preparing for asian arts and culture - may 2022

Written By Laura Beaton

My proposal for the Asian Culture and Artists Trust Conversations with Elders was accepted.  The key element of the proposal was I had to find an Elder from the Asian community that agreed to work with me and share his/her life story and I in turn, I would create a piece of art to be exhibited in a gallery in downtown Toronto in support of Asian Heritage month in May 2022.

I was connected with a wonderful gentleman, Dr. Alan K. Joe, who is an author and retired orthodontist from Sick Kids. As a teenager, Alan Joe immigrated to Canada from China in 1950, seeking life in Gold Mountain - a word Chinese people used to describe Canada because of the gold found in rivers, streams, and where the ‘roads were paved with gold’. Alan K. Joe wrote his memoirs, Of Ox and Unicorn.

I was delighted, shocked, and moved by the story of Mr. Alan K. Joe and his journey throughout China in the 1940s that ultimately led to immigration to Toronto in the 1950. I enjoyed the historical insights this memoir provides of world events and their impact on civilians. Mr. Joe's journey to become a Canadian success in all that matters in family, spirituality, basic human kindness and community service, is truly inspiring.

Right now, I am planning, sketching, and thinking about how to best represent Alan K. Joe’s life on paper. It is a process for which I am grateful.

Of Ox and Unicorn

Laura Beaton

Laura Beaton is a Canadian visual fine artist working in Chinese Brush Painting, Sumi-e, mixed media, and Western contemporary abstraction. Her practice brings together Eastern brush traditions and expressive Western abstraction through colour, movement, atmosphere, and intuitive composition. Using earth tones, vibrant accents, organic forms, and layered gestures, she creates works that feel both grounded and expansive, inviting calm, reflection, and emotional connection.

 

Her abstract compositions often suggest natural rhythms, trees, landscapes, and structures of growth without relying on literal representation. Through a thoughtful balance of stillness and energy, soft tones and bold movement, Laura creates visual harmony across the surface. Her work reflects an ongoing interest in presence, coexistence, resilience, and the relationship between nature, culture, and personal experience.

Laura has exhibited in Canada and internationally, with work shown in galleries, museums, juried exhibitions, cultural institutions, and community arts initiatives. Her paintings are held in private, corporate, and public collections, including collections connected to Canada, China, and international patrons. In addition to her studio practice, she contributes as a speaker, juror, consultant supporting artists through mentorship, professional strategy, and community engagement.

https://LauraBeaton.com
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