Stay Alert (Matauri Bay, New Zealand)
Date1995-2005
Artist
Jill Mathis
(American photographer, born 1964)
MediumDigital chromogenic print
Dimensionsimage: 10 7/8 × 16 in. (27.6 × 40.6 cm)
sheet: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
sheet: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Francis McIntyre, 2006
Object number2006-76.3
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPHOTOGRAPH
Label TextIn 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.
