Stay Alert (Matauri Bay, New Zealand), from Words and Images
1995 - 2005; portfolio 2005
20th-21st century
16 in. x 20 in. (40.64 cm x 50.8 cm)
Jill Mathis,
American,
b. 1964
Object Type:
Photographs
Creation Place:
North America, United States
Medium and Support:
digital chromogenic print on paper
Credit Line:
Carleton College Art Collection, gift of Arthur D. Kowaloff, class of 1968
Accession Number:
2007.001.03
"In the 1600's, before the days of radar, the only way to know if the enemy was coming was to actually see him. Highest ground being the best vantage point and the highest ground usually meant a steep hill. 'Erta' is the rather obsolete Italian word for hill. The cry, 'Stai all'erta!', was a cry to man the hills. Over time the English language absorbed the Italian and 'to the hill' became a slightly less urgent warning to be alert."
Jill Mathis