Zodiac Art Show

Muse Art Club was founded in November 2016, and consists of fourteen dedicated and caring individuals made up of eleven young and talented artists as well as three natural leaders, and the club strives to encourage the pursuit of artistic values in children from a young age and the application of these values to their everyday lives. All members in the club, no matter their role in shaping Muse Art Club to what it has become today, all believe strongly in the value of an artistic education, and they all joined the club because they wanted to advocate for an underrated cause.

The artists of Muse Art Club met for the first time. It didn’t look like much. It was just a few high schoolers, a few middle schoolers, and an extremely eager 3rd grader all gathered into one room with some paint and brushes. Many of the people in that room regarded the others as strangers, not fellow artists but as the lessons progressed, everybody knew and respected each other. The lessons would all lead up to hosting an Art Show.

This event was the Zodiac Art Show, which was a fundraising event for UNICEF, a nonprofit worldwide organization that strives to protect children’s rights. The club needed to give their all for this event. The transportation, the refreshments, the decorations, all of this had to be planned out and prepared. 

On Chinese New Year (January 28-29, 2017), the long-awaited Zodiac Art Show and Gallery finally opened up the doors of their facility and attracted dozens of well-meaning visitors. Among these visitors included the presence of special guests, including Tim Sbranti, former mayor of Dublin and a deputy chief of staff for California’s Fifteenth Congressional District, and representatives from PLAY Club (Promoting Leadership in Aspiring Youth). 

Following the opening ceremonies, visitors were free to look at the art pieces created by eleven of Muse Art Club’s most talented and kindhearted young artists. Also featured in the show were Alison Fang’s (the founder and president of Muse Art Club) best works and Mr. Jian Wu’s (a nationally and internationally acclaimed and accomplished artist) paintings and sketches. Boxes of beautifully printed cards were also sold, with all proceeds going to UNICEF. 

Collaborating closely with PLAY Club, Muse’s first Zodiac Art Show rose to become a huge success, earning praise from Assemblywoman Baker, who said in her video speech, “Thank you PLAY for working together with Muse to create a program today that actually helps others, not only through artistic enrichment but by supporting UNICEF.”

Thank you PLAY for working together with Muse to create a program today that actually helps others, not only through artistic enrichment but by supporting UNICEF

As for our future, the Muse Art Club hopes to keep creating new art and encouraging others to do so as well. The club also strives to keep teaching other students interested in art such as hosting lessons for young children. Due to the success of our first gallery art show, Muse Art Club looks forward to continue pursuing their goal of encouraging artistic values in young children and applying these values to their daily lives.

Muse Art Club Members

Alison, 11th grader at Dougherty Valley High School
Stephanie, 11th grader at Dougherty Valley High School
Roger, 9th grader at San Ramon Valley High School
Will, 8th grader at Thomas S. Hart Middle School
Jessica, 8th grader at Windermere Ranch Middle School
Michelle, 7th grader at Diablo Vista Middle School
Alice, 7th grader at Diablo Vista Middle School
Joanna, 7th grader at Windemere Ranch Middle School
Ashley, 6th grader at Pleasanton Middle School
Kylie, 6th grader at Windemere Ranch Middle School
Katie, 3rd grader at Hidden Hill Elementary School
Yurika, 10th grader at Dougherty Valley High School
Steven, 11th grader at Dougherty Valley High School
Albert, 10th grader at Dougherty Valley High School
Jingbo(David), 11th grader at Dougherty Valley High School