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Departure Haidian

ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 26

Haidian

The opportunity offered by the Inside Out Art Museum for an artist residency in Beijing fulfilled my lifelong desire to go to China. While there, the museum made no demands on my time, in part because the residency manager left her job the week I arrived. Everyone else in the museum was busy installing and promoting major shows. I alternated studio days of painting and drawing with day trips throughout Beijing. It was a wonderful introduction to China.

ABOVE: Sunrise E-Park, Haidian, Beijing

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The Inside Out Art Museum is part of a building complex that includes a theater, cinema, restaurants, businesses, and condominiums.

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IOAM

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The studio residence is a short walk from the museum.

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Each condominium has a small garden plot near the front door.

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Roses are everywhere in Beijing in May.

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sweeping up at IOAM

Dinner

After the first night at IOAM residents provide their own meals in the condo kitchen. Groceries are readily available nearby from a supermarket, street vendors, and meals from inexpensive restaurants. English language graphics on packaged food left room for surprises.

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preserved plums

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the supermarket bakery sold the best cookies and they became a daily staple

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The lady on the right above was one of many people, usually women, who asked to take a picture with me at tourist sites. I quickly learned to give my camera to the photographers so I would have a picture, too. I didn’t realize at the time, but now I see, this lady and I had more in common than just our hats.

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There were no problems waiting at the crowded bus stop beneath a pedestrian bridge on the six-lane 4th Ring Road to connect outside the train station at 10:30 at night.

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E-Park at night

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