Master Carver Back at the Wild Animal Park
Posted at 2:03 pm July 28, 2008 by Deb Erickson-Morris
Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, master shona stone carver Alex Chitura has returned to the Wild Animal Park for the summer. We are lucky to have this very talented man create beautiful works of art right before our eyes!
Those of you who were fortunate enough to see Alex carve his hippo on site last year will be equally delighted with his new projects (see Deb’s blog, Shona Stone Carver). This year, he is carving detailed doors out of solid mahogany. They are stunning! As of now, there are four doors, each with three panels of different scenes. The animals are carved with such precision, it’s amazing. With a chisel and dremel tools, Alex can bring wood or stone to life in a way that all of us can appreciate.
I watched his last door take shape, from a blank panel to a work of art, knowing it is destined to become a statement and an heirloom for some lucky homeowner. Alex will be working on smaller pieces this summer as well, so we will have opportunities to see and speak with this wonderful artisan through the rest of the summer.
Alex will be working at the Wild Animal Park’s Plant Trader every day but Thursdays. His hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. His pieces are also available for sale at the Plant Trader and the Bazaar Gift Shop.
You truly don’t want to miss an opportunity see this wonderful man create his art. We are very pleased to have him two years in a row! Come join us and enjoy a night out at the Wild Animal Park—you’ll be glad you did! See you there…
Deb Erickson-Morris works in the Plant Trader gift shop at the Wild Animal Park.
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July 30th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
How about some pictures of his amazing carvings for those of us who cannot come to the zoo?
Moderator’s note: We’ve now posted some images of Alex and his work.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I saw his work last year very talented I saw the wood doors this weekend they are beautiful. What is the pricing on them?
Moderator’s note: The hand-carved doors range in price from $850 to $5,000, depending on the type of wood, size, and intricacy of the design. Alex can also be commissioned for custom work to fit your needs.