As one of the cities with the largest Asian populations in Canada, the City of Richmond has organized a series of educational events to celebrate Asian Heritage Month.
This ranges from Japanese Children’s Day celebrations at Britannia Shipyards — which took place over the weekend — to art exhibits and performances.
These activities offer Richmond residents the opportunity to learn more about the stories behind Asian cultures and their history.
Richmond Art Gallery Exhibition
The Richmond Art Gallery is hosting "Unit Bruises" until June 30.
Curated by Michael Dang, the exhibit combines the artwork of two 1970s Chinese-Canadian artists: photographer Theodore Wan (1953-1987) and multimedia artist Paul Wong (b. 1954).
The artwork expresses perspectives as people of colour, interpreting and reflecting themes related to disease, death and the human condition.
On Saturday, May 25 from 2 to 3 p.m., Wong and Dang will hold an artist talk about Wong's early works and his involvement in Vancouver’s artist-run culture in the 1970s.
Wong will screen some of his early video works, in addition to the works seen in the Unit Bruises exhibition. The talk is for community members 18 and older and is free to attend, but those interested in the event are asked to RSVP to ensure a seat.
The Marble in the Basement
Marble in the Basement is a continuation of "The Weight of Inheritance" by Hazel Meyer. The exhibition presents sculptures, paintings, videos and textiles in a spatially constructed format to ponder issues of artistic heritage, inheritance, class, homosexuality and official history. It provokes reflection on what is archived, preserved or neglected.
Performances will be held on May 9 at 7 p.m., May 10 at 7 p.m., and May 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets went on sale April 1; the price range is from $5 to $20.
Richmond Cultural Centre
The Chinese Ink and Brush Society Exhibition is on display until May 31.
This exhibition showcases the pieces of the Chinese Ink Painting Society participants, who also exhibit poems, couplets, fan calligraphy and other artifacts.
Richmond Public Library
The library will hold a series of events during Asian Heritage Month.
These include Mindfulness Tai-Chi, Suzhou Alley Women's Mural Exhibit, Suzhou Alley Women's Mural Panel Discussion, a Taiwanese Reading Club, Chinese Couplets Study Club, Multicultural Calligraphy Event, a talk on the Parallel Prose Tengwang Ge Xu and Tang Poetry.
Steveston Museum and Post Office
The Suitcase Project illustrates the story of more than 2,000 Japanese Canadians who were interned and forced to move away from Stevenson Village during World War II. This is free to attend.
The post office is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
Over the past weekend, the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site opened several historical attractions, including the Chinese Bunkhouse, Murakami House and Richmond Boat Builders, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the Stevenson's fishing industry.
On Sunday, May 5, which was “Children’s Day” in Japan, the site also held an origami workshop featuring "kabuto" (samurai hats) to encourage visitors to experience Japan’s traditional customs on their national “Children's Day.”
For a full list of activities, click here.
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