Imaginology judge also helps local seniors make art

COSTA MESA – Trinh Mai is not just a judge for Imaginology – which takes place at OC Fair & Event Center this Friday, Saturday and Sunday – she’s also an arts advocate, educator and community leader. 

Through Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) program, which helps bring art to low-income communities, Mai works with Heninger Village Senior Apartments in Santa Ana to help facilitate workshops that focus on sharing residents’ stories through visual arts.
The goal of the workshops is to help residents to not just create art, but to help heal them as well.

“My aim has been to help them get involved outside of their environment, since the elders are often isolated,” Mai said.

Since starting in February 2016, Mai has been able to get her students’ work displayed at the Bowers Museum, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Grand Central Art Center and, most recently, Coastline Gallery in Newport Beach.

Through Community Engagement, a non-profit that is funding Mai’s residency, GCAC also provides artists-in-residents with housing, studio space and support.

Mai was also a featured artist in The Artist Odyssey’s award winning documentary Honoring Life: The Work of Trinh Mai. The film went on to be the Audience Choice Award winner for Best Short Film at the 2016 Viet Film Festival in Orange.

With the help of Mai’s influence, some of the “Villagers” have started taking life drawing lessons at Q Salon in Santa Ana. Even some of their family members have taken inspiration from Mai.

Parker Cupa, 8, is the son of one of the villagers, and he will have a painting on display at Imaginology.

“It’s amazing how they’ve been growing and are now so excited about getting involved in the art scene,” Mai said.

Imaginology is an educational and entertainment event in its 38th year at OC Fair & Event Center, focusing on activities related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). The event is free and runs from April 21 through 23. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.

Visit ocfair.com/steam for more information.