Music in a Forest of Stone

Near the city of Kunming we found ourselves in the Stone Forest surrounded by monumental stone formations in a cultivated park setting.  Deep in between the tall towers we found local musicians and dancers performing traditional music on ancient style instruments.  

I chose to paint this musician with his stringed drum instrument when he took his break.  The music was enchanting as it echoed off the stone walls.  

Here are some images of my painting in progress.

Beginning sketch

Color block in

 "Kunming Interlude"

By Vicky Gooch

16" X 12"  Oil on Linen

The Long View

On the shores of Erhai Lake we got caught in the rain.  Even on the water some of the traditional architecture is on display in the form of a pier. 

Legend has it that Dali near Erhai Lake was once a swamp inhabited by dragons. The dragons were believed to deliberately create natural disasters to dispel human intruders.  The Three Pagodas were built to deter the dragons around 823-840 AD.  We had a look at the ancient Three Pagodas before continuing up the foothills to the main Chongsheng Temple.

The view of Erhai Lake below from the main temple is well worth the hike even on a cloudy day.

People of all faiths come to the temple for prayer or meditation.  One lady was patiently escorting an older man slowly up the many steps and steep pathways to the main temple.  I imagine this may have been her father and he may have escorted her through many a challenge in their younger days.

"Generations of Faith"

 By Vicky Gooch

18" x 24" Oil on Linen

From Dali to Kunming to see the Stone Forest and on to Guiyang

View Dali, Yunnan in a larger map

Beauty Seen and Unseen - Vicky Gooch

We were swallowed up by the clouds on our way to the top of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.  We imagined great vistas beyond but could not see them with our eyes.  The air was like a cool damp blanket insisting on our silence.  We could hear the moisture dripping from the trees below with the occasional resonant clinking of the lead Yak’s bell.

Atop the mountain sits the monastery and the keepers of the Yaks.  The clouds parted just long enough to give us a little glimpse into these lives of graceful solitude before making our way back down from the mountain to visit a very special school.

We were welcomed to the school for Baisha Handmade Embroidery of the Naxi People with signs in English and Chinese explaining the history of silk embroidery and the school's mission to preserve the art.  The individual silk threads are so thin as to be nearly invisible.  Yet put together with careful trained hands, they create beautiful shimmering images on fabric.   

This is my painting of a young embroidery school student.  

“Silk Stitches”

By Vicky Gooch

16" x 12"  Oil on Linen

Best Wishes From Lijiang - Vicky Gooch

Lijiang Old Town is in a mountainous region of Yunnan Province. It has cobbled streets along waterways with small footbridges leading into traditional shops in the ancient buildings of the Naxi people. We hung a wish in a forest of wishes to celebrate our anniversary.

From around 618-1279 the Tibetan Bon Religion, Buddhism and Taoism, were introduced into this region affecting the native beliefs of the Naxi people and leading to the Dongba Religion. The Naxi Dongba script was reputedly invented by King Moubao Azong in the 13th century. It is used exclusively by the shamans or priests who are known as Dongbas as an aid to the recitation of ritual texts. Use of the Naxi language and script was discouraged after the Communist victory in 1949, and they were actively suppressed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s when thousands of manuscripts were destroyed. Today there are not many Dongba priests left to read and write the Dongba script. Efforts are being made to revive the script.

This is my painting of the Dongba painting his good wishes for the people.

His hands were sure and steady; his face was a picture of grace.

“Dongba Wishes for You”

By Vicky Gooch

24"x 18"  Oil on Linen

“For family, peaceful life, good health, longevity and happiness;

our best wishes for you.”

In the Shadow of a Dragon - Mary Frankel

Journal Entry: Tuesday, 9/11, Lijiang

A beautiful city bumped up against the mythical Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and home to the Naxi nationality.  The town is lively and bustling with young people. Patagonia style shops line the square selling beautiful hand-woven items.  At night, musicians play in the second-story bars, their music drifting down into the street creating a peaceful, romantic mood.  I am suddenly reminded of Frank Capra’s movie ‘Lost Horizon’, where a group of civilians crash land in the Himalayas and are rescued by the people of the Eden-like valley of Shangri-la. I am drawn to this beautiful place and the people of Lijiang.  

"Naxi (Respectable People)"

Oil on Linen

14" x 11"

by Mary Frankel

We travel north to the Old Town of Lijiang.  We also rode gondolas up to the Jade Dragon (Yulong) Snow Mountain and visited the Dali People and the Three Pagoda Temple overlooking Erhai Lake.

A Splash of Happiness in Xishuangbanna - Mary Frankel

Journal entry Monday 9/10:  Menglun, Xishuangbanna-







“In Menglun we visited a 600 hectare tropical flowers and plants garden.  Lotus flowers, which were in abundance are a symbol of purity and love between a man and a woman.”

"We had a real treat in Menglun, where the Dai minority people were having a festival.  The New Year on the Dai Calendar is celebrated each year with a water-sprinkling festival. Splashing water on everyone is a symbol of blessing and happiness, the more water one is splashed with, the happier one will be.  The festival embodies the prayer for a timely rain and a good harvest. This all takes place in the town center fountain."

"Dai Minority, Water Splashing Festival"

By Mary Frankel

We travel from Guilin and the Li River to Xishuangbanna.