Art Talkback Series
Featured artist Manuel Axel Strain invites local artists and cultural workers into a collaborative and reflective gathering at the Gallery. This informal series blends thoughtful conversation, community insight, and hands-on experiences, offering participants a chance to engage directly with the artworks and each other in a welcoming, interactive setting. Whether you’re an artist, art lover, or simply curious, come explore the exhibition in new ways.
Limited seating—RSVP appreciated.
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/art-talkback-series-with-elliott-ramsey-manuel-axel-strain-tickets-1708856107619?aff=oddtdtcreator
Session 2: Elliott Ramsey, Polygon Gallery Curator
Join curator Elliott Ramsey for a behind-the-scenes look at their recent collaboration with artist Manuel Axel Strain, whose work is featured in the current exhibition. This session takes place inside the new installation and includes a guided discussion about the artist’s evolving practice, themes in the work, and the curatorial process. Guests are invited to enjoy local herbal teas and take part in an informal conversation with other attendees in a relaxed gallery setting.
About the Presenters:
Elliott Ramsey (b. 1990) is Curator of The Polygon Gallery, based on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ Nations and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Band. He holds a Masters of Arts degree in Comparative Media Arts (2015) from Simon Fraser University, and is an alumnus of the Association of Art Museum Curators’ Professional Alliance for Curators of Colour. He has sat on numerous panels, juries, and public art committees, including the Sobey Art Award, VIVA Award, Portfolio Prize, and Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography. His recent exhibition As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic, presented by Aperture and featuring work from the Toronto-based Wedge Collection, is currently touring.
Manuel Axel Strain (pronouns they/them) 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.
Artist website: Home | manuelaxelstrain
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This free public program is made possible from funding by the 2025 City of Richmond Arts & Culture Project Grant.
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