o w - a n i n s t a l l at i o n ,

Tu n i n g T i m e ( d e t a i l s ) s i te - s p e c i fi c i n s t a l l at i o n 2019

Tu n i n g T i m e , a n d p a i nt i n g s B r e at h l e s s a n d B l u e . T u n i n g T i m e

b o d y i n a n d o f t h e b o o k . I t i s i m p r i nte d o n t h e p a g e . I t h a s a l o o k ,

w a s i m p r o v i s at i o n a l , s i te - r e s p o n s i v e a n d e p h e m e ra l . B o t h w o r k s

s h a p e d b y i t s fo r m at . A v i s u a l r h y t h m . Te x t u r e . U s u a l l y b l a c k i n k . A

r e fe r e n ce Ve ra ’ s w o r d s , t h e i n s t a l l at i o n d o i n g s o q u i te l i te ra l l y i n

g ra p h i c co d e l i ke m u s i ca l n o t at i o n w h e r e y o u ca n i m a g i n e t h e s o u n d

i t s i nte r m i n g l i n g o f h e r p h ra s e s ( a s p a p e r c u t- o u t s ) w i t h i m a g e s a n d

y o u r e a d . Ve ra o f te n s p e a k s o f i m a g e s a s ‘ fr oze n ’ , a n d s e e s t h e m a s

o b j e c t s , a n d w i t h t h e p a i nt i n g s i n m o r e o p a q u e w a y s , d w e l l i n g i n

e nt i t i e s b e y o n d t h e i r m ate r i a l r e a l i t y ; a s , s a y, p h o to g ra p h s . I f y o u

t h e i r v i s co u s , s co r e d a n d co l o u r e d s u r fa ce s . W r i t i n g i s n o t p a i nt i n g .

r e p e at t h e ‘ fr oze n ’ m o m e nt y o u g e t m o v e m e nt , r h y t h m , l i ke fi l m ,

Pa i nt i n g i s s y n o p t i c , i t s te m p o ra l i t y n o t s e q u e nt i a l . B u t te x t h a s a

l i ke m u s i c .

15

Her words:

M u s i c i s e v e r y w h e r e i n Ve ra ’ s w r i t i n g . A n d , a s n o te d e a r l i e r, i t w a s m u s i c – m y t ra c k i n g S ko k i a a n to i t s Z i m b a b w e a n o r i g i n s - t h at b r o u g ht

I ’ v e a l w a y s b e e n v i s u a l l y o r i e nte d … W h e n I ’ m w r i t i n g – fo r

m e b a c k to Ve ra . S ko k i a a n p l a y s a s m a l l b u t i m p o r t a nt p a r t i n T h e

e x a m p l e , w h e n I w a s w ri t i n g W i t h o u t a N a m e ( p u b l i s h e d 1 9 9 4 ) – I

S to n e V i rg i n s . 1 4 I h a d n o t n o t i ce d i t w h e n I fi r s t r e a d t h e n o v e l , b e i n g

s t a r t w i t h a m o m e nt – v i s u a l , m e nt a l – t h at I c a n s e e , a n d I p l a ce

b o u n d to o s t r o n g l y p e r h a p s to t h e co nte nt o f t h e n a r rat i v e , to o m u c h

i t o n m y t a b l e , a s t h o u g h i t w e r e a p h o to g ra p h . I n W i t h o u t a

o n t h at s i d e o f e m o t i o n . O r p e r h a p s i t w a s m y i m m e r s i o n i n t h e m u s i c

N a m e , I h a d t h i s ‘ p h o to g ra p h ’ , o r s e r i e s o f p h o to g ra p h s , o f a

t h at o p e n e d t h e w a y.

w o m a n t h r o w i n g a c h i l d o n h e r b a c k . T h i s p h o t o g ra p h i s a v e r y fa m i l i a r s ce n e i n A fr i c a . I f y o u w a l k d o w n t h e s t r e e t , y o u ’ l l s e e

H o w d i d S ko k i a a n fe at u r e i n T h e S to n e V i rg i n s ? I n t h e o p e n i n g

i t – a ce r t a i n s t y l e a n d m o v e m e nt , a ce r t a i n fa m i l i a r i t y. A n d t h i s

c h a p te r t h e r e i s o l d B u l a w a y o . A h a l f - l i t b a r at t h e S e l b o u r n e h o te l

m o m e nt c a m e t o m e , h o w i t ’ s d o n e : t h e c h i l d i s t h r o w n o v e r t h e

i n S e l b o u r n e A v e n u e – t h e r o a d t h at Ve ra s a y s i s ‘ l i ke a n u m b i l i ca l

l e f t s h o u l d e r o nto t h e m o t h e r ’ s b a c k , s h e p u l l s t h e l e g s a r o u n d

co r d ’ 1 5 j o i n i n g B u l a w a y o a n d J o h a n n e s b u r g , g o i n g s t ra i g ht to t h e

h e r w a i s t . T h e n I c h a n g e i t i n o n e a s p e c t : t h at t h e c h i l d i s d e a d .

g o l d m i n e s . T h e h o te l i s s t i l l t h e r e . S e l b o u r n e A v e n u e i s n o w Le o p o l d

B u t t h e m o t h e r p e r fo r m s t h e s a m e a c t i o n . S o , I t a ke t h i s s e r i e s

Ta ka w i ra A v e n u e . H e r e a r e Ve ra ’ s w o r d s :

o f i m a g e s , a n d I p u t t h e m o n m y d e s k , s o to s p e a k , a s I w r i te . T h i s m o m e nt , fr oze n l i ke t h at , i s s o p o w e r fu l t h at I c a n ’ t l o s e s i g ht o f

I n a s e c l u d e d b a r b l a c k m e n r e c i te a l l t h e y c a n r e m e m b e r a b o u t

i t , v i s u a l l y o r e m o t i o n a l l y. 1 1

t h at t i m e w h e n S atc h m o w a s s u d d e n l y i n t h e i r m i d s t , t a k i n g t h e i r s o n g , t h e i r s o n g ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ , fr o m t h e i r m o u t h s a n d l e tt i n g i t

