The Negrich Family, circa 1972
Collection of The Winnipeg Art Gallery, 2010
In 1966 William Kurelek held his first solo exhibition at a public institution, which was at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The exhibition was spearheaded and co-sponsored by the Alpha Omega Ukrainian Women’s Alumnae Association, an organization founded in 1958 by a dozen University of Manitoba graduates with a desire to foster Ukrainian cultural activities within Winnipeg. This included promoting the work of amateur and professional artists of Ukrainian origin.
Nadia Negrich ("nee" Skremetka), a member of the association and, its social convener, coordinated Kurelek’s visit to Winnipeg for the opening. She and her future husband Michael Negrich developed a friendship with the artist and hosted him on several occasions over the following decade. Michael sometimes joined Kurelek on his sketching trips throughout southern Manitoba. When Nadia and Michael married in the early 1970s, Kurelek gifted them this painting. "Negrich Family Threshing Outfit" is a vicarious memory painting that recounts Michael’s recollection of his childhood homestead in Venlaw, Manitoba in the 1920s, and the farming experience of his parents, Andrew Negrich and Justyna ("nee" Dzumaga) Negrich.
We extend our thanks to Andrew Kear, Canadian art historian and Head of Collections, Exhibitions and Programs at Museum London for contributing the preceding essay. Andrew is the past Chief Curator and Curator of Canadian art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, a Curator of the 2011/2012 national travelling exhibition "William Kurelek: The Messenger" and author of the Art Canada Institute’s "William Kurelek: Life & Work", available at www.aci-iac.ca.
This artwork is being sold to benefit the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq in establishing an endowment fund to support more diverse representation in the permanent collection, beginning with contemporary Canadian art. Cowley Abbott is pleased to donate our selling commission to the fund as part of the sale.
