The Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art, in conjunction with the The Linden Centre, as featured in the upcoming October edition of Atlantic Monthly, is providing an Artist in Residence (“AIR”) program and Atelier to begin in January 2010 at the Linden Centre in Xizhou, China. The “AIR” program will accommodate up to four professional artists/instructors residing world-wide, for 2-6 months. The Atelier will welcome up to 6 artists to train with one of the professional artists/instructors for 2-6 months.

The incredible rice fields of Yunnan Province

There is documentation showing that the Buddhist scriptures quite often referred to rice as an offering to the gods. Initial evidence from archeologists showed that rice was a valued food dating back as early as 2500 BC during the late Neolithic period in the Yangtze basin.

The Chinese people eventually developed a process of growing rice on farms using puddling soil and then transplanting the seedlings. Today, this system is still widely used in China. The puddling works to break down the internal structure of the soil so it does not lose much water during the percolation process. The seedlings are then transported once they reach one to six weeks. The transplanting of the rice seedling helps the farmer work the rice field better, thus producing a higher yield. Rice is the staple food for around two-thirds of the Chinese people. China ranks first in annual total rice production and second, after India, in annual total planting area. The country produces 35% of the world’s rice with 20% of the planting area.

Xizhou lies in Southwest China’s Yunnan Provence, where the Tibetan plateau gives way to dramatic mountain landscapes. It’s the cradle of culture for 2 million Bai people, a colorful and traditional ethnic people in Southwest China.

The activities for absorbing and documenting the landscape, architecture, people and cultural events in the immediate area are as close as our lodging or within a few minutes horse cart ride or 20 minute tuk tuk adventure. Overnight trips can be arranged at the discretion of the professional artists/instructors and his/her students (rice fields are 9 hours south and Lijiang is 3 hours north by bus).

The area provides unlimited plein air painting opportunities, and the facility provides a large open court that can be used for painting models that are readily available from the Village. In addition, meeting, display and storage rooms are provided.

Dali, Ancient Imperial City (Click image to view full size)	There is a city wall, city gate and moat at four directions of Dali Ancient Town. This is the typical pattern of ancient town and imperial city in Central China in the past. Dali Ancient Town was built up in the 1400's. The town was rebuilt three times during the Qing Dynasty, with its wall 1,500 meters long at four sides, 8m high and 12m thick. The internal layer of such wall is the rammed earth, with one layer of stone block and big brick laid externally. The town has four gates and four gate towers-the east gate is named Erhai; the west gate is Cangshan; the south gate is Shuanghe and the north gate, Santa. The streets inside the town are in a crisscross fashion as the typical grid pattern. A great number of residential houses and ancient buildings from Qing Dynasty are preserved inside the ancient town, including Temple of Sun Tzu, General’s Office of Du Wenxiu, Xiyun Academy, Town’s God Temple and Mosques, Catholic and Christian churches.
Central Xizhou, Before Market Opening (Click image to view full size)	Our courtyard home in the unspoiled town of Xizhou is an unparalleled base from which to explore the ecological, ethnic, and ancestral resources of Yunnan that most tourists never have the time or opportunity to discover. In addition to enjoying the idyllic calm of village life, guests have the chance to delve much deeper into the rich traditions of the region. We make this possible through our Immersion itineraries, which are extended trips with set schedules that center around particular aspects of the culture. The Centre is a place where partnership with the local peoples, a deep sense of their history, and expertise in their indigenous artisanship all come together. The results are genuinely meaningful interactions that become singular life experiences for our guests. Culturally based programs are about deep learning and active engagement. Guests explore subjects and ideas from new vantage points, and this exploration is enhanced by the communal environment of the Centre and the larger village of Xizhou. The duration of programs is such that guests can settle into a rhythm of village living, develop relationships both with fellow travelers and local peoples, and genuinely grow from deep experiences.
Lijiang Maze-like Ancient Streets and Lanes (Click image to view full size)	Main streets such as Guangyi Street, Xinhua Street, Dongdajie Street, Wuyi Street, Oiyi Street are radiated from Sifang Street. All extending streets are divided into many narrow streets and lanes leading to all directions and corners of the ancient town. Such streets and lanes have the following features: firstly, winding close to water, while being crisscrossed and zigzagging like mazes. Creating the agreeable housing environment and style of “ancient streets, footbridge, running water and houses”, so that the layout is formed that main streets are beside rivers and lanes are close to water, while houses are built up across rivers; secondly, all streets and lanes are paved with five-flower stone. Over years such five-flowered stones have been stamped by man and horses over thousands of years, filled with countless signs and marks, looking deep or shallow, even and uneven and showing colorful patterns. The five-flowered stone-paved road surface is not slippery in rains, while being free of dust during dry seasons, looking dazzling and splendid.