Moose Javians can stop by the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) to have their photos taken as part of a community art project inspired by MJMAG’s latest exhibit, “Confluence” by Susan Shantz.
The “We Are The Lake” community art project will raise awareness of the source of Moose Jaw’s water. MJMAG director and curator Jennifer McRorie said that the convenience of simply opening the tap can cause us to become casual about where our water comes from.
The water supply in Moose Jaw comes primarily from Buffalo Pound Lake. An enormous amount of infrastructure goes into filtering, treating, and transporting water for use in the city.
In an era of change that forces us to closely consider the climate and environment we depend on, this project encourages participants to reflect on our essential connection to water.
Human beings are made up of a collection of cells (to put it simply). Depending on where in the body you choose to look, the content of those cells can be up to 85 per cent water. The average person’s water content is roughly 70 per cent.
One way of considering that fact is realizing that if you’re a Moose Jaw resident, McRorie said, about 70 per cent of you comes from Buffalo Pound Lake.
Susan Shantz’ “Confluence,” currently on display at MJMAG, is a bringing together of both artistic and scientific explorations of water sources in Saskatchewan. Shantz spent several years with a team from the University of Saskatchewan researching drinking water supplies.
Those interested in learning more about “Confluence” can tune in to an MJMAG In Conversation Series talk with Shantz and water researcher Dr. Graham Strickert. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link can be found on the MJMAG Facebook page or website.
Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is currently undergoing a major upgrade worth $252.8 million. The plant is owned jointly by the municipalities of Regina and Moose Jaw.
McRorie said that the museum would be setting up a green screen and hiring a photographer for “We Are The Lake” within the near future.
“We’re going to be encouraging people to come down and get their photo taken while holding a sign that says ‘I am the lake,’” she explained.
Once the photo has been taken in front of the green screen, it will be digitally edited to look as though the person is standing in front of Buffalo Pound Lake.
In 2017, Shantz did a similar project in Saskatoon. “We are the River” encouraged residents of Saskatoon to consider their relationship with the South Saskatchewan River.
McRorie said they’re still working out the details. However, the museum plans to have the green screen set up by the end of Friday, Feb. 25.
Moose Jaw residents interested in participating can potentially come out to get their pictures taken starting Saturday, Feb. 26.
The resulting images will be displayed in a virtual exhibit on the MJMAG website, on the museum’s Instagram page, and on a digital billboard in Moose Jaw.
