The Associates of the WAG hit the Road!

By Janet Shaw Russell, artist and Associate of the WAG

Each year, the Associates of the WAG’s education committee reaches beyond Winnipeg’s perimeter. They invite their Associate members to experience art in rural communities by embarking on a road trip.

This year, these two generous artists opened their doors to the Associates for studio tours, reflecting the education committee’s ongoing commitment to connecting members with artists and creative communities throughout Manitoba.

With a background in architecture and past employment in theatre and ballet, Thorkelsson took a three-week glass blowing course at Sheridan College. That experience sparked a career in glass, now spanning more than 50 years! After working from her renovated “chicken coop” studio in Manitoba’s Interlake, she established her current studio set in the Pembina Escarpment. From this humble and secluded location, Thorkelsson became an artist of local, national, and international acclaim. A leader in the North American Studio Glass Movement of the 1970s, Thorkelsson was a founding member of the Manitoba Crafts Council. She has inspired, addressed, taught, and mentored artists in Manitoba, Canada, and the United States. Her works have also been exhibited in Asia and across Europe.

As her practice evolved from blown glass to cast glass, Thorkelsson experimented with the scale, texture of glass, and embraced its natural colour. One work of monumental proportions, Incoming, hangs from the ceiling of the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport. The installation features 33 pairs of cast-glass Canada goose and Mallard duck wings in flight, creating a striking welcome for travellers from near and far.

Thorkelsson’s work has long been associated with and celebrated by the WAG. In 1998, her WAG exhibition, The Unwilling Bestiary, displayed 45 blown glass works in chronological order and a new ground breaking series of bird and insect-like cast and blown glass sculptures. Further to this, Thorkelsson was honoured with the Governor General’s Award (Saidye Bronfman Award) in 2010.

WAG-Qaumajuq continues to recognize the significance of Thorkelsson’s contributions to the field of glass. ShopWAG hosted Retrospective, featuring her blown glass work in 2023, and Handfuls of Light, which celebrated new innovative works in 2024. On this tour, the Associates of the WAG got a glimpse into Thorkelsson’s process – her skills in cast glass and her knowledge of electronics, resin, and specimen drying techniques.

We then headed to Carman to visit Lois Van Koughnet, who grew up on a nearby family farm and has a background in costuming and fashion. She studied Interior Design at University of Manitoba and Costume Studies at Dalhousie. This led to work in theatre as a costume cutter, then as a patternmaker in a garment factory, and eventually she cut for film and television including the Netflix/CBC coproduction Anne with an E and Apple TV’s See with Jason Momoa.

She taught costuming at Ryerson University (now called Metropolitan University) and later created her own fashion label, Lois Laine. The Associates were excited to see her current collection that explores the juxtaposition of geometry and the human body!

Following these tours, the artists joined the Associates for lunch at the Boyne River Bistro. Then the Associates met Nigel Bart of the Golden Prairie Art Council at their gallery and office located in Carman’s restored heritage train station before the return trip to Winnipeg.

From behind-the-scenes studio tours to engaging educational events and lasting friendships, the Associates of the WAG offer unique opportunities to experience art and connect with artists. Membership is open to anyone 18 and older – and it’s easy to join!

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