West End’s artistic geode building
Artlington Studios opened its doors for public art display
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At first sight, 618 Arlington St. appears to be a tan brick building that looks somewhat out of place amongst the residential houses in the area. But on the inside, a collage of artistry and craft is scattered throughout the rooms of this charming old building.
The building is home to 618 ARTlington Studios — a collection of studios available for rent, with more than 30 artists using the space.
Above the front door is a stained-glass circle made by Wesley Krahn.
Supplied photo
The first floor of ARTlington Studios (618 Arlington St.). Behind each door is an artist working on a unique art form completely different from their neighbour.
“I feel like a left a mark, to put it humbly,” Krahn laughed. “I love the building and the vibe, but it’s the people I stayed for.”
Krahn, operator of Glasstorations, has worked out of the studio since 2014 — making him the longest working artist in the building.
Upstairs from his studio, find Danielle Fontaine Koslowsky, a self-described abstract interpretive artist whose preferred medium is oil paint. She’s been in the studio the second longest and is a supportive person who encourages everyone in the building, according to Jessica Ripley.
Ripley’s studio is across the hall, filled with glass beads and critters. She’s one of the few artists located in Winnipeg that do lampwork.
Beside Fontaine Koslowsky, one can see the magic screen printing behind the recognizable honey dill designs scattered in handmade shops throughout the city.
The media is varied by each space, but the support and community cross all forms of art.
“One of the coolest things is we’re all like minded, we have different crafts, painting, pottery, glass, but we all understand being a small business, and we get the passion for art,” said Sarah MacLachlan, operator of Sarah Sue Design.
MacLachlan is a local fashion designer specializing in slow fashion and committed to sustainability.
“The coolest thing about Winnipeg is how supportive everyone is here,” she said. “Winnipeg supports artists more than the big cities. My customers are excited to support me and my other artist friends.”
Photo by Rylee Gerrard
Wesley Krahan demonstrating glass restoration in his studio at ARTlington Studios (618 Arlington St.).
While ARTlington is closed to the public, the studio opens their doors four to five times per year — the most recent being their Doors Open event that happened May 30.
“It’s really special,” MacLachlan said about the event. “(It’s) a great way to have other people see my art and my artist friends art.”
For Rachael Kroeker, a full-time ceramic artist and building manager, she says there’s magic in seeing the building for the first time.
“People are curious about the building and the process,” Kroeker said. “It’s an opportunity to open the doors and the history of the building.”
The next public-access event is on Sept. 26. Before then, contact artists directly for inquiries.