MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) is undergoing a transition as its operations manager, Violet Tang, recently stepped down to pursue an unanticipated career opportunity.
Stepping into the role is Jennifer Warren — a familiar face in Moose Jaw’s arts community — who started at the gallery on Nov. 26.
“We really appreciate the impact that (Tang) made on the organization in the short time that she was with us,” shared Jennifer McRorie, the MJMAG’s museum director.
The role of operations manager typically involves the management of financial and administrative matters. Due to limited staffing, McRorie said the role has necessarily expanded with an opportunity to get more involved with exhibit planning.
During her tenure — which began on May 29 — and her passion for curation.
“I approached her about the possibility of her doing some curation in the museum, and having the operations manager not only focus on administration, but look at doing some of the curation and artistic development of exhibits… (as well),” McRorie explained.
This innovative approach not only enriched the gallery’s programming, but also set a new precedent for the role.
“This is something that we’re going to be continuing to pursue with Jennifer Warren in the role as well,” McRorie said. “I think having Violet here helped us reenvision new possibilities for the organization.”
Tang immigrated from China in 2015 to study art history at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., where she earned both undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Seeking to explore Canada’s rich cultural landscapes, Tang travelled until arriving at the MJMAG just in time for the opening of Dave Pelletier’s “Wóknaga: He Tells His Own Story” exhibit.
She quickly embraced Moose Jaw’s “welcoming” and “vibrant” community and said she found fulfillment in her new role at the gallery.
“I just immediately felt that this is the place I… really belong to,” she said earlier. “People were really nice, welcoming, and open-minded (in Moose Jaw); they have great energy here.”
While Tang found a sense of joy in her role, her journey took an unexpected turn when presented with the rare opportunity to pursue her passion for literature.
“In her spare time she’s a fiction writer, and a publisher has agreed to publish one of her books and wants her to write another book,” McRorie explained. “So, she’s actually started writing… and she just finds that working full time and trying to pursue those opportunities was becoming a little too much.”
Tang has now returned to Kingston and plans to return to China to finish her book.
Tang’s book is a fictional story inspired by her research into a major earthquake in China that deeply influenced her generation. Written in Mandarin, the book reflects her cultural heritage — though it’s unclear if an English translation will be available.
As the search for a new operations manager concluded, McRorie was pleased to welcome Warren to the role.
“Warren comes from the , where she’s worked as the front house manager and artist’s liaison,” McRorie said.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Jennifer and I look forward to (seeing) what her contributions are going to be,” she added. “It’s great to have someone who’s already well connected in the community and well loved. I look forward to our future here with her.”
The MJMAG is located at 461 Langdon Crescent. To contact the gallery, call 306-692-4471 or visit . You can also follow the MJMAG on Facebook at ‘.’
