Explore landscapes through brush and ink at Gallery@501

Strathcona County is pleased to present Ink Horizons: East to West, a new exhibition by New Brunswick artist Dan Xu. The exhibit opens at Gallery@501 on November 6, 2025, and shows until December 20, 2025. 

Ink Horizons: East to West features a unique interpretation of two iconic Canadian regions, the Canadian Rockies and the Bay of Fundy. 

Painting outdoors, “en plein-air”, Dan Xu captures an atmospheric feeling and perspective in her work. Visitors will feel they are floating through the skies over mountains and water in each landscape. Xu creates ink wash paintings of these landscapes on Xuan paper, silk scrolls and fold-out books. Using classic Chinese ink and wash techniques, she takes inspiration from art of the Song Dynasty to add a sense of flight, movement and freedom. 

“I am centered around the exploration and use of the Chinese Observe method, a visual recording technique for landscape painting that originated in the Song Dynasty,” says Dan Xu. “My goal is to make this old way of painting accessible to people all over the world as a way to connect with the natural world.” 

Visitors will learn about Xu’s painting techniques, materials and the art historical practices that influenced her work. Visitors can engage in a hands-on art station where they’ll use traditional Chinese brushes to paint ephemeral landscapes—fleeting artworks that gracefully fade into the background, echoing the beauty of impermanence.  

The public is invited to attend a special artist talk and reception with Dan Xu on Saturday, November 15 at 1 p.m. at Gallery@501 (#120, 501 Festival Avenue). This event and admission to the gallery are free.   

For more information, visit strathcona.ca/ArtGallery. 

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Contact:
Strathcona County Communications
780-410-6595