The time for healing of the wounds has come,The moment to bridge the chasm that divides us has come,The time to build is upon us.These words were spoken by Nelson Mandela in 1994 and is on display along Route 67 on the Donkin Reserve. Words which are as appropriate today as it was back in 1994.
If you stand at the right angle it really looks like one of the seats on the Donkin Reserve is chomping away at the city behind it. The art is by well known Port Elizabeth graffiti artist Joff,
The Mandela figure at the head of The Voting Line piece on the Donkin Reserve has become a very popular photographic subject since it's installation as part of Route 67 either on it's own or with people posing next to it. It is sad though that this is the only Mandela figure that visitors get to see with the only two others ones I know of being a life-size figure standing inside City Hall and the Madiba Shirt piece on…
Even though I've been to the Donkin Reserve so many times (I don't want to say hundreds of times but probably can), I still enjoy walking around the reserve and look at the Route 67 art pieces. It really is one of Port Elizabeth's ultimate iconic sites.
There are so many pictures being taken of The Voting Line on the Donkin Reserve but often it is of the sculpture as a whole and the little details are missed. Like this pair of pigeons sitting on the wall.
The Donkin Reserve is one of Port Elizabeth's iconic tourism sites and combines history and public art. The pyramid, called the Donkin Memorial, was commissioned by Sir Rufane Donkin in 1820 as a memorial to his wife Lady Elizabeth Donkin after whom he also named the town. The lighthouse, actually called the Hill Lighthouse, was built in 1861 as a warning signal to approaching ships. Although not in use anymore it offers one of the best views anywhere in the…
The view up the Mosaic Steps at the Donkin Reserve must be one of my favorite views of this iconic spot.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOTKUkCKO-o&w=500&h=400]This past week the iconic Port Elizabeth coffee roastery, Mastertons, launched their new proudly Port Elizabeth BLEND OF THE BAY coffee mix. Mastertons have been around the city since 1924 and for today's Video Friday post I am posting a video by Lunaticscentral featuring owner James Masterton relating the history of Mastertons and some of his memories and plans.
The Piazza Mosaic next to the Donkin Pyramid is one of the most impressive art pieces making up Route 67 on the Donkin Reserve. The 470 square meter mosaic was made by a NMMU ceramic collective and depicts the Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape's cultures, heritage, diverse histories and abundant of fauna and flora. I actually find that every time I look at it I notice something I haven't done before.
Looking across the Donkin Reserve from the lady with the chair Untitled art piece with the flowers of one of the Coral Trees in the foreground. After nearly two weeks of wind I wonder how many flowers there still are on the Coral Trees around town.