Hundreds of toothbrush heads, color-coded and arranged in large concentric circles. Thousands of paperchads resting in a chaotic yet harmonious pile. Scores of individual keyboard keys strung together, one by one. For artist and Mbare Art Space founder Moffat Takadiwa, the detritus from a dump site in Harare is more than unwanted, or lost, trash; it is his medium of choice in much of his recent artwork. In his first solo exhibition at the Art Museum and Galleries at Washington and Lee University, reclaimed materials coalesce to tell stories about memory, consumption and the footprints we leave in our wake.

History is etched into every crevice, every curve of soapstone sculptures. Dating back to the pre-colonial era, the time-honored Shona practice of transforming hunks of metamorphic rock into decorative and utilitarian objects has become a contemporary art movement, much beloved globally. Various soapstone works have been displayed internationally in famed galleries, universities, and even an airport. Now, they’re the focus of an exhibition at a local Florida library. Featuring artists Godfrey Matungamidze, Ishmael Kapeta, James Tandi and Brian Watyoka, the display offers access to 15 sculptures, some never before seen, in a range of styles.