Help Haiti through art

If you want to help earthquake victims in Haiti, consider donating your artistic talent.

A group of amateur artists has organized a project "Art Helps Haiti," in which anybody who likes art can donate their creations or proceeds from their work.

Professional artists can donate their existing work, while both professional artists and ordinary citizens can visit Seoul Art Space in Seogyo-dong, central Seoul, through March 5 to make your own. The center will provide the space as well as basic art materials.

All proceeds from sales will be donated to UNICEF for relief activities in Haiti.

"It started out from the question `what can art do to help Haitians.` Through the project we can connect creation with donation, and lend hope to our global neighbors who are in a desperate situation," said Jeong Eun-hye, a representative of Changong Village, the project organizer.

Changong Village is a community of amateur artists who aim to help the world with their creations. They support fellow amateur artists and come up with creative ways to invigorate small donations through art.

Following the completion of the project, the donated works will be shown at an exhibition and auctioned online.

Pop singer Koo Jun-yup is one of the participants in the project. He is a former member of boy group Clon and is now also known as DJ Koo.

"He majored in art and is known to be quite an art lover who collects art and exhibits them in the bar he runs. He agreed with the project`s purpose and decided to join in to help art get closer to the public," said Jeong.

"Art Helps Haiti" runs through March 5 at Seoul Art Space and will open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those wishing to join in the project. It is closed on Mondays.

The exhibition of donated works will take place at the same venue from March 6 to 7. Visitors can buy a "support ticket" for 10,000 won and win an artwork through a raffle.

The online auction will run from March 6 to 12 at www.artpoli.com

For more information, visit Seoul Art Space at www.seoulartspace.or.kr and cafe.naver.com/chang0village

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young