Leading Legend Palace Director Honored
GSTAADLIFE would like to retract any and all information regarding Patricia Low Contemporary on page 20 of our 29 January issue within the article Tis the Party Season–Events at Local Galleries and Private Chalets Shine.
Photo: zVg
Ernst Andrea Scherz, secondgeneration owner and director of the Gstaad Palace, was awarded the Leading Legend for his achievements on the Leading Hotels of the World board.
Corrigendum Article Retraction
Please excuse our error and accept our sincere apologies.
BY GSTAADLIFE
During his 17-year tenure beginning in 1973, Leading Hotels of the World established itself as one of the greatest luxury hotel groups. By the end of the 1980s, Scherz had helped expand the group to include more than 200 hotels, as well as regional branches worldwide.
The legendary 102-year-old Gstaad Palace Hotel has been in the sure hands of the Scherz family for most of its celebrated history. Now this extraordinary establishment relies on Andrea Scherz, third generation owner, to survive and thrive over its next hundred years.
GSTAADLIFE 'Tis the Party Season
Photos: zVg/GSTAADLIFE
Events at Local Galleries and Private Chalets Shine
Chiharu Shiota, left, and Patricia Low
Left to right, Mona Khashoggi, Prince Mubarak of Kuwait, IID Director Homayra Sellier
The 2015–2016 winter season is off to a superb start with a bevy of highprofile gatherings and glamorous soirées held in January. Two events stood out in particular.
ambience for a hotel lobby or other distinctive room.
inal piano solo version of his Rhapsody in Blue.
“Keys are familiar and very valuable things that protect important people and spaces in our lives,” said Shiota. “They also inspire us to open the door to unknown worlds…"
At the party, royals Princess Léa of Belgium, King Fouad II of Egypt, and Prince Mubarak of Kuwait were just a few of the distinguished guests present.
After a successful evening, the installation was bought by art historian and collector Georges Marci. Marci (see GSTAADLIFE’s 18 December 2015 interview) founded Chalet Saqqarah, the first gallery in Gstaad, bringing important art to our region.
The festival, founded by Princess Caroline Murat (known professionally as Caroline Haffner), celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and brought a world premiere, international prize-winning musicians, and stars of the stage and screen to the Saanenland. It runs annually from Christmas to New Year’s and welcomes the best in both established and up-and-coming artists our region.
BY JANUARIA PIROMALLO
Shiota at Patricia Low Contemporary 4000 keys, a red grid, an elaborate entanglement of red wool, a crossing of strings, and a week of work–what is the tie that binds these things? Chiharu Shiota. The artist is one of the most acclaimed of the moment; the Japanese Pavillion at the Venice Biennale saw crowds waiting hours in line for just glimpse at her colourful work. Now Shiota’s art is in Gstaad at Patricia Low Contemporary. Under a red rain of ancient keys and people from around the world, a gourmet buffet was served in the company of the artist. A delicious pumpkin soup with mascarpone foam and canapés de fois gras were prepared by L'Atelier d'en Bas, bringing a touch of the Pays-d’Enhaut to the event’s international guests. Each key holds memories, says the artist, as she hung them as talismans above the heads of passing visitors. Hoteliers take heed: Shiota’s custom work can be installed in most spaces, providing a unique
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Ernst Andrea Scherz
NYMF Party with Homayra Sellier Homayra Sellier, founder of the celebrated local charity Innocence in Danger, hosted a fabulous affair at her home in early January. The evening featured several royal guests of honour, as well as musicians from the New Year Music Festival in Gstaad, whose Gershwin concert 8 January she sponsored. The concert, held at the Grand Hotel Park, was truly magical. Musicologist C. Agathe Amzallag gave a fascinatingly detailed account of George Gershwin’s life and work. French-American pianist François-Joël Thiollier played with a rare combination of logic and emotion, bringing to life some of Gershwin’s most moving compositions including the orig-
Pianist François-Joël Thiollier
LIFESTYLE // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 1 // JANUARY 29, 2016
IID Plans Busy Winter Calendar Events to Raise Funds for Victims of Sexual Abuse
Innocence in Danger, the non-governmental organisation that fights child sexual exploitation, will host a number of important fundraising events both here in Gstaad and further afield this spring. BY GSTAADLIFE
Over the 4–6 March weekend, IID founder and long-time guest Homayra Sellier will host three days of activities and events for members and donors. Annual Fundraising Gala At the annual gala on 4 March, guests will discover the tastes of the world’s most prominent artists. A dinner prepared with recipes from the book Artist’s Recipes will be featured. The book is a collection of collages and recipes, offering a glimpse into the private world of reknowned artists including Marina Abramovich, Erwin Wurm, Fiona Banner, Olafur Eliasson, Ryan Gander, Hermann Nitsch, Anish Kapoor, and many more. The artist duo Admir Jahic
and Comenius Roethlisberger will be in attendance, and attendees may purchase an exclusive signed copy of Artist's Recipes. Rounding out the evening, musical entertainment will include Eurovision Switzerland’s Mélanie René and singer Shana Pearson. A silent auction and tombola, handing out a multitude of exceptional prizes to eager bidders, will also help to raise funds for the charity. 15 Year Anniversary All proceeds from the Gstaad event will go toward funding IID’s Swiss activities, namely their summer camps and aftercare programme. 2016 marks the 15th year of Innocence in Danger’s existence, and the twelfth year it has hosted summer camps in the Saanenland. The main goal of the camps is to alleviate the shame that typically accompanies sexual abuse. Because all participants are
survivors, they are encouraged to speak openly if they so choose. The camp provides a safe place for the children to relax and have fun, which can activate self-healing. At the summer camps, children come to terms with their suffering through indoor and outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, arts and crafts, and yoga, making the experience a crucial step in the healing process. Important Work on a Difficult Topic Innocence in Danger is one of the largest privately funded non-governmental organisations in the world. The organisation is active in seven countries–Switzerland, France, Germany, the USA, the UK, Colombia, and more recently, Austria, where they provide legal, medical and social services to victims and their parents. Additionally, IID is equally dedicated to fostering real political change and awareness through high-level advocacy and lobbying activities.
LOCAL NEWS // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 2 // FEBRUARY 19, 2016
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