On the last full day in Xi’an, we visited the Farmer’s Painter in the afternoon. The painter who hosted us lives in a small village, and he is a farmer. He raises wheat and corn. He and his wife served us a wonderful noon meal of farm-raised meats and vegetables, including noodles, my new favorite food. He showed us a small collection of old farm tools and implements; in some ways, I was reminded of the collections at Pioneer Village or the State Historical Society. On opposite sides of the world, farmers and craftsmen developed very similar tools.
The farmer also gathered together residents of the village to perform traditional Chinese music and dance, including the Dragon Dance. After demonstrating, they turned the dragon over to seven of us; I think Bess has a photo of that performance moment! I was especially taken by the drummer. He set the beat loudly, firmly, and with absolute consistency; it made everyone a more accomplished performer.
The farmer is a painter, painting in the style known as Farmers’ Painting. He wanted to study art at the university, but as things sometimes happen, it didn’t work out. So he took an art class in the village, and now he paints and teaches others to paint. The paintings are of bright, rich primary colors, and they depict traditional and rural Chinese life, and they are distinctive and compelling. They were the paintings that hung in the halls and rooms of our hotel in Xi’an. Three of them will hang in my new office, when I get them matted and framed; please stop by to take a look.
It was a wonderful change of pace to drive through the countryside and to spend some time with this artist and his family. From two schools of more than 1000 students in the middle of a city of 8 million people in the morning to a small village in the afternoon, we experienced yet another example of China’s diverse culture. As a bonus for all of us, the farmer’s six-month-old grandson made a brief appearance, and several members of the group were able to hold him. Just like in the office, when a baby appears, everything stops, and we all ooh and aah!
The Dragon Dance looks like fun. What a cultural experience! I imagined hearing the drums as you danced. It reminded me of when I heard the steady drums of a Native American Pow Wow that I attended. I will always remember those powerful drums and the experience…the pounding in my chest and how it moves down to your feet.