Contemporary Arts Residency in the Swiss Alps – 30 days to go
UPDATE: So far, support received has paid for return airfare and ground transport to Gstaad, where I’ll be collected to get to the village of Feutersoey, some 10 minutes away. Thank you, thank you.
The word ‘apple’ generally sets off the ‘apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ adage… like an advertising jingle that has annoyingly glued itself to my brain cells. But today, while I pondered the fate of a Mamey apple (Mammea americana) — not an actual apple — which my visiting cousin had let sit in the fridge, I remembered an apple connection to Switzerland.
Do tell.
Actually, it’s William Tell. The man who shot the apple from his son’s head. I remember reading the story during my Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys-Enid Blyton days, when school awards, birthday and Christmas gifts were, for the most part, books. I had always thought it was a story about a man who refused to bow before a tyrant’s hat, and had to shoot an apple from his son’s head to avoid prison or death… a Robin Hood-esque folk tale. Since most fiction is based on some fact, I went in search of more to the story.
It seems that on 18 November 1307, Tell, an excellent hand with the crossbow, refused to bow before the hat of an Austrian mayor who has recently taken control of his village, so both he and his young son were to be executed. The mayor decided to test Tell’s skill by devising the famous apple-shot. The son survived, but Tell was still arrested. He escaped and later killed the mayor, sparking…and leading the rebellion that helped form the Swiss confederacy.
A collection of medieval manuscripts compiled in the late 15th century, apparently contains the earliest surviving reference to the William Tell, who still lives on in popular culture, as a symbol of rebellion against tyranny.
It helpful that apples are the most popular fruit in Switzerland, with more than 600 traditional varieties of its own. When I get to Switzerland – in about 30 days – I’ll make sure I eat at least one apple a day… to keep the doctor away, and maybe two on 18 November.in homage to William Tell, Swiss national hero,
30 days until I begin my contemporary arts residency at Open Spaces in the Swiss Alps. Please visit my blogpost with a Paypal link — and help offset basic expenses for my stay. Please join me on this journey, and receive at the end, an original made-in-Switzerland-by me artwork of your very own. Of course, along the way, you get to follow my blog (online or via email), and see progress reports.
FOR YOU
As a reward for your generous support, I will send an original painting made-in-Switzerland-by-me to you at the end of the residency, as below:
- USD $50 support: (acid free mixed media paper, 6×8 inches.) Still available #27
- USD $100 support: (acid free mixed media paper 9×12 inches.) Still available #18
- USD $200 support: (handmade South Indian paper A4.) Still available #9
I will also provide daily updates about my journey on my blog as well as a special pdf diary of works in progress and extensive studio photos. BONUS: I’ll also send select digital images from my extensive Grenada Traditional Masquerade series, direct to your email address.
PS if the link does not work, OPEN IT IN YOUR BROWSER or please email me at artstung@gmail.com or inbox your email to https://www.facebook.com/artstungingrenada/ and I will email you a Paypal invoice. For persons who wish to donate outside of Paypal (in Grenada or in Trinidad or anywhere else) whatsapp me at 14734561953 for instructions.
Thank you to my family, friends, OLD and NEW collectors of my work!