Pu tt i n g y o u r i m a g i n at i o n o n y o u r d e s k , a s i f i t w e r e a p h o to g ra p h - t h i s

co u r s e t h r o u g h t h e i r v e i n s l i ke b l o o d , t h e i r b l o o d . T h e w o n d e r o f

says so much about embodied imaging, how body archive works, how

it . The enduring wonder of it . The love of it . The Bulawayo men

y o u m i g ht k n o w a n i m a g e b e fo r e y o u s e e i t . A n d y o u d o n ’ t k n o w w h y

play it again in their half-lit bars, wondering if their memor y

y o u k n o w . H i s to r i a n Te r e n ce Ra n g e r, a c l o s e fr i e n d o f Ve ra ’ s , r e fl e c t s

i s t r u e , i f i n d e e d , t h e y h a v e to u c h e d t h e a r m a n d s l e e v e o f t h at

o n t h i s , te l l i n g o f a n o cca s i o n w h e n h e s h o w e d Ve ra a p h o to g ra p h

g l o r i o u s m a n , t h at S atc h m o ? 1 6

o n d i s p l a y at t h e N at i o n a l A r c h i v e s i n H a ra r e . 1 2 T h e r e Yv o n n e s a w fo r t h e fi r s t t i m e t h e e n l a r g e d v e r s i o n o f t h e p h o to o f A fr i ca n m e n ,

There is more:

ca p t u r e d i n 1 8 9 6 , h a n g i n g fr o m a t r e e . 1 2 S h e w a s a s to n i s h e d t h at t h e p h o to g ra p h fi tte d s o e x a c t l y w i t h h e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f h a n g i n g m e n at

The band leader sits back in his pale blue shirt and his navy blue

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f B u tte r fl y B u r n i n g , 1 3 t h e s e n s e o f t h e m e n s w i m m i n g

t r o u s e r s a n d h i s s k y - b l u e t i e a n d h i s d e e p b l u e v o i ce a n d s o f t l y

i n t h e a i r, b e i n g a s v i v i d a s i n t h e b o o k .

s a y s D i d y o u s a y Lo u i s … Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g … H e r i s e s . H e p l a y s a t r u m p e t . Pl a y s h i s S ko k i a a n w i t h Lo u i s b e fo r e h i s e y e s , a s fa r a s

And music?

h e c a n i m a g i n e to t h e l e f t , u n d e r t h at d i m m i n g l a m p a n d s m e l l o f ke r o s e n e l i g ht

Tu n i n g T i m e ( d e t a i l ) s i te - s p e c i fi c i n s t a l l at i o n 2019

17

A n d e v e r y o n e a g r e e s t h at y e s , h e p l a y e d w i t h Lo u i s , t h e r e i s n o

n e g o t i ate e v e r y d a y. “ S ko k i a a n , ” w i t h i t s l y ri c s a b o u t t h e h a p p y b l a c k

d o u b t a b o u t t h at .

m a n i n h i s j u n g l e b u n g a l o w , h a s i n fa c t n o t e s ca p e d t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f t h e S o u t h A fri ca n co l o n i a l re g i m e , h a s b e e n s e nt d o w n i nto t h e m i n e s

H e i s S at c h m o

w i t h t h e m a l e m i g ra nt w o rke r s . [ … ] T h e a n x i e t y a b o u t t h e co m p e t i n g m o d e r n i t i e s o f t h e co l o n i a l o rd e r v s . t h e i m p l i c i t l y m a l e n at i o n a l i s t

T h e y w a nt h i m to b e h e a r d a b o v e g r o u n d – s o m e w h e r e . T h i s

re s i s t a n ce i n v i te s a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n , t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e g e n d e re d

i s t h e d a y t h e y a r e a l l w a i t i n g fo r. N o t fo r S at c h m o to co m e ,

s p a ce s o f m o d e r n i t y. H e re a g a i n , t h e re i s a c ri t i ca l co n s e n s u s t h at

a n d g o , a n d p l a y t h e i r ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ , l e a v i n g t h e m b r e at h l e s s a n d

o n e o f t h e ke y co n ce r n s o f T h e S to n e V i rg i n s a s a n o v e l i s to i m a g i n e

b l u e , b u t fo r t h i s m a n to c a r r y t h e i r o w n d e s i r e s a b o v e g r o u n d –

fe m a l e w a y s o f o cc u p y i n g t h e s p a ce s o f B u l a w a y o a n d , m e to n y m i ca l l y,

s o m e w h e r e … A l l t h e y w a nt i s to co m e a n d g o a s t h e y p l e a s e … 1 7

t h e n e w Z i m b a b w e a n n at i o n . 1 8

A r m s t r o n g r e co r d e d t w o v e r s i o n s o f S ko k i a a n , o n e v o ca l , n i c k n a m e d

T h e i nte r p r e t at i o n r e s o n ate s , a s i t d o e s w i t h W e l co m e V i s i to r s !

‘ H a p p y A fr i ca ’ , w i t h i t s e xo t i c i s i n g l y r i c s . I n a t a ke o n i t s s i g n i fi ca n ce

w h e r e t h e r e i s s y m m e t r y a n d a s y m m e t r y w i t h S atc h m o 1 9 a n d t h e m e n

i n T h e S to n e V i r g i n s fr o m a l i te ra r y p e r s p e c t i v e , A n n E l i z a b e t h W i l l e y

w h o i n v o ke h i m . Ve ra ’ s w o r d s t r i a n g u l ate t h e s ce n a r i o . B u t s h e i s

r e fl e c t s :

s u p p l e , i m p o s s i b l e to p i n d o w n .

Ve ra ’ s u s e o f S ko k i a a n i n t h e fi r s t c h a p te r o p e n s u p m u l t i p l e s p a ce s

M u s i c i s e v e r y w h e r e i n Ve ra . B u tte r fl y B u r n i n g i s fu l l o f kw e l a 2 0 . I n

fo r a c ri t i q u e o f t h i s d i a s p o ri c fl o w a s n e ce ss a ri l y e m p o w e ri n g . [ … ]

l i fe s h e l o v e d m a n y a s o n g w i t h fa v o u r i te s b e i n g N i n a S i m o n e ’ s To

I n d e s c ri b i n g t h e c ro w d a s “ b re at h l e ss a n d b l u e , ” Ve ra l e a v e s o p e n

