Sunday, May 27, 2012

Tsauchab River Junk Art


On my previous trips past Büllsport I'd seen signboards for the Tsauchab River Campsite.

It was off my normal route but, on my way North a few weeks ago, I decided to detour and check it out ...




... I'm glad I did because, starting at the gate and all the way up the 300 meter driveway to the Reception Area, were hundreds of pieces of "Iron Art" created by the owner, Johan Steyn.

Above is a small display advertising one of the amenities of the Campsite, complete with Sunbather.



Rusty Aardvark - Johan has a knack of capturing animal peculiarities which make his creations instantly recognizable.



Come linger
awhile with me, under the Old Boot Tree ...



A determined Cyclist heads for the Hills.




One Blue Bottle - part of a display of dozens of similarly-colored Glass and Enamel items on an old dead tree.

What shade of blue would you say this is?

Bottle Blue?




A tufted Secretary Bird holds a Lizard in it's beak.




A Gas Bottle Couple lie basking in the Sunshine.

I wonder what the Bucket's for? ...

... junk dentures probably ...




I was informed by Johan that due to space restrictions he could only construct a half-Fokker - a proper one is two barrels long ...


... a local joke I guess ... :)




I enjoyed the private Bush Camp too, including a hot shower in the centre of a massive, ancient Wild Fig Tree.

... and surprises like this, a wooden Face in the Grass on one of the four-wheel drive tracks on the farm.



.

22 comments:

  1. I love this post, the art is great and also fun, not sure which I like best. Being a cyclist I really like the cycling ones but they are all excellent. Thanks for sharing these pictures with us. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  2. G'morning & thanks Diane - hehe, glad I could cause you to smile - there were so many Works there I wish I could post more ...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hehe Graham you are funny..junk dentures :) Did you look inside to see?

    This is a great find. Thank you for taking off the route and sharing it with us. There's really something special in the people and land of Namibia. This artwork is different and similar to the other one, what is it called Graham? The one of the bicycle riders, the owner was a lady that you didn't get to meet. If I remember correctly.

    I can really linger under the tree, in the grass. I love the pastel desert, and this tall grassland Graham. Was it breezy Graham? Any picture of the ancient wild fig tree? :)

    Thank you Graham.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hehe Fazlisa ... thank you ... yes, I know what you're referring too - the junk art at Garas Park, which I haven't visited in ages ...

      ... the weather was fantastic ... a little chilly in the evening and warm during the day - I did get some shots of the Fig Tree Shower but they are not so nice, I'll see if I can salvage something ...

      Delete
    2. Shower in the middle of a fig tree. !!!! Intriguing.
      I was looking for the photo !

      Delete
  4. Hehe Kerry - I'll see if I can find a reasonable pic ... the tree was ancient and, it seems, had rotted away on the inside while continuing to spread outwards ... I'll just have to find a pic ... :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Graham .. the tufted Secretary bird and lizard are amazing - what a great find of a place ... the bicycle looks to me like a trebuchet - too many of Diane's pictures or her blogging friends' photos of Trebuchets in Medieval France.

    Hot shower under a fig tree sounds wonderful ..

    Love the photos - thanks .. Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Hilary - there were so many great little junk artworks which I couldn't capture effectively on camera - I'll sort through my pics again and see if I can come up with a second post - with a pic of the Fig Tree Shower included ...

      Delete
  6. Amazing what can be done with a little imagination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Phillip - I was amazed at the animals and people he'd "seen' in pieces of scrap ...

      Delete
  7. Junk art is STILL art--& FUN!! Loved this post--I'd like to see more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yes, Fran - I'll see what I can do about another post.

      Delete
  8. You just gave me an idea -- instead of being annoyed at all the junk that was left around here when we got the place and that we never have managed to get rid of -- I should consider it art. I do see a certain beauty in it. Maybe I will take some pictures soon and get some feedback.
    I love the boot tree. And all the rest too. There is something so artistic in the spirit of the people of your country. Over and over again you show how creative they are with things that are just laying around, that we would toss or consider useless. Thank you so much for this fun post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Inger - all you need is a welding machine and your imagination ... Johan's wife told me that he'd inherited all the junk from his late father who was somewhat of a 'collector' - Johan decided to turn it into art ... and very effectively too ...

      Delete
  9. Amazing. What a terrific find of artistic treasures. I love how he creates beauty out of junk.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Penny - it's also wonderful that there are so many talented people in the strangest places waiting to surprise you ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes for sure. I forgot to mention that my favourite piece was the swimming pool complete with sunbather! LOL

      Delete
    2. Hehe ... glad you liked it ... :)

      Delete
  11. Very interesting place. Looks like that tree attracts shoo-flies. The bucket - it's for their champagne. A gassy couple I guess.

    If you don't mind, could I post you the swimming pool picture with full credit to your photography?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hehe @ shoo-flies Bill - please feel free to reuse any pics you like ...

      Delete
  12. Awesome ... i love the way the rust is part of it, embraced. Those sculptures will still live for many years.

    peace dude ... that looks like a mighty peaceful spot ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks David ... yeah, it is peaceful ... and way off the beaten track ...

      Delete