North Shore Volunteer Spotlight: Chelsea Yang

Chelsea Yang joined our studio in the spring of 2015, and we have been nothing but impressed with her so far. She is a graduate film student from Shanghai who has been documenting VanGoGo’s progress as they record their first full-length album and go on tour. We are thrilled that she chose the Arts of Life as her first volunteer job!

[Image: Chelsea Yang working with VanGoGo]

How did you hear about Arts of Life?
Right after I decided to start a volunteer job, I found the Arts of Life online. The North Shore studio was looking for volunteers, and the work content is really something I like to do. So I decided to apply.

Did you know any of the artists before you started volunteering?
No, I didn’t.

What do you like about The Arts of Life?
I like the people most. This is my first volunteer job, so I was kind of nervous and worried when I started. But the artists here are so kind and friendly. They helped me get to know the environment and fit into the studio quickly.

What kind of work do you do when volunteering?
My role is to assist the artists with their creation. Suggestions are provided if needed. But most cases, I learn more from them. They teach me English and how to communicate better. More importantly, they inspire me to do my own artistic creations.

What do you like most about being a part of the studio?
I like the feeling of being part of a community where I am needed and can contribute. I feel happy when an artist completes a painting or a project with my help. I feel happy to see that I helped prepare lunch and people are enjoying their meals. I feel happy to see VanGoGo improving their performance every time during practice. I feel happy when artists tell me, “You are a good person, I like you,” or “I wish you could come more often.”

Are you an artist? What kind of art do you make?
I do painting sometimes and I’m also a movie maker. I do editing, color correction, visual effects, and sound design for movies. I consider post-production a kind of artistic creation, as well as music and fine arts.

Who’s your favorite famous artist?
Among the movie directors, Guy Ritchie and David Fincher are my favorites.

What do you do when not at The Arts of Life?
I’m a student majoring in Cinema Production, so most of my time is spent on schoolwork and making movies.

[Image: Chelsea Yang’s film project]