B e Yo u n g G i f te d a n d B l a c k a n d B o b M a r l e y ’ s Re d e m p t i o n S o n g . 2 1 S h e

t h e p o ss i b i l i t y t h at w h i l e t h e y m i g ht b e b re at h l e ss w i t h w o n d e r, t h e y

te l l s , i n h e r s h o r t s to r y D e a d S w i m m e r s , a b o u t t h e s o n g Fu r u w a :

m i g ht a l s o b e b re at h l e ss w i t h o u t ra g e o v e r t h e m i ss e d o p p o r tu n i t y to v o i ce t h e i r d e s i re s , to t a ke t h e i r d e s i re s i nto t h e o p e n . I n s te a d , t h e i r d e s i re s a re co v e re d o v e r w i t h t h e s a m e ra c i s t d i s co u r s e t h e y m u s t

I t i s t h e s t o r y o f t w o l o v e r s s i tt i n g o n t h e c r e s t o f a w a v e . T h e

Ve ra ’ s m o t h e r w r i te s i n Pe t a l T h o u g ht s 2 4 t h at Fu r u w a w a s a fa v o u r i te

music of the waves is their music, and they are swallowed by

o f m o t h e r a n d d a u g hte r, a n d t h e y d a n ce d to i t at Ve ra ’ s s c h o o l

c r y s t a l s h o w e r s a n d t h e c l e a r e s t s a n d w h e r e w ate r m e e t s l a n d .

g ra d u at i o n . L ate r s h e s e nt t h e r e co r d to Ve ra w h e n s h e w a s l i v i n g

T h e n a d e e p fo a m s u r r o u n d s t h e m . T h e y d i s a p p e a r, b e n e at h i t ,

in Canada.

in the music of their love. ‘ I p o s te d a r e co r d o f Fu r u w a to h e r b e c a u s e I k n e w s h e m i s s e d T h e y d i e a h a p p y d e at h . T h e y d i e l i ke s t a r s fa l l i n g fr o m t h e s k y.

t h e s o n g . ’ 25

T h e y h a v e b e e n a cce p t e d b y t h e g r e at w at e r s p i r i t w h i c h b l o w s u p o n t h e s h i m m e r i n g fa b r i c o f t h e s e a a n d m a ke s t h e w ate r r i p p l e

T h e r e co r d b r o ke i nto p i e ce s . A g a i n , s h e r e fl e c t s :

i n a v i o l e nt w h i t e n e s s , t h e n w a v e fl o w s w a v e . N e i t h e r m y m o t h e r n o r I h a v e e v e r b e e n to t h e s e a . H o w e v e r, w e h a v e n o d o u b t t h at

‘ I s a n g t h e s o n g Fu r u w a to Yv o n n e w h e n s h e w a s l y i n g o n h e r

Fu r u w a i s a g o o d s o n g . 2 2

d e at h b e d i n A p r i l 2 0 0 5 . ’ 2 6

T h e s to r y g o e s , h e r m o t h e r s e nt h e r t h e r e co r d – t h e w r i te r w a s

Ve ra m u s e s :

at b o a r d i n g s c h o o l . T h e r e co r d b r o ke o n t h e w a y. S h e s p o ke to h e r m o t h e r, t h e s to r y co nt i n u e s :

I a m s t i l l d i s co v e r i n g m y m u s i c … I s p e nt y e a r s w i t h o u t a m u s i c s y s te m , j u s t r e a d i n g . I a m m u s i c a l i n m y w r i t i n g … I t h i n k i f I

T h a n k y o u fo r t h e w a v e s . T h e w a v e s h a v e b e e n b r o ke n ’ . I co u l d

co u l d p l a y t h e m b i ra , I w o u l d h a v e g r e at s p i r i t u a l h a r m o n y. I t i s

h e a r m y m o t h e r ’ s c r y a s I w r o te t h at . H e r s o u n d w a s l o u d e r t h a n

a m u s i c w h o s e d a r k s i d e i s s o c l o s e to t h e s k i n … I t i s o u r m o s t

t h at o f t h e w a v e s . I t h o u g ht p e r h a p s i f I h a v e a c h i l d I w i l l c a l l

p o e t i c m u s i c y e t I fe e l g e tt i n g i nto i t m i g ht s h att e r m e . I fe e l

h e r Fu r u w a 2 3

t h at a b o u t t h i n g s t h at a r e to o b e a u t i fu l [ … ] H o w e v e r I d o n o t m i n d … Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g . 2 7

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A r m s t r o n g fe at u r e s i n W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! i n t h e b i t s o f d o c u m e nt a r y fo o t a g e o f h i s 1 9 6 0 v i s i t to Z i m b a b w e . 2 8 T h e fo o t a g e i s m i xe d w i t h o l d 8 m m h o m e m o v i e s o f t h at t i m e , o f w h i c h I h a v e a l a r g e a n d e v e r - g r o w i n g a r c h i v e . T h e s e a r e fi l m s t h at I fi n d i n t h r i f t s h o p s . I h a v e n o i d e a w h o s h o t t h e m , o r o f t h e p e o p l e a n d p l a ce s ca u g ht i n t h e s w e e p o f t h e ca m e ra . I c u t s e q u e n ce s a n d co m b i n e t h e m w i t h te x t s t h at I w r i te fr o m a r c h i v e s a n d m y i m a g i n at i o n . T h e te x t a p p e a r s i n t h e fo r m a s s u b t i t l e s , w h i c h s a y s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t ra n s l at i o n b u t i s r e a l l y a b o u t w h at h a p p e n s i n t h e h e a d w h e n m u s i c a n d i m a g e m e r g e w i t h r e a d i n g . T h e fi l m i s p r o j e c te d , t h e b e a m o f l i g ht m a k i n g i t s o w n i m p r e s s o n t h e a c t s o f r e a d i n g , l o o k i n g , l i s te n i n g . Ve ra t a l k s a b o u t l i g ht i n a r t . I n fi l m . I n p a i nt i n g . E s p e c i a l l y Va n G o g h . S h e r e fl e c t s t h at p a i nte d l i g ht i s a l s o t h e a b s e n ce o f l i g ht . 2 9 S h e i s r i g ht . U n l i ke p h o to g ra p h y p a i nt i n g i s t h e i l l u s i o n o f l i g ht . B u t t h e a m b i e nt l i g ht i n w h i c h i t i s s e e n h a s s w a y - e s p e c i a l l y i f t h e s u r fa ce i s te x t u r e d – a s t h e l i g ht p l a y s o n i t , catc h e s i t . T h i s i s n o t t h e ca p t u r e o f l i g ht t h at c r e ate s t h e fr oze n i m a g e o f t h e p h o to g ra p h . M o v e m e nt i s a l w a y s t h e r e . I d i g r e s s .

