Justine Gustafson Awarded Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program Acquisition Grant
March 25, 2025
SUBJECT: Justine Gustafson Awarded Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program Acquisition Grant
WHERE: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, 1080 Keewatin St. Thunder Bay, ON
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is thrilled to announce the receipt of the Ontario Arts Foundation Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program Acquisition Grant. This grant has been awarded to the Gallery for the acquisition of Agawaatebiigisin/Reflections, by Justine Gustafson, an original shoulder bag inspired by the artists powerful connection to water.
When asked for comment Gustafson stated, “I want to acknowledge the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and The Ontario Arts Foundation Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program for giving me this opportunity to create a piece that honours the relationship I have with water. Miigwetch. When the art piece is on display, I hope the community will feel a connection to the piece just as I have while I was creating the artwork.”
“The Gallery is honoured to welcome this original beadwork into our Collection.” Curator, Penelope Smart said. “Justine is an exceptional beader, and deserving of national recognition. This piece is a meaningful commission for the Gallery, the artist, and our community. Congrats Justine!”
Executive Director, Matthew R. Hills, congratulated the artist on her big win. “Congratulations to Justine Gustafson on earning this
distinction! Again, and again, we see the strength of our artistic community, and how young artist like Justine are leading in our field, provincially and nationally. Our thanks to the Gordon Foundation who established the Elizabeth L Gordon Art Program, and the Ontario Arts Foundation for this visionary support of a young artist and our collection.”
Agawaatebiigisin/Reflections (it is reflected in the water) expresses a deeply personal relationship to water, or nibi, in Anishinaabemowin. The piece is a double-sided hand bag based on a traditional shoulder bag or pouch. It is adorned with hand-smoked leather and a original modern Ojibay floral inspired beadwork design, reflected on both the front and back. One panel representing the beauty of colour and life, the other representing water that gives and takes life.
The bag creates new connections between the design, materials, and the named and yet to be identified makers of beaded objects in the Gallery’s collection. The work will be on view for the first time at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from October 3, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
Justine Gustafson is an Anishinaabe kwe from Whitesand First First Nation, ON, based in Thunder Bay. Justine is an emerging Indigenous artist who works full-time as a beader, recognized for her creative talent by peers, curators, and master bead workers. She comes from a family of artists, the Gustafsons, whose work is presented in the internationally touring exhibition Piitwewetam: Making is Medicine (2021 – present) a commemorative exhibition celebrating their late son and brother, Jessie Gustafson. This will be the artist’s first major commission for a public art gallery. Justine fuses traditional and contemporary materials in her designs. The commission is a singular work that connects to stories of healing, family, and place and belongs in Thunder Bay.
For more information, images and interview availability please contact:
Bob Gravelle
Marcoms Coordinator
(807) 577-6427
communications@theag.ca
Photos courtesy of Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Photos by: Chondon Photography