SingtaoUSA, Xin Zhou reports from Los Angeles
On April 3, Autistic Youth Exhibition and Auction was successfully held at Muzillion Art Gallery in the City Mall of Brea. The event was sponsored by the Franklin Foundation and co-sponsored by Muzillion Art Gallery, Uga International Group, Sino Asian Art Gallery, Jinguo Committee, and US Xinli EDU. The auction was a great success with people from all walks of life participating actively in the bidding to express their love.
Before the auction, U.S. Congresswoman Judy May Chu, Director of the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, Chang’an Tang, and Mayor of San Gabriel, Chin Ho Liao expressed their care for the autistic youth through video messages and also expressed their great support and affirmation for the event. The prestigious overseas Chinese leader in Southern California, Sujiu Zhang, Honorary President of Chinese American Federation, Qiang Lu, the founder and Executive Director of Franklin Foundation, Jane He, President of Jinguo Committee, Jie Chen, President of Transnational Chinese Cultural Exchange Center, Junmin Liu, and President of the Southern California Chinese University Alumni Association, Zheng Chen attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition and donated to the auction. Mr. Chang’an Tang also sent a mysterious gift for auction on behalf of the Consulate General.
The exhibition and auction featured nearly 30 paintings by autistic youth, as well as paintings by artists and students who care for the autistic community. The auction totaled nearly $4,500, with the highest bid for “Two World, One Mind”. The painting is by nine-year-old Cadence Ni, who has a brother with autism and with whom he communicates every day. He expresses through the painting how he feels when he is with his autistic brother. Although autistic children have different ways of thinking from others, they share the same innocence, tolerance and love. This is very much in line with the main theme of this exhibition: tolerance, love, understanding, acceptance of differences, and embracing differences. The painting was so meaningful that it touched all the audience and was finally collected for up to $400.
The founder of US Xinli EDU, Weng Liping, Principal of Uga International Group, Xu Liyuan, Director of Muzillion Art Gallery, Wang Zhe, and Art Director of Muzillion Art Gallery, Qin Xiaojing, Director of Franklin Foundation, Jeanne Hai, also attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition and the auction.
Jane He pointed out that the auction recruited some high school students as volunteers so that they can experience the difficulties and situations of the disadvantaged groups in the society, thus cultivating the empathy of the youth volunteers. She also mentioned that the proceeds from the auction will be used for scholarships for autistic children. The auction will continue on Saturday, April 10, and will be held both online and on-site.