I m a d e W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! fo r a g r o u p e x h i b i t i o n i n N e w O r l e a n s i n 2 0 1 7 . T i t l e d T h e Lo tu s i n S p i te o f t h e S w a m p , 3 0 t h e s h o w e x p l o r e d c u l t u ra l s y n c r e t i s m a n d t h e g l o b a l S o u t h . T h e c u rato r 3 1 a s ke d m e to r e fl e c t o n t h e l i n k s b e t w e e n S o u t h e r n A fr i ca a n d t h e A m e r i ca n S o u t h , a n d a r ra n g e d a s i te v i s i t to t h e c i t y a s a s t a r t i n g p o i nt . I h a d n o p r e co n ce i v e d i d e a s , b u t m y h e a d b u z ze d w i t h j a z z a n d i m a g e s o f m u s i c m i g rat i n g a c r o s s t h e A t l a nt i c . A s m y p l a n e l a n d e d i n N e w O r l e a n s , t h e s i g n LO U I S A R M S T R O N G a p p e a r e d - t h e n a m e o f t h e a i r p o r t . A w o r l d o p e n e d u p fo r m e . T h e n e x t d a y I v i s i te d a c h a r i t y s h o p . T h e r e I fo u n d a s i g n i fi ca nt o b j e c t , a d e co rate d co co n u t t h at l i n ke d b a c k to A r m s t r o n g , a n d l e d m e to S ko k i a a n . T h e co co n u t h a d Z U LU i n s c r i b e d o n i t i n g o l d . Z U LU , I l e a r n e d , w a s s h o r t fo r Zu l u S o c i a l A i d & Pl e a s u r e C l u b , a n A fr i ca n A m e r i ca n frate r n a l o r g a n i s at i o n i n e x i s te n ce i n N e w O r l e a n s s i n ce 1 9 1 6 . 3 2 I t s m e m b e r s p a ra d e at M a r d i G ra s e v e r y y e a r. T h e co co n u t i s a p o p u l a r g i f t t h r o w n to t h e c r o w d fr o m t h e fl o at s . Z U LU h a s a co m p l e x h i s to r y w h i c h i n v o l v e s a d o p t i n g ‘ a Zu l u i d e nt i t y ’ , co nt r o v e r s i a l l y e x p r e s s i n g ‘ A fr i ca ’ i n w a y s i n c l u d i n g b l a c k fa ce . A l l i n t h e s p i r i t o f r e s i s t a n ce to t h e v e r y s te r e o t y p e . A r m s t r o n g w a s a m e m b e r o f Z U LU . Ev e r y M a r d i G ra s Z U LU c h o o s e s a k i n g to c r o w n t h e fl o at . A r m s t r o n g w a s k i n g i n 1941.

I h a d a l w a y s t h o u g ht t h at S ko k i a a n w a s a S o u t h A fr i ca n s o n g . O n e r e co r d l a b e l s a i d a s m u c h . B u t i t w a s a l s o l a b e l l e d a Zu l u s o n g . M u s a r u r w a fi r s t r e co r d e d S ko k i a a n i n 1 9 4 9 w i t h h i s b a n d , ‘ T h e A fr i ca n B a n d o f t h e C o l d S to ra g e C o m m i s s i o n o f S o u t h e r n R h o d e s i a ’ . T h e co m p o s e r a l s o p l a y e d t h e s a x i n t h i s r e co r d i n g a n d t h e o n e t h at fo l l o w e d , b u t b y t h e n t h e b a n d ’ s n a m e h a d c h a n g e d to ‘ B u l a w a y o S w e e t R h y t h m s B a n d ’ . S ko k i a a n w a s a h i t i n t h e U n i te d S t ate s . T h e r e co r d h a d c ra c ke d o n i t s j o u r n e y a c r o s s t h e A t l a nt i c , b u t t h e A m e r i ca n s co u l d h e a r t h e s o n g t h r o u g h t h e c ra c k , a n d l o v e d i t s t s a b a - t s a b a j i v e . 3 3 A r m s t r o n g r e co g n i s e d t h e g r e at n e s s o f M u s a r u r w a a n d , i n 1 9 6 0 , o n h i s to u r o f A fr i ca , ca m e to Z i m b a b w e to m e e t t h e co m p o s e r. I n W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! t h e r e i s a g r e at s h o t o f h i m o n t h e r u n w a y o f t h e o l d B U L A W AYO a i r p o r t .

M o s t Z i m b a b w e a n s k n o w S ko k i a a n , a n d t h at i t i s n a m e d a f te r a n i l l i c i t b r e w m a d e b y A fr i ca n s i n d e fi a n ce o f t h e co l o n i a l a u t h o r i t i e s w h o o u t l a w e d t h e d r i n k i n g o f a n y b e e r o t h e r t h a n t h at p u r c h a s e d i n o ffi c i a l b e e r h a l l s . Pl a y i n g S ko k i a a n l o u d l y i n t h e to w n s h i p s w a s a w a y to w a r n p e o p l e t h at t h e p o l i ce w e r e co m i n g . I t w a s a l s o a t u n e to d a n ce to . To e n j o y.

W h i l e Ve ra ’ s S ko k i a a n d o e s n ’ t fe at u r e i n W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! i n a d i r e c t w a y, i t i s p r e s e nt i n t h e m ate r i a l t ra ce s o f t h e fi l m a n d i t s m o nt a g e e ffe c t w h i c h i s fu l l o f g a p s r e a d y to b e fi l l e d . M o nt a g e s h a p e s n a r rat i v e t h r o u g h p u tt i n g to g e t h e r fra g m e nt s fr o m d i s p a rate s o u r ce s , a n d t h i n g s o n l y co h e r e i n t h e s p e c t ato r ’ s m i n d i n t h e m o m e nt o f v i e w i n g , r e a d i n g . I t i s i n Tu n i n g T i m e , 3 4 t h e h u g e i n s t a l l at i o n m a d e i n - s i t u i n t h e g a l l e r y, t h at h e r w o r d s a r e p i c t u r e d . I t t a ke s u p t h e w h o l e w a l l . W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! , s c r e e n e d i n t h e r o o m n e a r b y, m a ke s S ko k i a a n t h e s o u n d to s e e i t b y.

