Waltraude Stehwien: 2021

A different kind of trip: Time travel to 40 years ago and beyond

As part of the project German Culture Alive, Waltraude recently had the pleasure to chat with SaskScapes producer Kevin Power.

https://saskscapes.buzzsprout.com/1660786/9223936?t=0

So great to go back in time and take a condensed look at the multi faceted career that really started out in central Germany with puppetry. Full time, intense puppetry: From creating and leading puppets to the challenges and excitement of touring; later to managing the many parts of a professional marionette theatre, and finally, to teaching and putting on productions in a new home, here in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Finally travelling again

At the Watrous Gallery

The 3-year OSAC/SGC Scissorcut tour that was (and is!) sadly interrupted due to lockdown finally had another event. The Watrous Art Gallery was showing the works by Waltraude Stehwien and Jessica Richter on a weekend in June. What a great opportunity to take a first road trip in many months. Reduced opening meant we couldn’t wait for a perfect weather day, but it was certainly worth the trip!

Feeling reasonably safe, we even dared to remove our masks for some photos and a quick rest stop at nearby Manitou Beach with friends. The unique salt water lake was not tempting for any recreational activity due to extreme winds, but a new public sculpture was a delight to discover. A giant silhouette, similar to scissorcut art in some ways, but made of stainless steel. We had the pleasure to meet one of the artist behind this 'in harmony with nature' design, where the clouds, rolling hills and the waves are mirrored.

Discussion with masks

Frozen World

A very fitting scenery for the very frozen landscape around the Saskatchewan River.

About the Artist

Waltraude Stehwien is a German born artist whose first career path was learning the ancient art of puppetry in her father's marionette theatre. Her studies in stage design and graphic arts at the art academy in Halle, Germany trained her to switch readily between a two and three dimensional workspace.

After retirement from a varied career in puppetry and graphic arts, Waltraude returned to her love of another unique art, that of scissor cutting, or the German Scherenschnitt. (Schere = Scissor, Schnitt = Cut).

She has created a large variety of design, illustrations and even logos using this method, and is regularly called upon to give workshops in this unique art form.

Most recently, she has challenged herself to explore the beauty and vastness of the prairie and other Canadian landscapes. The linear perspectives and the often stark contrasts of winter scenes have inspired Waltraude to bring these sometimes intense feelings to the viewer with her scissors and a single sheet of black specialty paper.