TORONTO, April 25, 2026 – On the afternoon of April 24, “Pure Heart, Ink Language | Immersive Chinese Painting Workshop (Session 2)” was held in the Magna Room at Aurora Public Library, with Zoom participation available at the same time. The event was organized by the Canadian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Fanghua Art Group, with support from Aurora Public Library. Renowned Chinese painter Dr. Wang Shiyong served as the instructor. For community residents in Aurora and Newmarket who are interested in arts and culture, especially members of the local public who have had limited exposure to Chinese ink painting, the event offered a directly accessible public cultural experience with English interpretation provided.
According to the organizers, the first session of the workshop was held in March, and the second session continued with a hybrid format, allowing participants from different areas and with different travel needs to take part. The event was open to the community, required no registration, and welcomed beginners with no prior experience. In-person participants who wished to use painting tools and materials provided by the organizers were asked to pay a CAD $5 materials fee.
In addition to community residents, Ontario MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy for Newmarket–Aurora also attended the event.
Based on the day’s program, the workshop began with the instructor guiding participants through the appreciation of high-quality reproductions of classical Chinese paintings, introducing the composition, brushwork, ink techniques, and aesthetic characteristics of the works. It then moved into the painting session itself. Grapes and lotus flowers were the main practice subjects for this session. Dr. Wang Shiyong gave live demonstrations and painted alongside participants, explaining brush techniques, ink use, blending, and layering as he worked. Participants were able to practice directly under the teacher’s guidance rather than simply listening to a lecture.
From what could be seen at the event, participants were not limited to the Chinese community. In addition to local Chinese residents, members of other ethnic communities also took part. Because the event was designed for residents from different language backgrounds, English interpretation was provided on site to help non-Chinese participants understand the artwork introduction, painting steps, and the instructor’s explanations. This also made it easier for both in-person and online participants from different language backgrounds to follow the session.
For some residents who had little previous exposure to Chinese ink art, a public space such as the library lowered the barrier to participation. The hybrid format and English interpretation also made it easier for participants from different language backgrounds to follow the content. The attendance of Dawn Gallagher Murphy also showed that this kind of cultural activity, open to a diverse community, has entered the local public life of the area. For the active Chinese community in Aurora and Newmarket, the event also provided a local setting in which to continue participating in and presenting cultural content.
From the structure of the day’s program, the workshop focused less on displaying finished works and more on helping participants first enter the artistic context through appreciation of classical paintings, then complete basic practice on grapes and lotus flowers under live guidance. For community residents, this kind of cultural event held in a public library and open to different ethnic groups also allows traditional art to enter local community life in a more everyday way.
(LJI by Yuanyuan)