Tu n i n g T i m e i s a co l l a g e o f ‘ s p l a s h e s ’ o f i n k a n d g l u e o n p a p e r o f va r y i n g s i ze s , c u t- o u t s fr o m n e w s p a p e r h e a d l i n e s , s m a l l s ke tc h e s a n d fo u n d o b j e c t s . T h e m e d i u m o f g l u e a n d i n k b e co m e s a n i m a g e t h r o u g h a c h e m i ca l r e a c t i o n , w h e r e t h e w h i te g l u e m i xe s w i t h t h e p i g m e nt . I t b e co m e s t ra n s p a r e nt t h r o u g h t h e d r y i n g e ffe c t s o f t h e a i r. G ra v i t y p u l l s i t i nto s h a p e . S e tt i n g t h e co n d i t i o n s fo r s o m e t h i n g to h a p p e n o n a h o r i zo nt a l p l a n e , t h e m ate r i a l s r e a c t to e a c h o t h e r i m p r o v i s at i o n t a ke s o v e r.

W e l co m e V i s i to r s ! single-channel video, sound 10 min 17 sec 2017

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Tu n i n g T i m e i s a co l l a g e o f ‘ s p l a s h e s ’ o f i n k a n d g l u e o n p a p e r o f va r y i n g s i ze s , c u t- o u t s fr o m n e w s p a p e r h e a d l i n e s , s m a l l s ke tc h e s a n d fo u n d o b j e c t s . T h e m e d i u m o f g l u e a n d i n k b e co m e s a n i m a g e t h r o u g h a c h e m i ca l r e a c t i o n , w h e r e t h e w h i te g l u e m i xe s w i t h t h e p i g m e nt .

I t b e co m e s t ra n s p a r e nt t h r o u g h t h e d r y i n g e ffe c t s o f t h e a i r. G ra v i t y p u l l s i t i nto s h a p e . S e tt i n g t h e co n d i t i o n s fo r s o m e t h i n g to h a p p e n o n a h o r i zo nt a l p l a n e , t h e m ate r i a l s r e a c t to e a c h o t h e r - i m p r o v i s at i o n t a ke s o v e r. 3 5

t i m e w e r e a d w h at i s n ’ t t h e r e b e ca u s e w e k n o w t h e s o u r ce – t h e n e w s p a p e r s . M a n y a r e l a r g e h e a d l i n e s , s o u r ce d fr o m t h e n e w s p a p e r s e l l e r s o u t s i d e t h e g a l l e r y, t h e p o s te r s o n t h e s t r e e t . Pu b l i c h i s to r y, a s i t h a p p e n s . C u t , l e tte r b y l e tte r, fr o m t h e p r i nte d p a g e , t h e y m a ke Ve ra ’ s w o r d s p h y s i ca l – h e r l i n e s o n S ko k i a a n fr o m T h e S to n e V i rg i n s .

T h i s i s w h e r e t h e v i s u a l m a s s o n t h e w a l l b e co m e s m o r e l e g i b l e , t ra n s fo r m i n g i nto s i n g l e l i n e s , s i n g l e s e nte n ce s t h at c u r v e i nto o n e another on its edges.

S o m e n e w s p a p e r c u t- o u t s a r e e n ca s e d i n t h e v i s co u s s u r fa ce . O t h e r s r o a m fr e e o n t h e w a l l . S o m e p h ra s e s a r e i l l e g i b l e , o t h e r s n o t . S o m e fu s e w i t h i m a g e s ; l i n e s j o i n l i n e s , m a ke c i r c l e s , c r o s s e s . S o m e o f t h e

T h e r e a r e o b j e c t s to o . S o m e s i t o n w h i te s h e l v e s . O t h e r s r e s t o n s c u l p t u r e p l i nt h s . S t i l l o t h e r s a r e n a i l e d d i r e c t l y i nto t h e w a l l . M o s t a r e fo u n d i n B u l a w a y o , i n t h r i f t s to r e s o r i n t h e s o u v e n i r s h o p d o w n

t h e r o a d . M a n y a r e co p p e r, o r n a m e nt s fr o m a n o t h e r t i m e .

S h e w r i te s :

O n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e g a l l e r y a r e t h e s m a l l p a i nt i n g s . T h e i r g r o u n d

T h e s k i n o v e r m y l e g s w o u l d b e d r y, t a u t , e v e n h e a v y. I t c a r r i e d t h e co l d o f o u r w i nte r. U s i n g t h e e d g e s o f m y fi n g e r n a i l s o r p i e ce s o f d r y g ra s s b r o ke n fr o m m y g ra n d m o t h e r ’ s b r o o m I w o u l d s t a r t to w r i te o n m y l e g s . I w o u l d w r i te o n m y s m a l l t h i g h s b u t t h i s s u r fa ce was soft and the words would vanish and the words would not s t a y l o n g , b u t i t fe l t d i ffe r e nt t o w r i te t h e r e , a s h a r p a n d t i c k l i s h s e n s at i o n w h i c h m a d e u s l a u g h a s t h o u g h w e h a d p l a ce d t h e w o r d s

i s a m e m b ra n o u s g l u e s u r fa ce w i t h o i l p a i nt o n to p . I t i s i d e a l fo r s g ra ffi to , 3 6 s c ratc h i n g t h r o u g h a l a y e r to r e v e a l i t s u n d e r n e at h .

S g ra ffi to i s t h e e a r l i e s t fo r m o f d ra w i n g a n d w r i t i n g , t h o s e e n g ra v i n g s fo u n d i n ca v e s w h e r e p i g m e nt r u b b e d i n s o l o n g a g o s t i l l s t a i n s t h e s to n e .

I t h i n k o f Ve ra ’ s w o r d s a b o u t h e r c h i l d h o o d m e m o r y o f s c ratc h i n g i nto

i n a h i d d e n p l a ce . 3 7

h e r s k i n , w r i t i n g , d ra w i n g ; t h e t i m e s h e ‘ d i s co v e r e d t h e m a g i c ’ o f h e r b o d y ‘ a s a w r i t i n g s u r fa ce ’ .

T h i s s e e m s m o r e l i ke b l e e d i n g , n o t w r i t i n g . I t w a s i m p o r t a nt to w r i te .

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B re at h l e ss a n d B l u e S e r i e s o f 1 2 p a i nt i n g s I n k , g l u e a n d o i l o n ca n va s 2019

T h e l i tt l e p a i nt i n g s s u g g e s t s ce n e s , b u t t h i n g s a re n o t c l e a r. T h e s u r fa ce s a re to o p h y s i ca l a n d t h e i r c r u s t i n e s s catc h e s to o m u c h l i g ht . S t ra n g e .

