invitation to walk with me

WALK (WITH) ME

I’m looking for 40 "walkers" to symbolically walk with me on my 40 day journey from Amsterdam to Marseille. Donate something to get me through 1 walking/travelling day (anything you think I will need for that day, even if it is just a thought) and I will give you an embroidery and a story in return. 

This summer I will walk and slowly travel from Amsterdam to Marseille. My goal is the Nomadic Village 2013 in Cuges les Pins, a temporary village constructed by a group of international artists. I will wear a three piece walking suit while travelling. On the outside of the suit I will embroider the story of the walk, one drawing every day. On the inside I will embroider the names of the people accompanying me on this trip.

My journey will last 40 days and I’m hoping to find at least 40 people willing to walk with me. Maybe even you. This doesn’t mean you have to be there “in person” (although everybody is very welcome to walk with me any day of my travel). It works like this: you choose a day, you donate something that will help me through this day, in the morning of that day I will embroider your name (or something representing you) on the inside of my suit. You will be on my mind that day, I will walk with you and once I’ve arrived in the Nomadic Village, I will send you the story of that day. That, and a photo of your embroidered name.

You can donate whatever you think I need to get through a day. You can challenge me and give me only a thought to survive on. You can give me just enough to live the simple life I like. Or you can grant me a lazy day and give a generous donation so I can buy myself breakfast, hang around and enjoy the view, take a slow train, eat a good meal with some wine in the local village bar and pitch my tent at a comfortable camping site.

In the Nomadic Village I will construct a Memory Shop, sewing peoples’ memories into other peoples’ pockets. I will be present in my shop wearing my walking suit every day. You are also very welcome to donate a memory for the second part of my journey. More about that soon to be anounced.

Journey Amsterdam – Cuges les Pins (near Marseille): August 15 – September 23

Nomadic Village 2013: September 23 – October 6

If you want to walk with me:

Send an e-mail to monique.besten@xs4all.nl with your name, your donation (amount or description) and the day you would like to symbolically walk with me. Please check the schedule to see what days are still available! I'll put your name in the schedule unless you don't want to be mentioned. If your donation is a financial one (and I do hope I won’t have to live of berries and weed salads and sleep in the wild every day), you can send it to:

MWA Besten, Amsterdam (NL)

Bank: ING

Account nr: 4913795

IBAN: NL 19INGB0004913795

BIC: INGBNL2A

or through PayPal to monique.besten@xs4all.nl

! All donations of € 25 or more will receive a professional photo print (20 x 30, Epson luster) & story by slow mail. All other donations will receive a digital version.

more about the Nomadic Village HERE 
more about a recent suit project HERE

questions, remarks, etc: monique.besten@xs4all.nl