Canadian artist builds relationships with sister city

By ADAM JACKSON
Herald-Tribune staff
03/20/12

More than 250 personally-crafted drawings by South Peace artist Peter von Tiesenhausen given out to locals in Mazatlan, Mexico, has the City of Grande Prairie and the arts community excited about the relationship between the sister cities.

From Nov. 3-16 last year, von Tiesenhausen performed at the Mexican resort city’s Sinaloa Arts Festival for two hours each day, creating works of art on local bark-based paper and clay, distributing them to locals as a way to share art and culture from Grande Prairie.

“I drew whatever came to my mind,” said von Tiesenhausen. “Basically, I’ve called that series out of my mind.”

The small drawings were given out at no charge, although some did attempt to buy them.
Von Tiesenhausen, who lives in the Demmitt area in the county, said although he has done a fair amount of travelling across the world, being immersed into the culture of Mazatlan was a difficult experience at times.

“I don’t speak Spanish, so it was an incredible experience because we connected on a different level – I was giving gifts and they were receiving them, wondering what they meant,” said von Tiesenhausen.
He also drew the eye of others. He was featured in at least five different articles in the city’s biggest newspaper, Cultura Mazatlan.

Near the end of his two-week stay, he brought art that many Mexicans had never seen before – an ice sculpture.

The work of art consisted of a number of blocks of ice laid atop each other. The blocks quickly melted, but helped von Tiesenhausen to get a point across about climate change and how it affects Canada as well as Grande Prairie.

The project, initiated by the Prairie Art Gallery and funded by the City of Grande Prairie, also brought some new ideas in how the city can entertain members of the arts community in the sister city.

Community services director Garry Roth says it is a possibility to have a small group to come to Grande Prairie.

“We would certainly work with any partners we have,” said Roth. “It would be nice to plan the exchange for an event or something going on in Grande Prairie.”