S o m e t h i n g s e e m s b u r i e d i n t h e m , b u t a l s o e x p o s e d . I s t h at a h o l e i n t h e g r o u n d , o r a h o l e i n t h e p a i nt s k i n ? I s t h at s o m e o n e i n t h e h o l e ?

O r a s to n e . I s t h at o ra n g e fi r e ? A n i n s e c t b u r n i n g ? A s w o l l e n b l u e fo r m l o o k s l i ke w ate r. B u t i t ’ s to o s o l i d , to o h o t to b e s e a . I t b l e e d s out of the picture plane, loses its rectangle.

W h at m o re ca n I s a y ? Pe o p l e a s ke d i f I w a s m a k i n g a p o l i t i ca l s tate m e nt i n t h e i n s t a l l at i o n , b y u s i n g n e w s p a p e r s . A n d a l l t h at r e d i n k a n d v i s ce ra l g l u e .

I r e ca l l r e a d i n g s o m e w h e r e h o w Ve ra t h o u g ht t h at s o m e t i m e s y o u ca n n o t e s ca p e t h e t i m e s y o u a r e l i v i n g i n .

Ve ra a g a i n , Pe o p l e fo r g e t t h at w r i t i n g i s n o t j u s t a b o u t i s s u e s [ . . . ] M y fi r s t co m m i t m e nt i s t o t h e a c t o f w r i t i n g . [ . . . ] I a l w a y s fe e l , w i t h e a c h p a ra g ra p h I w r i te , I h a v e t o b e at a n e w t h r e s h o l d [ . . . ] Pa ra g ra p h b y p a ra g ra p h , I fe e l t ra n s fo r m e d . A n d I a l w a y s fe e l at t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, w h e n I m a n a g e to w ri te , I p a n i c , m y h e a r t b e at s , a n d I t h i n k , i f l h a d n o t w ri tte n to d a y, I w o u l d n o t b e w h e re I a m ri g ht n o w , ri g ht n o w , t h i s m o m e nt . B u t p e o p l e d o n ’ t k n o w t h at , y o u k n o w . T h e y j u s t r e a d , s o m e t i m e s , a n d t h e y j u s t k n o w t h e t h e m e , t h e y t h i n k e v e r y t h i n g i s [ d e c i d e d ] i n a d v a n ce , y o u k n o w , o f t h e a c t [ o f w r i t i n g ] . . . B u t i t i s n ’ t . 38

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DIALOGUES WITH PENNY SIOPIS AND CHARMED OBJECTS TAFADZWA GWETAI ARTIST / WRITER I t w a s a g at h e r i n g o f a r t i s t i c e n e r g i e s fr o m a l l o v e r Z i m b a b w e to e n g a g e i n d i a l o g u e w i t h w o r l d r e n o w n e d a r t i s t fr o m S o u t h A fr i ca , Pe n n y S i o p i s . A n H o n o ra r y Pr o fe s s o r at t h e M i c h a e l i s S c h o o l o f Fi n e A r t , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a p e To w n , s h e i s r e p r e s e nte d i n S o u t h A fr i ca b y S te v e n s o n G a l l e r y. T h e t i m e : W e d n e s d a y, 1 2 J u n e to Fr i d a y, 1 4 J u n e 2 0 1 9 . T h e p l a ce : T h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Pe n n y S i o p i s i s a p a i nte r, v i d e o a n d i n s t a l l at i o n a r t i s t . H e r c r e at i o n s a r e h i g h l y co n ce p t u a l a n d h a v e l a y e r s u p o n l a y e r s o f m e a n i n g . Watc h i n g t h e e x h i b i t i o n M o v i n g S to r i e s a n d Tra v e l l i n g R h y t h m s co m e to g e t h e r a l l o w e d fo r a d i a l o g u e w i t h Pe n n y t h at a l l o w e d i n s i g ht i nto h e r t h i n k i n g a n d c r e at i v e p r o ce s s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e d i a l o g u e s r e v e a l e d t r u t h s a b o u t e a c h o f o u r a r t p ra c t i ce s .

A s a r t i s t s w e a r e o f te n ca u g ht u p i n t h e c u rato r i a l d e m a n d s w h e r e w e m a i n l y fo c u s o n t h e co n ce p t o f t h e a r t w o r k . I n t h e d i a l o g u e s w i t h Pe n n y, w e fo c u s e d o n t h e c r e at i v e p r o ce s s a n d i t s s i g n i fi ca n ce to o u r fi n a l p r o d u c t . Pe n n y fi n d s a w a y to t ra n s fo r m t h e c r e at i v e p r o ce s s a s a n a r t fo r m i n i t s e l f. T h i s g a v e t h e i n v i te d a r t i s t s a c h a n ce fo r i nt r o s p e c t i o n ; a n o p p o r t u n i t y to r e fl e c t o n h o w a n d w h y a n d w h e r e t h e y c r e ate d t h e i r w o r k .

Pe n n y ’ s c r e at i o n s e x p l o r e ke y q u e s t i o n s o f t h e h u m a n co n d i t i o n a s s h e ca r e fu l l y w e a v e s t h e r e l at i o n s h i p b e t w e e n l i v i n g a n d i n a n i m ate o b j e c t s . S h e e x p l o r e s t h i s t h r o u g h i s s u e s o f m e m o r y, i m a g i n at i o n , m i g rat i o n a n d s p i r i t u a l i t y. H e r o b j e c t s a r e ca r e fu l l y s e l e c te d to c r e ate h e r i n s t a l l at i o n s . S h e d e s c r i b e s t h e s e o b j e c t s a s b e i n g “ c h a r m e d ” o r a s o b j e c t s t h at a r e c h a r g e d w i t h a n e n e r g y - a n e n e r g y t h at i s p r e s e nt v i a t h e fo r m e r o w n e r, o r a n e n e r g y t h at i s b e s to w e d b y the artist .

