After a day of working together at my studio on our collaborative submission for Cheuka Art Fair 2025, Johnson Zuze, Kelli Barker and I are satisfied with progress … Johnny’s wire work and my sketches in progress…
Johnson’s Blue Man takes flight against my “Look, Look to your Wings..” acrylic painted on canvas…
And after all that hard work, we treat ourselves and visit Mbare Art Space.…….
This space, at the Mbare Art Space, encompasses the historic Star Building, which has been repurposed into a collaborative space for workshops and art exhibitions. The distinctive eight pointed star roof was featured in an installation on Moffat Takawira’s stand at the 2024 Biennale in Dakar @biennale_de_dakar_officiel
Moffat Takadiwa of Mbare Art Space, participated in two Biennales last year…. the Dakar Biennale and Venice Biennale- and was one of the six Zimbabwean artists featured at the Venice Biennale…
The installation at the Dakar Biennale featured a walk in immersive star-shaped board arrangement with a laid out history of the arising of the Star building, located within the Mbare Art Space…and a replica of the portal through which one can enter Mbare Art Space…
Nora Elisabeth’s visualisation….
…just as the portal that led to the beer garden and the star bar in the old days, is now a portal into the Mbare Art Space… follow the footprints..
Mbare Art Space portal – photo by Mbare Art Space – Installation by Takunda Regis Billiat
A portal in every sense, it is also a “portal” for young artists and mature artists, plus art collectors, to immerse in the world of art!
Here is an aerial view of the Star Bar …
An eight pointed star roof nestled under big trees at Mbare Art Space, archival photo
Exhibition at Mbare Art Space – titled EcoArt green colonialism… three young artists on show…
The interior of the Star Space embraces the work of three Zimbabwean interns/residents..
William Joseph Kachinjika weaves, “types” with rope, USB cables, mutton cloth and led lights!
William with Three Sisters series I…
Close up…
USB cables become art…
Nkosiyabo Frank Nyoni, Multi media on canvas
Frank with “Magara Moyo”, ink and oil pastel on canvas…
Kimberley Tatenda Gakanje creates abstract canvases in primary palettes using fabric paints, dyes and spray paints…
Kimberley with her vibrant “Primary Palette Yellow“
Johnson and I explore the resident artists studio spaces – follow the green arrow to view Moffat Takadiwa’s own hand opening the portal to Kimberley and Frank’s outdoor studio!!!
Moffat Takadiwa’s own hand opening the portal to Kimberley and Frank’s outdoor studio!!!
Internationally recognized artist Moffat and his dedicated trustees Geri Kam and Nora Elisabeth, truly give back to local Zimbabwean artists, in enabling safe spaces for innovative creation of artworks…
This is a year long residency for these three emerging artists- what an opportunity!
Frank shows me his work in progress
En plein air creation with background graffiti – outside the studio, Frank embraces healing and storytelling (ngano) in his compositions…
a fun art afternoon…
Kimberley, Frank, Lin, William and Johnson
Visiting Mbare Art Space while I am in Harare, is always a highlight!
All photographs are by Lin Barrie unless otherwise stated.
Lin Barrie
The Save Valley Conservancy stretches along the upper reaches of the great Save River in the south east of Zimbabwe. The Gonarezhou National Park laps against the southern banks of the Save River and between these two nestles the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve. These three celebrated wildlife areas form part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, (GLTFCA)- a unique wilderness jewel which is home to the “Big Five” (endangered Black and White rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lion, leopard) and the ”Little Six” (Klipspringer, Suni, Duiker, Steenbok, Sharpe's Grysbok and Oribi). Endangered African wild dogs, Cheetah, Brown hyena, Bat-eared foxes and a host of special birds and plants contribute to the immense variety of this ecosystem. Communities around the GLTFCA contribute to innovative partnerships with National Parks and the private sector, forming a sound base on which to manage social, economic and environmental issues.
This is home to artist and writer Lin Barrie and her life partner, conservationist Clive Stockil.
Expressing her hopes, fears and love for this special ecosystem with oil paints on canvas, Lin Barrie believes that the essence of a landscape, person or animal, can only truly be captured by direct observation.
Lin Barrie states: “Through my art, and my writing, I feel an intimate connection with the natural world, and from my extensive field sketches of wild animals, people and landscapes, I create larger works on canvas.
Lin's work is in various public and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Canada, Sweden and the United States of America. She is represented by galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Kenya and Florida, USA.
wine and wild dogs 