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60-Minute Documentary (2006)
Follow two American painters as they trace an ancient trade route to China’s most famous Buddhist artwork grottoes. Armed with only their sketchbooks and their creativity, they are... Sketching the Silk Road.
At the end of their two-week journey, the artists must come up with their own original paintings inspired by the grottoes. How will they capture one of the world’s most remarkable collections of ancient artwork? What will their final paintings look like when they are hanging in a gallery back home?
About The Silk Road
Step back in time 1,000 years to the heyday of China’s prosperous Silk Road. The first trade route to bring precious silk to the outside world, it threads its way through vast deserts and over mountains to India, Persia, and Europe. By the same route, treasures from faraway lands make their way into China, like exotic peppers, ivory, perfumes, and the ways of Buddhism.
About the Caves of One Thousand Buddhas, or Mogao Grottoes
By the 4th century C.E., Dunhuang, China becomes a major trading post on the Silk Road and a hub of fervent Buddhism. It is here that a monk has a vision of a thousand Buddhas. He voyages to Echoing Sand Mountain and carves a grotto of his vision as an offering to Buddha. For the next thousand years, scores of pilgrims follow the monk’s lead, carving a honeycomb of grottoes and filling them with resplendent murals and sculptures. Their artwork captures Buddhist images and stories of the many ethnic groups, religions, and cultures that thrive along the Silk Road. These are the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.
Press Coverage "Capturing China on camera...and on canvas," Off Camera, September 2005 (page 8.) "Sketching the Silk Road premieres," Off Camera, July 2006 (page 8.) "Nor Cal Producer Going National," Off Camera, October 2006 (page 7.) "Sketching the Silk Road wins an Emmy award," D3 Press Release, May 2007.
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See how this journey in all its phases has inspired Rachel Sager and Todd R. Thompson. |
Art Opening & Reception / November 2005 |
 Rachel and Todd answer questions after the 10-minute sneak-peek video of Sketching the Silk Road |
 Nan Hai's gallery is ready for its first visitors to the Sketching the Silk Road Exhibit |
 Long-time Inside China and Land of the Dragon fans --Ralph, Carmen and Herman-- enjoy Chinese snacks during the reception |
 The crowd gets up-close, as the film crew documents their reactions |
 Rachel and Todd share their travel experiences with Shixun Yan and Jubao Pu, of the Chinese Consulate |
 Todd meets guests at the art opening |
 Rachel describes her on-location paintings to these observers |
 Rachel does her last shooting for the final footage of Sketching the Silk Road |
 Rachel's sister next to her 31 x 22" oil on canvas, called "Diptych, Cave 011 and Card" (painting one of a two piece set) |
 Todd's 36 x 48" oil on canvas, called "Afternoon Stroll" |
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Post-China Paintings / August-November 2005 |
 Todd paints a Chinese landscape against the backdrop of the Malibu, California coastline |
 One of Todd's many sketches inspired by Dunhuang's Singing Sand Dunes |
 Buddhist images like these fill the Mogao Grottoes, as well as the pages of Todd's sketchbook |
 Todd's sharp edges and deep shadows capture China's northwestern region |
 Rachel plays with Dunhuang-like images on canvas... and on camera |
 One month later, Rachel's exploration results in this completed painting |
 Rachel's figures incorporate details from the ancient Buddhist artwork in Dunhuang's caves |
 Another image that will soon be displayed in our upcoming Sketching the Silk Road art exhibit |
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On-the-Road in Dunhuang / July 2005 |
 On the three hour flight from Beijing to Dunhuang |
 Touch down! Rachel and Todd arrive at Dunhuang airport |
 Camel riders travel along the dunes |
 Rachel gets ready for her first camel trek |
 Rachel chooses to go solo on this paragliding adventure |
 Todd's view of the oasis is spectacular from up there |
 Todd sketches this ancient stockade used by soldiers to store supplies |
 Look up close and see the straw layers on one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall |
 Browsing through this local art supply shop is like being in a candy store |
 Here is the father of the vineyard owner receiving the gift of a portrait from Rachel |
 Rachel and Todd have a go at teaching English in this elementary school |
 Rachel and Todd are buried somewhere in this group of eager students |
 Todd's first go at Chinese calligraphy |
 A calligraphy master presents Rachel and Todd with their names in Chinese |
 Everyone gets to enjoy a special banquet in honor of these two artists |
 Hanging out of the bus as they return from the famous Buddha grottoes |
 Visiting the famous local paper cutting artist, He Ke Feng |
 He Ke Feng shares her techniques as she cuts a red flower for window art |
 Rachel sketches this well-known Dunhuang cave |
 Inside Dunhuang's Cave #96, this 116 foot Buddha towers above Rachel and Todd |
 A sample of the Dunhuang murals, filmed by a foreign crew for the first time |
 A brilliant ceiling in one of the grottoes |
 Todd and Rachel take a lesson from these famous Dancing Mural performers |
 Todd is ready to join the troupe |
 Rachel is happy to see this statue only days after she found her lucky Monkey King charm buried in the desert |
 Todd relaxes as he prepares for a foot massage |
 Rachel sketches this ancient pagoda near Crescent Moon Spring |
 Todd chooses to focus on the landscape to capture the beauty of the rolling dunes |
 Rachel mimics a replica of a Buddha statue in this Dunhuang art studio |
 The D3 film crew gathers together one last time before journeying back to the U.S. |
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Before the Journey to China / April-May 2005 |
 Rachel in her studio at Potrero Hill |
 Todd works on one of his fiery landscapes |
 Rachel braves the wind at the Golden Gate |
 Rachel and Todd meet for the first time |
 Alex films in front of Coit Tower |
 Todd sketches the Transamerica Building |
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Viewers To request Sketching the Silk Road, contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station.
TV Programmers Visit APT Program Catalog for the online Press Kit.
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There are no current airing dates.
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Title: Sketching the Silk Road Length: 90 minutes Format: DVD
Production Year: 2005
Price for home use: $25.00 plus shipping and handling.
(The DVD price is for home-use. If you are ordering for a library, college, business, government agency or other institution, the price is $75.00 per DVD plus shipping and handling fees.)
Availability: In stock.
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Oakland, CA 94621