W o rk s h o p A r t i s t s fr o m H a ra r e a n d B u l a w a y o 2019

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T h at s p e c i a l a b i l i t y o f a r t i s t s to g i v e m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e to o b j e c t s w a s t h e co r e a s p e c t o f o u r w o r k s h o p t h at Pe n n y s u p e r v i s e d . W e w e r e g i v e n a l i m i te d a n d s e l e c te d a m o u nt o f m ate r i a l s to e x p e r i m e nt w i t h . A s a r t i s t s w e to o k to t h e c h a l l e n g e w i t h n o fe a r a n d to n n e s o f c u r i o s i t y. N e w fo r m s w e r e b o r n w i t h n e w m e a n i n g s fo r o u r e y e s a n d m i n d s . W e w o r ke d w i t h m a n m a d e o b j e c t s , r e p u r p o s e d o b j e c t s , t h at , a s Pe n n y w o u l d s a y, ‘ b e ca m e c h a r m e d a n d c h a r g e d w i t h a ce r t a i n p o w e r ’ .

I w a s fa s c i n ate d b y h e r r e fe r e n ce to t h e s e ra n d o m o b j e c t s a s b e i n g ‘ c h a r m e d ’ , 3 9 to h a v e a h i d d e n s t r e n g t h o r p o te nt i a l e n e r g y. I n o u r a r t i s t i c a g e n d a w i t h Pe n n y t h e c h a r m e d p o te nt i a l h a s a m a g i ca l q u a l i t y to i t . A m a g i c t h at i s w i t h i n t h e i d e nt i fi e d o b j e c t a n d h o w w e r e d e fi n e t h i s o b j e c t ’ s p u r p o s e . O t h e r d e fi n i t i o n s o f t h e m e a n i n g ‘ c h a r m e d ’ e x te n d s i nto t h e q u a l i t y o f ‘ l u c k ’ o r ‘ g o o d fo r t u n e ’ b e i n g b e s to w e d u p o n a n i n a n i m ate o b j e c t .

O u r ( a r t i s t s ) a b i l i t y to a s s i g n m e a n i n g to t h e ‘ c h a r m e d ’ o b j e c t a l l o w s fo r t h e b i r t h o f n e w l a y e r s o f d e b ate a n d d i a l o g u e . W h at i s n e ce s s a r i l y a g r o u p o f u n r e l ate d o b j e c t s s u c h a s Eu r o p e a n o r A fr i ca n o b j e c t s co u l d fi n d t h e m s e l v e s j ux t a p o s e d to g e t h e r to s p a r k t h o u g ht o r to d e l i b e rate l y a nt a g o n i s e . A n o b j e c t co m e s w i t h c h a r m t h at h a s h i s to r i ca l m e a n i n g t h at m a y h a v e i t s o w n co l o n i a l b a g g a g e , o r a n o b j e c t t h at co u l d b e c h a r m e d b y v i r t u e o f i t s fo r m e r s p i r i t u a l purpose.

Pe n n y ’ s d i a l o g u e l e d u s o n a j o u r n e y t h at w a s fi l l e d w i t h t h e m u s i c a n d l i te rat u r e t h at b r o u g ht h e r to Z i m b a b w e a n d B u l a w a y o . I t w a s t h e s to r y o f ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ , t h e fa m o u s m u s i ca l p i e ce co m p o s e d b y A u g u s t M u s a r u r w a i n t h e n i n e te e n fo r t i e s , w h i c h w a s a l s o a l o ca l i l l e g a l a l co h o l i c b r e w . ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ fo u n d i t s w a y to A m e r i ca a n d i n s p i r e d Lo u i s A r m s t r o n g , w h o v i s i te d Z i m b a b w e to s h a r e h i s l o v e fo r t h e music.

T h e fo u n d o b j e c t s w e u s e a s a r t i s t s i n o u r w o r k , h a v e t ra v e l l e d g r e at d i s t a n ce s j u s t l i ke t h e m u s i c o f ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ . Pe n n y ’ s v i d e o m o nt a g e s a r e a n a cc u m u l at i o n o f o b j e c t s fr o m t h e p a s t , r e j e c te d t h i n g s , fo r g o tte n m e m o r i e s , fa m i l i a r t u n e s , h a r d a n d g o o d t i m e s . T h e fl u i d a n d s p i r i t u a l n at u r e o f m u s i c a s a n a r t fo r m e n a b l e d t h e B u l a w a y o ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ n a r rat i v e to t ra v e l a s fa r a s A m e r i ca a n d w a s a b l e to i g n i te a r t i s t i c p a r t n e r s h i p a n d fr i e n d s h i p s . T h i s a b s t ra c t q u a l i t y fl o w s i nto i nto Pe n n y ’ s a cco m p a n y i n g i n k d ra w i n g s , w o r k s t h at p o s s e s s i n g a s p i r i t u a l e n e r g y t h at a p p e a r s i nt a n g i b l e , s i m i l a r to t h e m u s i c o f ‘ S ko k i a a n ’ . T h e s e d ra w i n g s w i t h co l l a g e d te x t h a v e a n at u ra l fl o w , ‘ c h a r m e d ’ b y t h e c r e ato r. T h i s i s w h e r e o n e g e t s to r e a l i s e t h e e x te nt , to w h i c h Pe n n y i m m e r s e s h e r s e l f i n t h e p r o ce s s a n d t h e p r o ce s s i n t u r n b e co m e s p a r t o f t h e a r t w o r k .

O p e n S tu d i o W o rk s h o p A r t i s t s fr o m H a ra r e a n d B u l a w a y o 2019

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T h e c u l m i n at i o n o f t h e w o r k s h o p t h at to o k p l a ce b e t w e e n 1 2- 1 4 J u n e , 2 0 1 9 , w a s t h e e x h i b i t i o n o f t h e w o r k s m a d e b y t h e p a r t i c i p a nt s . I n s t a l l e d i n t h e a d j a ce nt r o o m s o f t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y, t h e e x h i b i t i o n w a s o p e n to t h e p u b l i c a l o n g s i d e Siopis’ solo show.

