My friend Khang
In 2002, I met Khang. He was 15. Khang is deaf and has received little formal education from school. I was told he had great talent as an artist. I was handed some of his work - watercolor on construction paper. It was unimpressive to this untrained eye.
The next year, I was given more of his work. It seemed slightly better.
The following year, Khang began working in an art shop where a hearing man took him on and patiently taught him how to improve his techniques. His paintings now were real paintings - oil on canvas and were clearly the work of an artist.
Since that time, his work has become impressive. I will soon be posting some of his work. I buy these paintings there, so he is paid, then re-sell them here for a profit. The profits are returned to him. Because of the exchange rate between the Viet Nam dong, their currency, and the dollar, a small profit here is a lot of money there. I pay to have the paintings stretched here and ready for framing. This usually costs between $35.00 and $50.00. The present selection of paintings are for sale for $75.00 - $175.00, so the profit is not huge, but makes a real difference in his income. We will soon post the pictures here.
Khang lives in Cu Chi, Viet Nam, near Sai Gon. He barely scratches out a living. He lives with his family in a good home right now, but if he lived on his own, would be living in poverty. He is now 22 years old.
His long-term goal is to have his own studio and a website where he can display his work for sale. This is a real possibility because of the enormous difference in the exchange rate between the US dollar and Vietnamese currency (Viet Nam dong).
On May 9, 2009, $330.00 was sent to Khang from recent profits from the sales of his paintings. That is the equivalent of what he earns there in 10 months.
If you wish to see our gallery of his work at our Pawtucket ASLA Student Center, contact me for an appointment.
Manny