Basket Case II has garnered a lot of interest in the media as well as in terms of visits by the general public. This exciting exhibition has seen more than 400 visits in the first two weeks. It has been written about more than any other exhibition installed at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe this year. The scope of the work transcends boundaries of traditional basketry. It has shown the real power of collaboration; the birth of a new medium.
The Tumbuka Dance Company has been inspired to go to Binga on an exchange visit with the Tonga people. Their wish is to learn the African technique so as to redefine the contemporary form. The Tonga people are known for their vibrancy and richness of ancient traditions. Their collaboration with Delaine Le Bas has resonated with the Dance Company and might see this initiative branching off to other traditional art forms that have been neglected of late.
The Unity rug by the Lupane Women’s Centre weavers a collaboration of more than 5 weavers has generated a lot of interest because of the unity it symbolizes. Sebastian Herkner’s collaboration with the Binga craft center redefined basketry and pottery bringing a new form of functionality and aesthetics to the two crafts.
The Harare conversations illuminated the creative process and introduced to young artists to a craft they had never been taught. The artists talked about the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. it was clear that the artists and the weavers all got something from the collaboration.
Basket Case II will come down on 15 December 2014 and then travel to Bulawayo where it will open on the 29th of January 2015.
Here are some stories and photo-galleries of Basket Case II
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2014/11/08/basket-case-exhibition/
http://www.pachikoro.co.zw/2014/10/basketcase-2-official-opening/
http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2014/11/07/basket-case-ii-opens
http://www.dailynews.co.zw/galleries/2014/11/05/basket-case-ii
http://www.panorama.co.zw/index.php/archives/117-visual-arts/784-basket-ii–the-power-of-collaboration
http://www.zim.gov.zw/index.php/component/content/article/113-november/15423-basket-weaving-exhibition-opens
http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/reclaiming-africas-ancient-scientific-heritage/
http://www.dezeen.com/2014/11/11/matali-crasset-basket-case-ii-gourd-weave-zimbabwe/
http://makinghistoriesvisible.com/news
http://art-south-africa.com/220-news-articles-2013/2333-harare-conversations-art-craft-and-design-meet-at-the-basket-case-ii-30-october-2014.html
http://www.designboom.com/design/matali-crasset-zimbabwe-gourd-baskets-11-10-2014/
http://www.dezeen.com/tag/matali-crasset/
http://www.britishcouncil.co.zw/events/basket-case-launch
http://africa.widmi.com/index.php/zimbabwe/the-chronicle/entertainment/206738-basket-weaving-exhibition-opens
https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/post/116404/3730458291
http://www.domusweb.it/content/domusweb/en/design/2014/11/11/the_gourd_s_family.html
http://www.outofafrica.co.zw/the-buzz/the-buzz/what-is-new/1758-national-gallery-of-zimbabwe-the-basket-case-ii-exhibition
http://vongundlach.com/matali-crasset-presents-woven-vessels-in-collaboration-with-zimbabwean-weavers/
curator's blackbox 