Mosaics place Sedgefield in the spotlight again in the #KnysnaArtProject
Heart installation
With the #KnysnaArtProject well underway, the winds of rejuvenation are sweeping through greater Knysna, including Sedgefield.
The interactive art project is coming to life just as South Africans are exploring more of their own country due to Covid-19’s impact on international travel.
Pleasure seekers will now have more reasons than ever to stop along the N2 and spend some time in areas such as Sedgefield, Buffalo Bay, Brenton-on-Sea, Knysna, and Concordia. In a world where selfies and that perfect Instagram moment is now the most popular way of sharing photos and experiences worldwide, the #KnysnaArtProject is encouraging visitors to greater Knysna to branch out, explore and discover everything the area has to offer by creating a series of unique selfie opportunities. The initiative is an ambitious and exciting collaboration between Visit Knysna (the greater Knysna area’s destination marketing organisation), the Knysna Municipality, and the Knysna Art Society.
A world-class outdoor mosaic capital
The small town of Sedgefield, a self-proclaimed “slow town” is a fusion of nature and a laidback lifestyle. The picturesque combination of five unspoiled beaches, towering dunes, meandering rivers, and lakes make the town a haven for water sports, hiking, and birdwatching. It is also a favourite spot for paragliding.
Whatever you do and wherever you go in Sedgefield, one thing is for certain – you will be enchanted by the vibrant mosaic work that has become such an integral and attractive part of the visual fabric of this town. What started as a project by artist and architect Squire Vickers at the beginning of the 1900s has grown to include more than sixty wonderous mosaic works.
Today Masithandane, a local NPO, is the creative force behind the ongoing mosaic project and the unveiling of their latest work will reveal their most impressive feat to date – the complete mosaic-ing of a full-size classic VW Beetle. Parked proudly alongside the estuary, this piece will be a drawcard to Sedgefield in its own right – with its open-top, visitors will be able to climb into the Love Bug for an impressive Instagram pic.
Masithandane has been gifting the town with mosaics since 2008. What began as a skills training and income generation initiative for unemployed men spearheaded by local artists Linda Southey and Petricia Pieterse has multiplied into a collection of mosaics worthy of the 90-minutes it takes to complete the self-drive mosaic tour. Start at the Slow Papa Tortoise on the Main Street before moving on to the Tree of Life in front of the library, The Family at the entrance to the municipal offices, the MOTH Memorial, and the Ball of Hope. Then venture off down Kingfisher Drive where a series of mosaiced benches line the estuary before arriving at the car park where the Love Bug will be parked. Further along the route, you’ll come upon the famous Marinara sculpture. The tour ends at the wonderful Octopus Garden at the Scarab Village, often the backdrop for staged events. Throughout the town, homeowners have shown their support for the project with their mosaiced house numbers and names.
The team at Masithandane is creating their new masterpiece under the direction of Hyla Hartlief who has been mentoring and teaching the craft of mosaic at Masithandane since 2018. A graphic designer by trade, Hyla moved to Sedgefield twenty years ago and fell in love with the craft of mosaic. She’s been on a roll ever since. “I fell in love with it. I mosaic everything [her own home features mosaiced planters and murals including a fully mosaiced garden wall],” says Hartlief who describes the process as addictive, requiring lots of patience, but still very relaxing. The new seahorse-mosaiced Knysna in Bloom pots outside Visit Knysna on Knysna’s Main Road is a testament to the talent and passion of Hartlief.
Ricardo Baadjies who has been working at Masithandane for eight years says he is hooked on mosaic for life. Sophia Nguma has been part of the Masithandane mosaic team from the beginning and explains that the art of mosaic is now a part of her. Petrus Kiewiets is a born artist and passionate about his mosaic work which he does full time. His pride in their #KnysnaArtProject piece is clear: “I would never have believed when I started here four years ago that I would ever be working on a project like this. It’s my life now!”
The day of the big reveal is drawing closer. Originally planned for the Knysna Oyster Festival, the team at Masithandane intended to launch the Love Bug with a full day of Beatlemania-themed “Beetle around Sedgefield all day long and end the day in song”. When it happens, the celebrations will include a display of classic VW Beetles, an Amazing Race along the mosaic route, and a Love Bug selfie competition. The day will culminate in ‘Beatlemania’, a festive fundraiser for Masithandane. Postponed due to Covid restrictions Masithandane will announce a new date for the launch as soon as those related to gatherings are lifted.