Shona Girl

Over 1000 years ago, Shona people built great cities of stone in South Africa. They constructed monumental walls without mortar.  "Great Zimbabwe", believed to have been a royal palace, housed thousands within its walls.  The word Shona translates to "house of stone".  Verdite is a prevalent stone in Zimbabwe, sometimes referred to as "African Jade".  It is soft enough to carve with some ease, yet strong enough to sustain structure.  A girl with skin that tells the story of history, pressure, heat.  The daughter of mothers who built palaces with this skin. A skin that withstands, smoothes and shines with touch. Vulnerable softness, intent rigidity.