Traditional Chinese art will blend well with the beauty of the Foothills.
A reception was held at the Okotoks Public Library on Sept. 5 to welcome the 2024 Sheep River artist in residence Wanru Kemp.
The Sheep River Artist in Residence program, developed to encourage established or emerging artists, is hosted by the Okotoks Arts Council and produced in partnership with the Okotoks Public Library and the Town of Okotoks.
Kemp's residency will focus on developing a series of art pieces that reflects the unique landscapes of the Foothills, capturing the expressive nature of the area and fostering an appreciation for the natural world.
"I will be working on a series of watercolour paintings... which seek to merge the ancient Chinese philosophy of highest good with the natural beauty of our region," said Kemp.
"The work I create during this residency is not seeking an answer, but rather an exploration, including learning about the spirits of the Indigenous peoples to find the respect for nature, the history of this land and its people, and the connection with my own cultural heritage."
After moving to Canada in 2016, Kemp found herself captivated by Canada's contrasting beauty, including the scenery of the Pacific Ocean shadowed by the towering Rockies, in turn juxtaposed with the Prairies.
"This will be my first time working outside of my home studio," continued Kemp, who was part of the 2023 RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program. "I'm excited about the change and I look forward to experience working in public space and interacting with people."
Hailing from northeast China, Kemp holds a degree in photography but began her academic art training at the age of nine under her father’s guidance.
"The technical and philosophical aspects of Chinese ink art still remain central to my art work," said Kemp, who will additionally be leading Okotoks Public Library workshops about Chinese ink painting and brush calligraphy on rice paper.
"It's a rewarding experience to explore traditional techniques while blending them with our own creative expression."
Along with the Okotoks Art Gallery — where Kemp's Moon Gate exhibit was on display in 2021 — the landscape artist has exhibited in galleries in Calgary, Vancouver and the United States, and her works are showcased in private collections in numerous other countries, including the United Kingdom, Russia, Finland and Germany.
The Okotoks Arts Council, the Town of Okotoks and the Okotoks Public Library announced in May that Kemp had been named the 2024 Sheep River artist in residence.
“Wanru's proposal piqued the interest of the selection committee,” said Neil Bantleman, vice president of the Okotoks Arts Council. “Her work beautifully intertwines cultural heritage with ecological awareness, creating a narrative that not only honours the past but also aims to inspire a sustainable future.”
Speakers at the reception included Kemp, Mayor Tanya Thorn and last year's inaugural Sheep River artist in residence Tanya Zakarow.
"During the residency, I witnessed this deep appreciation that Okotoks has for one another," said Zakarow. "Okotoks is a place where art can thrive and it does thrive."
Community members are welcome to stop by the Okotoks Art Gallery during Kemp's residency to experience and discuss her work.
Learn more about Kemp's art on her website, and more about the Sheep River Artist in Residence program here.
