(코리아타운뉴스) “Donating Artistry to the Community”

Korean-American high school students
create wall art at The Source in Buena Park

Youngsters attending high school are volunteering to improve their local community.

The volunteers are 12 Korean-American students who recently worked on the wall art at The Source, a shopping center in Buena Park. They are a part of the O.C. Art Club.

The O.C. Art Club consists of 30 high school students, about 80 percent of whom have chosen to pursue the rest of their academic careers in art. It is also a subsidiary of Livingstone Community Clinic, a seven-year nonprofit serving the community’s low-income residents. Most of the students are based in Irvine, Fullerton, Brea and Cypress.

The O.C. Art Club reportedly contacted The Source’s developers, suggesting that they would like to produce a wall art on the property’s first floor, an area designated for children. Impressed by their philanthropic efforts, the Source accepted their offer.

Established three years ago, the O.C. Art Club has sent its members to work on five wall arts in the community. Their portfolios include wall arts on public parking lots in Santa Ana and Buena Park-based nonprofit organization Rainbow Family headquarters. The club will also take part in contributing to the stage background of the upcoming concert for singer Soon-kwan Hong on May 6 at the Festival Amphitheatre in Garden Grove.

“We ideated cute and fun characters for The Source’s wall art so that the children can see and enjoy,” said Justin Kang, an O.C. Art Club’s designer. “The difference between this wall art and others is that it’s displayed inside of the mall. More people are showing interest, so we’ve been more encouraged by it.”

The participating students are also volunteering to serve the community by other measures, such as working at the Garden Grove food bank for the low-income residents.

They also donate the revenue from their two annual exhibits every year, while volunteering twice a week as “art therapists” for the Westview Multicultural Program.

“To be able to divvy up time to balance school and donating my talents to the community is fun and rewarding,” said Yvette Jeong, another designer of the O.C. Art Club. “The businesses at the mall who saw us work hard have volunteered to provide funding to work on wall art for their properties.”

Students interested in joining the O.C. Art Club are encouraged to call 949-331-2355.


By Nakhee Park