Using art to claim back Rhodes Park

by Busi Vilakazi

“It’s not a time to forget. It’s time to make new memories.”

This statement was displayed on the bench close to where two men were murdered in Rhodes Park in 2015.

Two days before the anniversary of the brutal double murder that took place on October 17 in 2015, residents came together to observe a day of remembrance and healing on October 15.

The 2015 Rhodes Park double murders will always linger in people’s minds because the crimes shook the Kensington community at the time.

The men and their wives were attacked while strolling through the park. They were robbed, stripped naked and the men were thrown into the lake at gunpoint.

Both men drowned and their wives were raped by a gang of 12.

Kensington resident Gail Wilson, who is an artist, hosted the first Land Art event on October 15 at Rhodes Park.

The Land Never Forgets event is one of many of Gail’s community initiatives to reclaim the park.

“It’s time to bring people back to the park. We need to heal, create happy memories, have fun and laughter and make new friends. We must bring the community together to enjoy our open spaces safely and freely. I never stopped walking in the park even after the terrible incident. I kept walking and slowly invited friends to join,” said Gail.

The event was about cleansing and commemoration.

About 15 artists, including those from Jozi Land Art, came to create beautiful art and to also acknowledge what happened in 2015.

It was a day of family, fun, peace, new memories and new beginnings for the park.

Children were encouraged to make chalk drawings on sidewalks, play games and families took strolls around the park while others had picnics and enjoyed a beautiful day of art under the sun.

“It’s wonderful to be here today to create art to remember what happened here and to move on. Using what we find in nature to create this art also symbolises that life’s pains are not permanent,” said artist, Chris Reinders.

Seven-year-old Shantey Venter was happy to be invited to the park by her friend Sarah Rosenberg to create art.

“I love Land Art. My dad is an artist and he inspires me to create art of my own. Today I’m going to create an art piece out of leaves and sticks and it’s called Cage of Nature,” said Sarah.

Land Art is a style of art using elements found in nature to build a sculpture that harmonises with the given location.

The process involves working totally within the environment, which means the work ultimately becomes subject to the forces that will alter or destroy it.

“I’m happy the event was a success. Even on a small scale it’s a start. I hope it can grow from this. Jo’burgers are claiming back their parks,” said Gail.

The Rhodes Park Walkers, who meet for weekly strolls, also planted a fig tree in the commemorative garden in remembrance of the rape victims.

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