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Drag makeup, magic and art: Burnaby library hosts summer programs for teens

Youth aged 13 to 19 can learn landscape painting, manga drawing — and drag superstar Kendall Gender will teach the art of drag makeup through workshops hosted by Burnaby Public Library.
Kendall Gender library
Kendall Gender, Canadian drag superstar, will teach the art of drag makeup in an online workshop for Burnaby teens, presented by the Burnaby Public Library.

A new teen space isn’t the only thing the Burnaby Public Library is serving up for local youth — its hosting a wide variety of summer programs, some online and some in-person, for youth aged 13-19.

The Inside Out series, a partnership between the library and Burnaby Art Gallery, will host online workshops highlighting diverse voices, talents and creative approaches in the arts community.

Teens can learn the art of drag makeup from Canada’s Drag Race finalist, model and activist Kendall Gender (the library can also provide makeup supplies if contacted in advance), or participate in discussions about art and language revitalization through 2SLGBTQIA+ identities with Yahlnaaw, a Skidegate Haida, queer, transgender woman and Lucas Corbin, an Anishinaabe two-spirit from Couchiching First Nation and Treaty 3 artist.

In-person art workshops by artist Janice Liu of Young Artists’ Place are part of the launch of the new teen space. For the manga fan: learn to draw manga faces, hair or chibi characters on the Procreate app.

Liu will also teach drawing animals and acrylic landscape painting.

The series Summer Magic! will introduce teens to the world of tarot and magic.

Tarot reader Sharon Pink will run the programs on Zoom, hosting workshops including “Tarot for Every Magic” and an introduction to Wicca.

Teens can also join the teen advisory group, which will have its next meeting on Wednesday, August 3 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. You can register at any BPL location, by calling 604-436-5400 or visiting the library’s website