A few weeks ago I posted the blowing newspaper art piece which forms part of Route 67. It may be the biggest but its not the only blowing newspaper piece on the route. At the Campanile there is another smaller one containing quotes by Nelson Mandela.
At 60 meters high the flag pole on the Donkin Reserve in Port Elizabeth is the tallest flag pole in South Africa while the flag flying from it is the biggest South African flag in the world. The flag is about the size of a tennis court and usually when I say it people look at me funny, look up at it and then shake their heads. Remember that the flag is flying 60 meters up so it doesn't look that…
The new look Donkin Reserve is drawing a lot of people back to the area thanks to Route 67, many who haven't been there since they were kids. More tour buses are also stopping there which shows that the Donkin Reserve / Route 67 combination is truly becoming an Port Elizabeth icon and a must see when visiting the city.
Port Elizabeth has some wonderful art galleries and some outstanding coffee shops, so what would be better than to find a combination between the two. Dessie's at the Tin House on Cuyler Street in Central is one such a place. Its a delightful little coffee shop which allows local artists to exhibit (and hopefully sell) their work there. The shop is situated in an old corrugated iron house which came to South Africa from England in kit form during the 1800's.
The EPSAC Community Art Centre, artEC, is the best place to go to see some of the top local established and emerging artists. They exhibits change every couple of weeks so return visits will always bring you something new. The gallery can be found in 36 Bird Street, Central.
One of the latest new art installations on Route 67 takes the form of newspaper pages being blown around in the wind. The piece is situated behind St Mary's Cathedral as you go up the steps and tells the story of the uprising in the late 1960's and early 70's.
In front of the newly refurbished Athenaeum building is what I find to be one of the most interesting art pieces on Route 67. The mosaic piece is called Harmony in Nature and is an anamorphic cylinder art piece. On the mosaic itself the picture which represents the animals and flowers of the Eastern Cape looks all squashed up but when you look at it in the cylinder's reflection it makes a perfect 3D picture.
Everybody (well I hope everybody) in Port Elizabeth knows that if you are into filter coffee, THE place to buy your coffee is Masterton's in Russell Road. In actual fact, Masterton's coffee is available just about all over South Africa and is served in a lot of hotels and restaurants. There is nothing like going to the Masterton's shop to buy your coffee directly and smell the coffee being roasted, a smell you get even when you just drive by in your car. Masterton's…
The view down onto Govan Mbeki Road (Main Street) from the third floor of the historic Fisher's Building in downtown Port Elizabeth. The St Mary's Cathedral is in the centre of the picture and the City Hall on the left.
The Atheneaum is currently playing host to 67 beaded works of art. The art was commissioned by the Mandela Bay Development Agency and each of the 67 pieces represent a year and a quote by Nelson Mandela. The MBDA is also going to publish a book with pictures of the artwork and the quotes and is also still deciding where the beaded pieces will find a permanent home.