.jpg)
The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) has opened its doors to a new kind of presence: Live-in creativity. Last Friday, MJMAG introduced the community to its first-ever artist residency program, with local artists Sadi-Rose Vaxvick and Matt Froese now working out of three new studio spaces within the gallery — there's one more available for artist number three, too.
Vaxvick is a nêhiyaw and saulteaux visual fine artist working in large scale paintings and drawings, sculpture, beadwork, and graphic design. Her work addresses her Indigenous ancestry and her journey in healing and reconnecting to a lost language.
She has taken on the newly created role of Indigenous Artist and Curator-in-Residence. She’ll be working with the gallery for the next five and a half months, creating artwork, developing programming, and engaging directly with the community.
“Being able to create artwork in a space with good lighting, to have the time and place to really focus — that’s what I’m most looking forward to,” Vaxvick said.
“This is a chance not just to work, but to build something with Moose Jaw’s community. I want to create future programs that connect with a wide range of people, especially around important moments like National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.”
Among her early plans are a collaborative mural with local Métis artist Dave Pelletier (currently featured in the now-open True North exhibition), and potential programming for school children. While some elements are still forming, Vaxvick says the structure of the residency allows for responsive, community-led development.
“There’s some set planning, but a lot of it is about learning as I go,” she said. “That’s what makes it exciting. I want to see what comes up, what’s already in storage — literally and metaphorically.”
The program will also include open studio hours, where the public can visit, observe, and engage with the artists. There's more about Vaxvick at sadirosevaxvick.ca.
“People will be able to drop in, ask questions, even pitch ideas. I’ll be in the studio a lot, and I want it to feel like a shared space. You can also find me online — my website has my contact info, or you can always go through the gallery.”
Potter Matt Froese will also be working in the new studio spaces. A sound engineer, primarily at the Mae Wilson Theatre in the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture, Froese has lived in Moose Jaw since 2011 and has been active in local community pottery programs. This residency marks his first solo studio space.
“It’s a big learning curve, but it’s one I’m excited about. I’ve been part of shared studios before, but this is my own setup, my own work schedule. I want to take the time to refine a few key forms — mugs, kitchen items, that sort of thing — and really push repetition as a way of improving. I heard a saying once: ‘Repetition legitimizes.’ I’m leaning into that.”
Froese also sees the public aspect of the residency as a strength.
“Pottery’s having a bit of a moment online, but people rarely see it up close. This is a chance to show how it works, even if people only see a small part of the process. And it’s great to get real-time feedback—seeing what shapes resonate, what sparks a reaction.”
Both artists will be in residence through the summer and into the fall. Their studios are located within the MJMAG's main Norma Lang Gallery space, and details about their work and programming will be updated throughout the season on the website at www.mjmag.ca.
“This is about art, but it’s also about access,” Vaxvick explained. “It’s about Indigenous presence in institutions, about opening up new conversations. And it’s a way to make creativity something people can actually witness.”