Swiss benedictine nun and poet...
Her father Otto was the founder of the Walter Verlag publishing house, writer and member of the Swiss National Council. Her mother, Maria Anna Cäcilia, wrote lyrics for domestic use. Silja was the second oldest of eight daughters, her only brother was the writer Otto Friedrich Walter.
Silja studied five years at a teachers' training college, and began her studies of literature at the University of Fribourg. Due to a life-threatening lung disease, she had to break. In 1944, her first poetry collection "Die ersten Gedichte" was published. As a relatively popular author, in 1948 she joined the Benedictine convent of Fahr Abbey.
Silja Walter's work of about 60 publications...
includes poetry and prose, as well as festivals, oratorios and theological texts, reflecting her life as nun. She has received many awards, among them literary and cultural prices from the city of Zürich, by the Swiss Schiller Foundation in 1956 and 1992, and the art prize of the canton of Solothurn.
Her book "Eine Insel finden" was a best selling work, based on a radio show that confronted her with her brother Otto Friedrich. The Walter siblings had a completely different literary activity: her brother was a dedicated social critic, whereas Silja wrote lyrics 'far away from the world' in a monastery...
"Der Wolkenbaum" was even more successful, reflecting Silja Walter's family history. In 2009 her biography was published, "Das dreifarbene Meer", written probably on her computer. At the age of 80, she started to use computers, and in 2010 was allowed by the Prioress of the Fahr Abbey to use an Internet access...
at the Fahr Abbey was inaugurated.
The monastery would appeal to people who knew the artist's work, but also for the younger generation, said Prioress Irene on occasion of an interview. Silja Walter's literary work is inextricably linked to the Benedictine nunnery, where she lived for over 60 years. During this time, she wrote most of her work.
After the renovation of the provost's room, its former office with its beautiful stucco ceiling was chosen to establish a small museum. It contains numerous texts, film, audio and photographic documents, as well as excerpts from the radio interview from 1982, with her brother.
But also personal objects - like the nun's typewriter - are exhibited, and also the lesser known drawings and painting of the artist. For now, the room will be open every last Sunday of the month, after the worship service, from approximately 10:45 to 14:00. Admission is free.
Silja Walter's complete work was published posthumously in by so far 11 volumes.
~wikipedia~
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