Mukrim Korean Brush Art Exhibition

An Exhibit by the Mukrim Brush Painting Club

The new year begins with an opportunity for new perspective. Over the past nine years, the Mukrim Brush Painting Club has gone through periods of growth and change. The skill and technique of the artists have evolved and matured. Relationships and bonds have been made, and members have come and gone.

Each experience, and each piece of artwork, is like a page in an album of memories. People often say that only the early bird can see the blooming of the Rose of Sharon, and it is with this same spirit that the Mukrim group presents its fourth membership exhibition, “Pages of Memories.”

To examine a painting, one might see some slight imperfection, or lack of technique – however, each piece was inspired by a specific moment or detail of life. Take a step back, and each painting is a unique memory for the artist and a reflection of a vibrant life. In this exhibition, the artists venture into new subject material such as self portraits and landscapes.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is “The Rose of Sharon,” the national flower of South Korea. Each of the thirty-two artists applied their brush to this piece, and it is a work of friendship and a common bond.

We welcome you to join us in viewing these pages of memories and help us make new ones.

The Mukrim Brush Painting Club was founded in July 2008. It initially began with 11 members, and started with the simple idea of building friendship among artists. The group quickly expanded to include members of many different backgrounds and varying skill levels. The bond between the members is a love of art and learning about Asian brush painting. At present, the group consists of 32 members with ages ranging between 40 and 80 years. The origin of “Mukrim” literally means “ink forest,” and refers to the type of ink that is used in traditional Asian brush painting. In traditional brush painting, there is the concept of “one-touch,” in that each brush stroke is a defined movement or expression that is not repeated. Each brush stroke carries with it meaning and significance, at the same time there is a respect for the empty space next to it. From these traditional concepts, the group has expanded its scope to embrace modern techniques and styles as well. The focus is not just on one particular style of painting, rather the scope is broad and encompasses both traditional and contemporary brush painting.

The class is held once a week on Wednesdays in Fullerton, California. Members are active participants in open competitions and exhibits. Between 2014 and 2017, they have participated in over ten different competitions. In January 2017, Mukrim will be hosting its third membership exhibition at the Carnegie Gallery at Muzeo in Anaheim, California entitled “Pages of Memories.” The members of Mukrim are a very close knit family, and spend time and effort to introduce Asian brush painting to the community. Members participate in art festivals, workshops at senior citizen centers, and offer church classes.
As a group, the Mukrim Brush Painting Club is characterized by a sincere enthusiasm for art. The hope is to continue to show to the community what art means and why it is needed – to help tell a story, share a bond, and communicate with each other.

Members

Ahn, Gloria
Chung, Sue Kyung
Moon, Kwi Ok
Chang, Angie
Kim, Annie
Oh, Young Soon
Cho, hyun Suk
Kim, Boon Yon
Paik, Eunice
Cho, Joanne
Kim, Keum Hee
Park, Jenifer
Choi, Jenny
Kim, Michelle
Park, Yang Ja
Choi, Sylvia
Kim, Sophia
Ryu, Sarah
Choi, Sook Hee
Kim, Susan
Yoo, Ae Chun
Choi, Young Ae
Lee, Duk Kyung
Yoon, Janet
Chong, Cecilia
Lee, Eun Hwa
Youn, Gina
Chong, Seung Yeon
Lim, Jenny
Yun, Tina
Chung, Annes
Lim, Jin Sook

Carnegie Gallery

In 1906, The Anaheim City Chamber of Commerce recognized the city’s need for a formal public library building. Up to this time, the city only had a book subscription service including a small selection of books housed in the back of a local general store.By 1907, the Chamber of Commerce had acquired a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie’s office. The land necessary to construct the Carnegie Library building was purchased for a fraction of its regular cost at $2,400. The money to purchase the corner lot was raised by 75 local residents who deeply believed in the benefits of a public library for the flourishing city.

The Carnegie Library was designed by Los Angeles architect John C. Austin, with the final designs approved in early 1908. These final designs presented a building in a Classic Revival Style, which was commonly chosen for Carnegie-funded buildings. The red clay tile roof however was chosen as a nod to local history and classic Spanish design.

The Anaheim Library would not have evolved as it did without the dedication of passionate Anaheim citizens. During its time as a Public Library, the Carnegie Library building was lifted up by its librarians, whose careers lasted a remarkably long time. Head librarian Elizabeth Calnon and children’s librarian Elva Haskett served the library and Anaheim community for much of their lives, supporting the Public library throughout its significant growth.

As the city of Anaheim developed and the population increased, the small Carnegie Library was no longer capable of housing the ever-growing collection of books and the demand for library services. In response to this, the city opened a new Central Library nearby in 1963. After the transfer of libraries had been completed, the Carnegie Library was left vacant for three years before housing the city’s Personnel Department.

The Carnegie Library became a historical library, research center, and museum in 1978 and was officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The historic building has undergone renovations as the years passed and ADA laws were enacted. 1985 saw the addition of an elevator, support structures, new plumbing, and new electrical systems.

Mark Hall-Patton was a crucial force in the development of the Anaheim Museum, laying the groundwork for the Carnegie Library to become a thriving museum space for the community. He was the museum’s first employee in 1984 and became the Anaheim Museum’s first director. As the first director, Hall-Patton finalized the museum’s agreements with the city and raised funds to help the museum flourish.

Another driving force in the Anaheim Museum’s history is Mildred “Midge” Taggart. She worked tirelessly to acquire and preserve antiques and symbols of Anaheim’s history until they could be safely housed in a museum.

The Anaheim Museum, which had been residing in the historic Carnegie Library for decades, was replaced by Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in 2007. The city saw this building as the perfect site for Muzeo due to the building’s rich history of community involvement and education, both core elements of Muzeo’s mission.

The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center complex exhibits in both the historic Carnegie Library as well as a new main gallery building, built in 2007. While the majority of the galleries now primarily display artworks rather than artifacts, the Carnegie Library still exhibits a collection of artifacts rooted in Anaheim’s History, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era.

Today, Muzeo stands as an integral part of the Anaheim community, seeking to bring together our local communities and ensure the accessibility of the arts and education.

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