South Dakota
Jenna Erickson
Mako Sica: Photography In The Heart Of The ...

I recently road-tripped from Wisconsin to South Dakota to participate in Douglas Beasley’s annual Dramatic Portrait: Figure in the Badlands Workshop, which has been on my wishlist for the past few years.

This photography workshop experience is well known for the fantastic group of people who attend, along with the dramatic portraits that are created in this remote, and sacred land with its sculpted soil, sweeping vistas and extraordinary light.

Mako Sica: Photography In The Heart Of The Badlands
Wisconsin
Jenna Erickson
Slow Living

Recent events in the world surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others have brought into focus where we can do better, and be better. If you read my recent newsletter, you’ll know I am actively working on an action plan to better shape my mission at Open Air Places in a more diverse and inclusive way and I look forward to publishing that soon.

I admit, it’s been a challenge to stay active on this platform with all of the uncertainty in the world, and my own worries that I’ll do or say the wrong thing promoting travel or retreats (my two main gigs) when obviously those two things are responsibly on hold right now. I feel deeply that words matter, messaging matters and I always want to be an authentic voice sharing positivity and inspiration in everything that I do here.

Slow Living
Hawaii
Jenna Erickson
Always Islands

This month I had a fun trip on my calendar - a week of Island Time in Hawaii where I intended to explore a handful of unique places to stay. This planning is in preparation for a 2021 retreat that I am producing with my friend and photographer, Douglas Beasley. The COVID-19 pandemic has paused my travel plans this month, but I remain excited to bring this trip to fruition when traveling is safe again.

Always Islands
Wisconsin
Jenna Erickson
Silver Linings in the Time of the Coronavirus

Inspired this week by Kitty O’Meara’s “In The Time Of Pandemic” poem posted on her lovely blog The Daily Round: Living From The Spirit Level I wanted to share some of the ways I am staying inspired at home during this time of social distancing.

I’d love to hear what you are doing (….or not doing) in the comments below. Please feel free to share your silver linings! We’re all in this together.

XOXO

JENNA

Silver Linings in the Time of the Coronavirus
Wisconsin
Jenna Erickson
It’s Official: The RicePod in Bayfield, WI Is ...

If you’re anything like me, your ideal weekend escape is probably filled with beautiful cabins secluded in nature, proximity to Lake Superior and plenty of time for rest and reflection.  Enter the space that rolls all of these goals into one:  The RicePod™ - the first of the Salmela Architect cabins at Wild Rice Retreat, in Bayfield, WI.

It’s Official: The RicePod in Bayfield, WI Is My New Favorite Place To Stay

First Glimpse on the Roof of the World

First Glimpse on the Roof of the World

A three hour drive from Shaxi along curving mountain pass roads brings you to the Tibetan plateau and it’s first major trading site - Zhongdian. The city was renamed Shangri-La, after the Utopian Tibetan location described in Jack Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon.

Along the road north, we stopped at two rest stops. The first was a stunning overlook where you can see the bend in the Yangtze River after its long southeast journey from Tibet. It felt good to stop here and enjoy this magnificent view with the yellow canola fields in bloom along the river.

48 Hours in Shaxi: On The Road to Shangri-La

48 Hours in Shaxi: On The Road to Shangri-La

When I started this blog I intended to begin with one of my favorite photos from my travels through Yunnan - it’s a snapshot of me riding a fluffy white yak, with blue sky and the Himalayas behind me standing as a stunning backdrop.

However, doing that would require me to fast-forward my journey along the Ancient Tea and Horse Road past a delicious 48 hours I spent in a sleepy little town called Shaxi.

Shaxi is a historic market town in Yunnan, known for its famous Sideng market square which was added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2001. I was lucky to arrive on market day, and got to experience the sights and sounds of this unique place where the local people come from all over the mountainsides to trade and buy their local goods.

However it wasn’t the market day that made this place so memorable for me - it was special because of instead of going along on the day-trip excursions that were planned for the day, I decided to follow my intuition and stay in Shaxi so I could wander, collect color notes, rest, try some restaurants, make photographs and really…..just soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful gem of a town along the road to Tibet.

The Flavors of Yunnan: Cooking Class at the LINDEN COMMONS

The Flavors of Yunnan: Cooking Class at the LINDEN COMMONS

A ten minute walk from the LINDEN CENTRE through the streets of Xizhou, brings you to the LINDEN COMMONS: Yan’s house. This iconic mansion was built in 1928, and opened for guests in 2018 after being lovingly restored by the LINDEN CENTRE’s owners, Brian and Jeanee Linden.

The hotel and grounds are nearly double the size of the LINDEN CENTRE, and are perfect for large groups and retreats. With 14 rooms decorated with traditional Bai-style antiques, the hotel also features dining areas, a gorgeous cafe/bar, conference facilities, a library, gym & yoga room, massage area, boutique gallery and last but not least, a cooking school complete with flower and vegetable gardens.

Journey Up to Weishan + Tea on Weibao Mountain

Journey Up to Weishan + Tea on Weibao Mountain

My travels along the Ancient Tea & Horse Road led me to Weishan, which is a two hour drive south of Xizhou, where the LINDEN CENTRE is located.

Weishan was an important and prosperous trading place during the 8th and 9th centuries and the old-town village is very picturesque, with friendly and laid-back shop merchants lining the streets. I was lucky to be here on the last day of the famous Weishan Snack Festival, which draws people from all over Yunnan once a year to gather together and eat all sorts of unique snacks.

Indigo Dreams at Zhoucheng Village

Indigo Dreams at Zhoucheng Village

On my artist walks though Xizhou, I couldn’t help but admire the stacks of gorgeous blue and white textiles that dotted many of the sellers stalls. It reminded me of my days planning fiber art workshops with Shibori artist Yoshiko Wada. The blues range from a soft cloud blue, to deep indigo and are similar to the pool of layered blue hues that I am working with right now in my painting studio.

SOUTH OF THE CLOUDS: First Stop, The Linden Centre

SOUTH OF THE CLOUDS: First Stop, The Linden Centre

JENNA here, writing this travel diary from beautiful Yunnan, China. 

This place has long been a bucket list location for me, stemming from my college days pouring over books that described Asia’s art history objects, calligraphy scrolls and landscape paintings which captured my interest and resonated with me in a powerful way.   If you aren’t familiar with the area, Yunnan is also known as South of the Clouds and is home to some of the most diverse cultures, ecology and landscape in China. 

Top 10 Reasons Why Photo Retreats Enrich My Life

Top 10 Reasons Why Photo Retreats Enrich My Life

Over the past eight years, I've worked hard at perfecting the art of retreat planning along with developing my own creative practice as an artist.

I've been fortunate to build highly successful retreat programs for artists at two destinations in the Midwest (one on Madeline Island, the other in beautiful, Bayfield, WI) where internationally recognized instructors lead retreats.  Not only have I helped thousands of students experience the chance to "dig in" and develop their creative vision with a retreat or workshop, now I have the honor of sharing how travel with OPEN AIR PLACES can nourish the creative spirit.

Read on for my list of the top 10 reasons why I think retreats are a must for artists!

Gorgeous Grays and Islands in the Stream

Gorgeous Grays and Islands in the Stream

It’s - 10 degrees today where I am, and my views outside are a palette of white and various shades of gray.

I know a few artists who do grays exceptionally well. My favorite is Joseph Zbukvic, known worldwide as a Master Artist, and who is famous for his use of grays in his watercolor paintings. He’s even collaborated with Daniel Smith to create three luscious grays which are lovely for studio and plein air painting.