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Waltraude Stehwien’s artistic sensibilities run so deep it is as if they form the very makeup of her DNA. Her earliest inspiration was her father who was a visionary and a well-respected puppeteer in Germany. Waltraude wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps and she did just that. Her family survived the turmoil of WWII where often they had to hastily relocate, leaving many of her father’s treasures behind. Her life’s journey eventually brought Waltraude, her husband, and four children to Saskatchewan. Only a few of her father’s puppets made the journey. Waltraude was groundbreaking in bringing the art form to life in Saskatchewan. Her second passion was a skill she also learned from her father. The art of scissor cutting (Scherenschnitte). Her work is often inspired by the landscape of our province. Some of her work is currently on tour thanks to the support of OSAC.
German Culture Alive is a SaskScapes feature series sponsored by the Saskatchewan German Council telling stories of culture, heritage, immigration, arts, and more, of German-Canadians in Saskatchewan. The series is produced and hosted by Kevin Power.
For more information on SaskScapes, click here.
