Urs Zimmermann RIP

 Very sad indeed to be writing of the death of another friend.

Urs Zimmermann was a sculptor who lived up the hill in Granes, born in St Gallen in Switzerland - no idea how he found his way here. He was a major mover in the first Chemin des Artistes in 2003 - the precursor of the Artistes a Suivre.

The launch event was held in his studio and on the land there - an unforgettable afternoon - devoted to ecological issues and its interaction with the arts. His own rather monumental sculptures were mostly carved from malachite and we partied happily among them till late-

 Urs was committed to the care of the extraordinary natural resources of this area and worked hard to promote the protection of wild-life habitats. I remember on another occasion  sitting in a circle with friends up there and feeling... whatever it is, creepy? that silently another person had joined us, a great shape on one of the rocks looking in the twilight like a big man. Turned out to be the golden eagle.

He had a tame magpie that lived in his car; luckily Urs preferred to walk everywhere -

He was too young to die, at 67 years old. The funeral is on the 2cnd of May at 14.30 at the Trebes crematorium. The sister and family of Urs have said that all are welcome.