Schoenies garden of contemplation set to bloom
Image of Jesus’s face created using mosaics and succulents forms centrepiece of unusual outdoor art exhibit
Jesus is smiling in Schoenmakerskop ... well, a group of artists’ impression is, to remind residents of the Friendly City to be kind to one another.
The landscaping feature was developed by Christian artists bringing together a variety of techniques to complete the painstakingly detailed piece.
The “garden of contemplation”, situated on Retha’s Trail in the indigenous bush at the back of the village, is the manifestation of a vision, a celebration of creativity and a monument to community working together.
While the artists consider it to be fulfilment of a heavenly commission, it is also being interpreted in more secular vein with the mosaic face, wreathed in succulents, seen as the image of man.
Nelson Mandela Bay fine artist and landscaper Wessel
Kotzee said the idea had been birthed online during the Covid-19 lockdown on the Kingdom Creatives chat group, which comprises Christian artists from around SA.
“One of our members, Karin Terblanche in Parys in the Free State, said she had ‘seen the face of Jesus planted in PE’.
“That was all she said but it got us thinking and at a certain point we met Retha, whose amazing trail runs at the back of Schoenmakerskop.
“We told her about this vision and our hope that we could implement it and she said she had the perfect spot.”
The uneven grassy patch, previously the site for a labyrinth, was now ready for something new.
He said five Bay artists each pledged a week of their time and they needed to find a suitable image of Jesus to fit the landscape.
“It had to be of Jesus looking over his left shoulder towards the city.
“Eventually, we found the exact picture we were looking for graffitied in spray paint onto an overgrown little wall opposite The Harbour Master in Upper Valley road where we often used to meet to talk about the project.”
He said to ensure the small stylised image was transferred as precisely as possible to the 25mx20m garden site they gridded it off and did the maths.
Word spread on social media platforms and donations of various materials poured in, and Kotzee and fellow Bay artists Susan Smit, Ruben Nel, Chrissy Wehmeyer and Evelyn Burger got to work with a team of labourers.
The outline of the face was shaped with bricks, the ear with eco-bricks plastic bottles densely stuffed with plastic bags and the eyes, nose and mouth were moulded with cement.
Succulents donated from gardens around the city were planted to shade the cheeks, forehead, hair and beard.
Smit illustrated how she and Kotzee were now using the treasure chest of donated mosaic and tile offcuts and even broken dinner plates to highlight and add texture to Jesus’s facial features.
“To me this is exactly the right medium to use because the different pieces by themselves look broken and out of place but sewn together across
His face they form a beautiful whole, much like Jesus has done for us.”
Kotzee said the idea was visitors enjoying Retha’s Trail would be able to sit on the bench above the garden to survey it and then take a slow walk on the gravel path looping across Jesus’s face.
“We see it as a garden of contemplation where you can awaken your senses.”
Taylor showed the trail visitors book with names of people from as far afield as Peru and Israel.
“I love this place and the tranquillity it seems to bring so many people.
“This garden the artists have created is an extension of that.”
The outline of the face was shaped with bricks, the ear with eco-bricks plastic bottles densely stuffed with plastic bags and the eyes, nose and mouth were moulded with cement.