Born and raised at Mohkinstsis, I have lived on Vancouver Island for 15 years, and have been the Curator of Contemporary Art at the Campbell River Art Gallery since 2018. I work daily toward being a good ally as a settler on the unceded, traditional territories of the Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ speaking people; the Wei Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations. Through a research and relationship based approach, I work to ensure that diverse communities see their experiences reflected in the cultural offerings of the institution. I aim to create community impact through exhibitions and programs that support the endurance of communities, the resurgence and celebration of diverse cultural perspectives, and the recovery of erased histories. By working in consultation with Ligwiłda’xw Knowledge Keepers, I strive to ground exhibition work on the territory, and take real steps toward decolonizing the institution and my curatorial approach by re-examining current practices, asking who they are meant to serve, and adapting ways of working to respond to the needs of artists and communities. 

I completed a Masters in art history and visual studies at the University of Victoria on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen speaking peoples of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, in 2015. My thesis examined transnational and post-colonial frameworks for studying art histories, the rich artistic traditions and modernities of West Asia, and contemporary West Asian artists of the diaspora living and working on Turtle Island. I focussed specifically on Parviz Tanavoli, the father of modern Iranian sculpture, who had his first solo at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2023 since immigrating from Iran in 1989.

Over the five years I have been here at the CRAG, I have seen the institution professionalize, shift to a social justice mandate, make real community impact, and gain wider recognition in the field of arts and culture on Turtle Island. I am honoured to work with the brilliant team, inspired by the mutual support, and amazed by the work a small and dedicated group can accomplish. 

Jenelle Pasiechnik photo by Wild Shay Photography

Raised in Campbell River on the unceded territory of the Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ Peoples, Tamasyn spent her youth in Jakarta and Doha. Her diverse experiences shaped her worldview, further enriched by a Political Science degree from the University of British Columbia. With expertise in marketing, copywriting, and strategy, she’s also honed her program management skills, starting as an Outreach Intern with the CRAG. There, she built strong relationships with the team and community partners. She’s now excited to step into her role as the new Programs Coordinator, working with facilitators in the community to build engaging, barrier-free programs.