The small historic village of Palekh, in Ivanovo Oblast, is the home to seven museums and one in every five residents is an artist. The village's history began in the 15th century, when, fleeing from the attacks of foreign invaders, icon painters from the cities of Vladimir and Suzdal settled in the depths of the Palekh forests. In the 17th century masters of icon painting from Palekh were already well-known far beyond the town's borders. The artists most often painted small icons, which Russian orthodox individuals would keep from birth to death. In the 20th century, during Soviet times when icon art practically ceased to exist, Palekh artists created a new type of painting – miniature laquer painting. Host Rumiya Niyazova talks about the history of the village and the world-famous craft in RTG's new program.