Being Swiss is a point of patriotic pride for Etienne. He's so eager to share this part of his life with anyone who is interested and he goes out of his way to find Swiss-made goods and companies here in Canada. So, it should come as no surprise that he bought tickets to a Swiss event at the Ottawa Art Gallery as soon as he could.
Every year, the Gallery throws a party to celebrate the start of Winterlude here in the National Capital Region, and this year, the Gallery partnered with the Swiss Embassy and various other companies and organizations to host "Dada for Switzerland: Winterlude Party." There was Swiss wine in ample quantities, large hunks of raclette, big trays of rösti, Swiss flags and games, salutes to Dadaism (including a fantastic old, old film from Cabernet Voltaire that showed a performance art piece that we look back on as quaint), and of course, we had access to a gallery exhibit room or two. The main room was decked out in the Swiss flags, we were serenaded by a Swiss Montagne Choir, an Alpine Horn player, and a DJ from Vevey. The Swiss Ambassador, a thoroughly-bureaucratic looking fellow, dropped by to meet and greet. It was a refreshing change of scene in this rather stayed, unimaginative city.
In fact, it was a very odd collection of people...random Swiss citizens, the OAG arts supporters, club kids, bureaucrats...whatever their motivations, they were there for a good time courtesy of the Gallery. We totally need to get out and do more of this stuff.
Time to party...
...Wish you were here.
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