Biography - Fritz Stehwien
1914 - Born in Miltern, Germany.
1928 - Begins to draw nature studies - watercolours and pen & ink drawings of the surrounding landscape as well as pencil sketches of family and friends.
1930 - Paints first oil portrait - his grandmother knitting.
1930 - Starts apprenticeship as a painter and sign painter in Stendal, Germany.
1935 - Works as church painter and restorer in central Germany.
1937 - Studies mural painting, painting and drawing at Hansische Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Hamburg, Germany.
1939-46 Serves as a soldier in France and Russia and paints and sketches whenever possible (most of these works are lost). Escapes Russian prison camp on own initiative, applying artistic abilities.
1947-49 Takes up advanced studies at Kunstschule Burg Giebichenstein in Halle*. Receives commissions for murals and participates in numerous shows in Dresden, Berlin and Halle, Germany.
1949 - Marries art student Waltraude Barthold.
1952 - Is considered too ‘formalistic’ by communist culture officials. No further work is commissioned.
1953 - Works for City Planning Bureau as a graphic artist, rendering images of cities from plans. Paints in spare time.
1958 - Escapes with family of four children to West Germany and settles in Döffingen, near Stuttgart. Is forced to leave his paintings behind.
1959-68 Participates in juried group shows in Stuttgart and Böblingen.
1959 - Takes study trip to Dalmatia.
1964 - Travels to Holland, escorting a group show from Böblingen.
1967 - Travels to Canada on invitation from his sister and paints the prairies.
1968 - Immigrates to Canada with his family, settling in Saskatoon.
1970-93 Holds eleven one man shows in Saskatoon, North Battleford, Swift Current and Yorkton. Participates in juried group shows in Saskatoon (CAR) and Regina.
1980 - Takes study trip to Taiwan.
1990/91 One of his paintings is chosen for the exhibition Ausgebürgert (a show exhibiting works by artists having left the German Democratic Republic for political reasons), in Dresden and Hamburg.
1991 - Travels to reunified Germany to retrieve paintings left with friends in the east.
1993 - Retrospective - Exhibition of selected favorite works from a lifetime of painting - Saskatoon
Published booklet ‘Fritz Stehwien’ containing reproductions of over 50 selected best works.
1996 - Travels to Germany to visit former colleagues and contemporaries at Halle.
1997 - Faith in the Field - Exhibition of Ukrainian Churches in and around Saskatoon - Saskatoon. Article in local newspaper.
1999 - Faith in the Field II - More Ukrainian Churches from Saskatchewan - Article in local newspaper
2001 - Vanishing Horizons - Exhibition of Prairie elevators throughout Saskatchewan - Saskatoon. Article in local newspaper.
2002 - Oil painting Saskatoon in Winter published as CHEP (Child Hunger and Education Program)
Christmas card.
2003 - Repeat publication of Saskatoon in Winter Christmas card by CHEP due to highest sales and popularity.
2004 - Bilder aus der alten Heimat - Exhibition to honour the artist near his hometown in Germany, showing a selection of very early sketches, drawings and paintings - Tangermünde, Germany
2004 - 90th birthday celebration and nomination for Lt. Governor Arts Awards - Lifetime Achievement Award.
2005 - Certificate of Achievement for Lt Governor Arts Awards Nomination - Lifetime Achievement Award.
2005 - Fritz Stehwien is added to the Names Master List for City of Saskatoon - a city park to be named after artist.
2008 - Passed away peacefully at age 93, in Saskatoon, Canada
1969 - present Various painting/print donations including Saskatoon Symphony, Open Door Society, Ukrainian Museum, Women’s Health Centre and Community Radio
1981 - present Annual painting/print donation to Boys & Girls Club, Saskatoon
1987 - present Annual painting/print donation to St. Pauls Hospital Foundation since 1987, honoured for donating over $5,000 in 1998.
1991 - 1998 Published drawings of Saskatoon and Saskatchewan landmarks in the Globe and Mail newspaper.
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Taken from Fritz Stehwien Retrospective 1993 Booklet, by W.Stehwien, 1993
Comprehensive entry on Fritz Stehwien also in Biographical Dictionary of Saskatchewan Artists, by Marketa Newman, 1994, p.241
