This is a painting created for the show China Minorities-American Perceptions.  We often think of China as being on the opposite side of the globe from us.  The language, both spoken and written is about as different as you can get.  It seems a challenge to move past our preconceived ideas of people with such different ways.   And yet, when we stand close and look into the eyes of a child we see that we all have dreams; dreams for a happy life with peace, prosperity and special people to love.

Lush.  That’s the way to describe the Tropical Botanical Garden in Xishuangbanna.  The Mekong River flows through this area of lush mountainous rain forest.  The first botanists to decide that this would be the perfect place to do their research had the idea that they could cultivate the jungle for food and other plant based products.  These two stayed close to their parents fruit stand.