O p e n S t u d i o W o r k s h o p co nt i n u e d t h e t ra d i t i o n o f w o r k s h o p a s a m o d e o f c r e at i v e e xc h a n g e a n d a r t i s t i c co m m u n i t y b u i l d i n g i n Z i m b a b w e s i n ce 1 9 8 8 t h r o u g h t h e Pa c h i p a m w e I nte r n at i o n a l A r t i s t W o r k s h o p s . T h e s e co n d w o r k s h o p , o r g a n i s e d b y Da v i d Ko l o a n e a n d C h i s O fi l i a m o n g o t h e r s , w a s h e l d at Cy r e n e M i s s i o n i n 1 9 8 9 . T h e w o r k s i n t h e s m a l l e x h i b i t i o n b y t h e p a r t i c i p a nt s o f t h e 2 0 1 9 w o r k s h o p e nte r e d i nto a co n v e r s at i o n w i t h t h e a r t w o r k s m a d e i n t h e p r e v i o u s w o r k s h o p s , d o n ate d to t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y a n d i n s t a l l e d o n ce a g a i n i n 2 0 1 9 to co nt i n u e t h e c u l t u ra l d i a l o g u e t h at fi l l e d t h e r o o m s o f t h e N at i o n a l G a l l e r y i n B u l a w a y o

A r tw o rk b y C h ri s O fi l i a l o n g s i d e w o rk s h o p p a r t i c i p a nt s 2019

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A s p e c i a l t h a n k s to t h e fe l l o w a r t i s t s a n d p a r t i c i p a nt s fro m B u l a w a y o a s w e l l a s V i l l a g e U n h u a n d Fi r s t Fl o o r G a l l e r y i n H a ra re : S h a m i l l a A s h a , G e o rg e M a s a ri ra , M a v i s Ta u ze n i , Ta l e nt K a p a d z a , A m a n d a M u s h ate , C h a rl e s B h e b e , Wa d z a n a i l T i ri m b o y i , Ta ku n d a Re g i s B i l l i at , Ta fa d z w a G w e t a i , O l i v i a B o t h a , E p h e a s M a p o s a , N e v i l l e S t a rl i n g , B e r r y B i c k l e a n d Eva n s T i n a s h e M u te n g a

THANK YOU TO THE MANY GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF THE EXHIBITION, WORKSHOP AND PUBLICATION:

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE, PENNY SIOPIS, OLGA SPEAKES, HAEFELIS, LUCKYBEAN, NEVILLE STARLING, CLIFORD ZULU, ERICHA GWETAI, JOYCE JENJE MAKWENDA, PAMELA BENTLEY, VALERIE KABOV AND MANY MORE

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Notes 1

Zimbabwean musician and composer of the 1950s hit tune Skokiaan.

2

Zimbabwean Township Music Documentary 1930s-1960s, produced and

23

Penny Siopis in conversation with Ericha Gwetai, 11 June 2019.

24

Ericha Gwetai, Petal Thoughts, Mambo Publishers, Gweru, Zimbabwe, 2008.

25

Penny Siopis in conversation with Ericha Gwetai, 11 June 2019.

alcoholic beverage typically brewed over one day that may

26

Penny Siopis in conversation with Ericha Gwetai, 11 June 2019.

contain ingredients such as maize meal, water and yeast, to speed up the

27

Vera , Yvonne, Sorting It Out, WorldView Fall, 1999, 47 – 49.

fermentation process

28

Louis Armstrong and his band embarked on their second tour of

directed by Joyce Jenje Madwenda,1992 3

Skokiaan (Chikokiyana in Shona) refers to an illegal self-made

4

Nickname for American musician Louis Armstrong

5

Open call for local and visiting artists and curators wishing to present new ideas and

29

Vera’s Van Gogh reference

projects in the context of the Bulawayo gallery space and emerging independent curators

30

Prospect 4, Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, New Orleans, 2017.

committed to developing their professional practice to submit proposals for exhibitions

31

Curator of Prospect 4, 2017 - Trevor Schoonmaker

Building in Bulawayo known for cultural significance and place of congregation for its

32

Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club (founded in 1916) - a fraternal organisation

6

Africa in 1960, including Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

people, a significant location during the liberation struggle.

7

to join Bulawayo artists for the workshop that precluded the exhibition.

8

University of Witwaterstrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

9

The crime of a mother killing her child within the first year of birth

10

Penny Siopis, Welcome Visitors!, Single channel digital video, sound, 10mins, 17secs, 2017.

11

in New Orleans, Louisiana which puts on the Zulu parade each year during Mardi Gras.

As part of Penny Siopis’ residency, she welcomed artists from the capital Harare

Interview: Vera Yvonne by Jane Bryce, 1st August 2000, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe published in Sign and Taboo, Weaver Press, Harare, 2002.

12

Terence Ranger in Petal Thoughts, Mambo Publishers, Gweru, Zimbabwe, 2008 p 90

13

Yvonne Vera, Butterfly Burning, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, 2000. p 10 -11

14

Yvonne Vera, Stone Virgins, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004, p7.

15

Yvonne Vera, Stone Virgins, Weaver, 2002.

16

Yvonne Vera, Stone Virgins, Weaver, 2002. p 7

17

Yvonne Vera, Stone Virgins, Weaver, 2002. p8-9

18

Ann Elizabeth Willey, Engendering modern spaces: female voices, male nationalisms, and cosmopolitan counter-modernity in Yvonne Vera’s The Stone Virgins,

The club is a regular feature of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 33

Tsaba-tsaba jive : A style of dance music popular in the 1940s, combining traditional African melody and rhythm, particularly those of focho, with jazz and Latin-American dance rhythms.

34

Penny Siopis, Tuning Time, mixed media site-specific installation, 2019.

35

Penny Siopis, Material Acts, Stevenson, 2018.

36

Sgraffito: (Italian: “scratched”), in the visual arts, a technique used in painting, pottery, and glass, which consists of putting down a preliminary surface, covering it with another, and then scratching the superficial layer in such a way that the pattern or shape that emerges is of the lower colour.

37

Yvonne Vera, Stone Virgins, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004, p59.

38

The Place of the Woman is the Place of the Imagination. Yvonne Vera inter viewed by Ranka Primorac, SAGE Publications, Vol 39(3), 2004. P 165

39

Penny Siopis, Gerrit Olivier, Installation and Collection, in Time and Again, 014. p109-126

Journal of the African Literature Association, 2016.

40

Village Unhu : A profiect space cultivating a community of artists in Harare,

19

Nickname for musician Louis Armstrong

20

Yvonne Vera, Butterfly Burning, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, 2000. p

21

Ericha Gwetai, Petal Thoughts, Mambo Publishers, Gweru, Zimbabwe, 2008. p74

dedicated to supporting international career development of the emerging

22

Yvonne Vera, Dead Swimmers in Gods and Soldiers: The Penguin Anthology of

generation of contemporary Zimbabwean artists.

Contemporary African Writing,ed Rob Spillman, Penguin, 2009.

Zimbabwe 41

First Floor Gallery : independent artist-led gallery in Harare founded in 2009

THANK YOU TO NEVILLE STARLING AND TAFADZWA GWETAI FOR MANY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS PUBLICATION

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