Alberta Artist Uses Unique Method To Protect His Land
Peter von Tiesenhausen is an Alberta artist whose multidisciplinary practice includes painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, installation, event, video and performance. The land where he lives constitutes his primary and ongoing artwork. When oil interests wanted to drill on his property in Demmit, Alberta he found a unique way to protect his land. By copyrighting his property as an artwork, he has prevented oil companies from drilling or running a pipeline through it. As an ongoing artwork, all 800 acres are protected; any change made to the land constitutes a copyright infringement.
The video below features a dance performance piece at the Leighton Arts Centre using one of von Tiesenhausen's sculptural pieces. The 1000 poles were harvested from his own woodlot.
Video: The Chapel
Very clever. Since he owns the copyright, I guess he can make changes.
ReplyDeleteThe mineral rights for approximately 81 per cent of the province are owned by the Alberta Crown. I wouldn't want to buy acreage and then have to put up with Alberta Energy putting a pipeline through it.
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