Art After Dark Youth Event

This FREE drop-in evening is all about celebrating art, community, and self-expression in a welcoming and inspiring space for youth.

Interactive Art Activities
Get hands-on with collaborative art-making inspired by the Gallery’s current exhibition, exploring the theme of Family & Home.

Meet the Artist: Manuel Axel Strain
A rare opportunity to connect with the exhibiting artist and contribute your own drawings to one of their installations.

Music & Vibes
Help shape the night’s soundtrack! Submit your family-themed playlist suggestions to set the tone for the festivities.

Creative Stations
Enjoy zine and collage making, guided artist tours, and a live photo booth to capture the night.

Free Art Supplies & Refreshments
All materials are provided, along with light snacks to keep your creativity fueled.

Questions? Reach out to Mia from Richmond Youth Services at .

About the Guest Artist:

Manuel Axel Strain is a 2-Spirit artist from the lands and waters of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Simpcw and Syilx peoples, based in the sacred region of their q̓ic̓əy̓(Katzie) and qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen) relatives. Strain’s mother is Tracey Strain and father is Eric Strain, Tracey’s parents are Harold Eustache (from Chuchua) and Marie Louis (from nk̓maplqs), Eric’s Parents are Helen Point (from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) and John Strain (from Ireland). Although they attended Emily Carr University of Art + Design they prioritize Indigenous epistemologies through the embodied knowledge of their mother, father, siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents and ancestors.

Creating artwork in collaboration with and reference to their relatives, their shared experiences become a source of agency that resonates through their work with performance, land, painting, sculpture, photography, video, sound and installation. Their artworks often envelop subjects in relation with ancestral and community ties, Indigeneity, labour, resource extraction, gender, Indigenous medicine and life forces. Strain often perceives their work to confront and undermine the imposed realities of colonialism. Proposing a new space beyond its oppressive systems of power. They have contributed work to the Vancouver Art Gallery, Surrey Art Gallery, the UBCO FINA gallery, were longlisted for the 2022 Sobey Award and were a recipient of the 2022 Portfolio Prize.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Richmond Art Gallery, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, Canada