THE GIFT OF ART

Calstain Ganda opens a gallery in Charlotte unlike any other the city has had before.

Calstain Ganda is the founder and owner of one of Charlotte’s most community focused, socially conscientious arts centers: Real African Art.

Cal started RAA with the aspiration to improve the lives of Zimbabwean and African artists and provide them with opportunities and platforms to exhibit and market their creative art work in the United States and beyond.

The types of art represented ranges from stone sculptures to wooden masks and carvings, beaded jewelry, paintings and more. The art comes from dozens of African countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana.

When was RAA formed?

Real African Art was officially created in October 2018. The gallery, located in the University City area, opened its doors on February 1, 2021. The core of why we created Real African Art has always been centered around the desire to provide opportunities for hardworking African artists as well as sharing our heritage and culture through art.

What interested you about operating a gallery?

Being born and raised in Zimbabwe, a nation that boasts some of the best stone sculptors in the world, I had a natural inclination towards stone sculpting. I grew up with it. Like many others, as a young Shona teenager I once tried it, and while it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I remain fascinated by the craft. The gallery’s opening was largely driven by the need to support artists from my hometown of Chitungwiza that had fallen on hard times because of the pandemic. With tourism coming to a standstill due to the pandemic, most of the artists that relied on selling their artworks to tourists were struggling.

Why do you think this is an important hole and niche to fill for the city (and even the state)?

African art is beautiful. Its story needs to be told. From Shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe, beaded jewelry from Kenya to magnificent masks from Ghana, the continent has rich and diverse artwork. Having a strong connection and access to this beautiful art, whilst realizing that there are not many avenues that people in and around Charlotte can enjoy, it was a clear hole that we knew we could fill.

How do you select artists?

We have a team on the ground back home in Zimbabwe that supports and coordinates all activities with the art and artists selection. Based on what we believe our clients here in Charlotte and surrounding areas will like, we usually put together a plan of the different types of art that we want. With most of our art coming less than five miles from my childhood home, we know most of the artists that we work with firsthand.

You say your "mission is to improve the lives of your countrymen." Can you tell us a bit more about this? Most of the artists that we represent have a high dependency on tourists for the sale of their artworks. As the pandemic significantly impacted international travel and tourism, they were struggling to make ends meet. The opening of Real African Art Gallery provided them a new and direct path for their artwork to be sold in the United States! We know these artists. We pay them above fair market prices. This allows them an opportunity to take care of their families through their hard work.

How do you stay inspired in your work? We are making a difference in the lives of several people, and this is the ultimate source of inspiration in this whole project. The ability to showcase and share my culture and heritage through art and via this immaculate gallery has been equally inspirational.

The gallery is by appointment only on Mondays, Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm. The gallery is also available for corporate events and private rentals. Every Friday, RAA hosts a “Sip & See @ The Gallery” event.