I have a dream... for future female Korean artists

Today an idea came to me and I hope that I can realize this.

I want to start putting away between $1000-2000 when I am 30 in an account every year (whatever is best for money that won't be taken out for 30 years.) And when I turn 60 I want to develop a foundation with this money (between $30000-$60000+ interest) and every year give away $2500 to a Korean female art student/artist (fine art, no fashion, no design, no architecture) between the ages of 18 and 25 to be used for an abroad trip with the intent of artistic inspiration. At the end of the trip, within a set time after the trip the they will be asked to create something to share the experience and its influences. Photos, video, sketches, any medium of their choice and an essay/paper. They pick where they want to go, how long they want to stay, what they do there, the $2500 can cover the airfare, whatever for the trip (in most cases it won't cover the whole trip but will be a nice supplement.) For example, for me just sitting in a cafe in Paris had an even more profound affect on my art then walking through the Dalí museum. So they don't have to take an art class with the money, spend it on art museums tickets, sketchbooks or a portable easel or other supplies. They can spend all $2500 on pain au chocolat if they want (and if these don't inspire you, there is no hope!)

More and more I'm realizing what traveling has done and does for me, as an artist, as someone with the artist soul. Also I'm recognizing more and more how being Korean, and female, affects being an artist. Put it all together and it can at times make for a very uncertain, scary and depressing place. One trip I've experienced can silence all that. You don't come back and all of sudden everything is okay, your parents don't worry less, you don't make more money, but something happens. I want to give this to Korean girls. I am them, they are me.

And god knows how much Korean parents like to brag about their kids getting anything "prestigious" especially money/scholarships. It's hard to brag about a crazy artist daughter to their friends with lawyer sons and doctor daughters. But, this would be something. My mom never knew what the Yale residency really did for me. It had nothing to do with Ivy League. But that's what she knows it as. We both love the residency, for different reasons but for once, we were both happy I chose art. I want a Korean daughter and Korean mom to be happy at the same time for Art. (This, means a lot to the Korean daughter. TRUST ME.)

This doesn't seem too impossible. I just have to make couple more grand a year in my 30s. This will happen. Right? Yes.

At the end of the day, I don't want these girls to have to eat ramen every day to go to Paris for 8 days. I'll do that so they won't have to.



(artist budgeting 101: ramen, milk crate for dining table, walls for drawing board = one more day in Paris)