Zimbabwean stone-carving artist to return to campus next fall

The Central Washington University Art + Design department will be bringing back Alexander Chitungo next fall to teach a four-week course on Zimbabwean stone carving.

Chitungo is an African stone sculptor who taught the same course in 2014, 2016, and 2018. During his past visits, CWU has asked him to ship traditional Zimbabwe stones, such as serpentine stone, for the class to use. He was scheduled to visit CWU in 2020 and had already begun shipping the stones to Ellensburg before his trip was postponed due to the pandemic.

After much anticipation, Chitungo will be returning to campus in the fall to teach the course to members of the CWU and Ellensburg communities. 

Ellensburg residents David and Carol Cross traveled to Zimbabwe many years ago and met Chitungo in a park full of artists trying to sell their works. He helped the couple with buying some art and shipping it back home, and they have since hosted and sponsored his three previous visits.

The Crosses are also responsible for all of the Zimbabwean art that is for sale in Gallery One. Chitungo does demonstrations at Gallery One and donates to their annual fundraising event, Paint Ellensburg.

Here is the CWU catalog description of the class:

ART 498 Special topics: Shona Stone (2 credits)

A four-week lecture and studio course that will focus on a traditional Zimbabwean stone carving technique known as Shona Stone Sculpture. Students will learn the fundamentals of Shona stone sculpture using the unique serpentine stone.

CWU students may enroll anytime this summer for ART 498, Special Topics (two credits) through the Office of the Registrar.

Enrollment for non-matriculated CWU students, through Continuing Education, opens August 1 and the application fee is $40. Those who are eligible for Senior Auditing will have the $40 fee waived, and can find the waiver form on the CE website. Completed forms can be submitted via email to the Office of the Registrar.

Those who are not eligible for senior auditing may apply online. The $40 application fee is not due up front, and credits are billed at regular tuition rates.