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themes of migration, immigration, colonialism, 2SLGBTQ+ persons

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) will soon be opening their latest exhibits, which will run from May 26 to September 3 and explore perspectives on migration, immigration, colonial influences, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

Jeannie Mah and Heidi McKenzie are the featured artists for the Norma Lang Art Gallery at the MJMAG. Mah and McKenzie are established and esteemed Canadian artists of colour working primarily with ceramics. Their combined exhibition is called tRACEs: Lines, Lives, Loves, and explores the narratives of two migrant/immigrant families through ceramic works that incorporate archival image. Particular attention is paid to the artist’s relationships with their fathers.

The opening reception for tRACEs is scheduled at the MJMAG for Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m., where guests will be introduced to the themes behind the exhibition and have a chance to hear from the artists themselves.

A separate opening reception will be held Wednesday, May 31 at 7 p.m. for PRIDE. Organized in partnership with MJ Pride in support of Pride Week, PRIDE is a community exhibition featuring works from Moose Jaw’s 2SLGBTQIA+ artists. Through their creativity, these artists express their unique experiences, identities, and histories. By appreciating diverse per- spectives, Canadians can foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and ultimately build a more equitable and tolerant society.

Both Jeannie Mah and Heidi McKenzie have ancestral ties to migration and im- migration. Regina-based Mah’s pieces pay tribute to her Chinese-Canadian heritage, specifically marking the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act — a highly discriminatory piece of legislation that made life much harder for Chinese-Canadians for the over 20 years it was in effect. Through delicate porcelain vessels, Mah’s exhibition, titled Invitation au Voyage, captures the essence of the ongoing global influence of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

McKenzie, on the other hand, explores her father’s journey as an immigrant of colour from Colonial Trinidad to Canada, incorporating elements of her own mixed Indo-Caribbean and Irish heritage into her creations. Her exhibition is titled Brick by Brick: Absence vs Presence, and combines historical and contemporary photographs, ceramic sculptures, augmented reality, video, and sound projection to give voice to the often untold, undocumented, and disregarded stories of local Indigenous people and immigrant persons of colour who worked at the brick and clay factories in the region.

The regular exhibitions at the MJMAG offer a platform for artists to share their stories, ignite meaningful conversations, and foster a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry that Canadian culture has always been. Visitors and patrons of the arts are encouraged to attend the opening receptions for these exhibitions to engage with the artists and gain deeper insight into their inspirations and process.