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Jane Vance (M.A. English '83) was born a painter. Her earliest memories stretch back to the age of one, a period of her life from which she has vivid recollections.
"To paint, for me, is like an obligation. I know it's why I'm in this world. My paintings are not of bowls of fruit or a flower; they're cross-cultural stories," says Vance, whose work is meant to serve as a bridge between her native home in the Appalachian mountains and the bright, bold hues and motifs of Tibetan art in the Himalayas.
Vance, who has visited Nepal eight times, finds herself in an unusual position: a Western woman situated at a crossroads between her homeland and the Nepalese culture that inspires her.
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The project spans almost a decade's worth of work for Vance and the other members of the team, including co-producers and videographers Jenna Swann and Tom Landon. In 2001, Nepalese spiritual leader Amchi Tsampa Ngawang stayed with Vance while teaching for a semester at Virginia Tech. Vance decided to paint Ngawang's portrait as a Tibetan lineage painting, which places a significant individual in a cultural genealogy. "You have to understand the history of the great teachers in Tibetan Buddhism and the encyclopedia of symbols and motifs that serve as the clues to these paintings," explains Vance.
Of the documentary and the countless hours of teamwork that went into its creation Vance notes, "I am a painter, but that's almost nothing compared to the privilege of collaboration. I was born with the ability to draw in this infinite detail; I was compelled, propelled to draw, but also, lots of doors have opened for me; I've met the right people."
For more information about the documentary, visit www.agiftforthevillage.blogspot.com.
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From Appalachia to Tibet: The art of Jane Vance by Denise Young 
