Founded in 2016, the Pacific Kids Mural Foundation is committed to promoting mural art and cultural projects for community.
Pacific Kids Mural Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization with 501(c)(3) status.

The primary objectives and purposes of the foundation is:

(a) to design and create mural art with children, youth and adults in a local community.

(b) to directly engage in the promotion of mural art and cultural projects for children, youth and adults in a local community.

(c) to provide cultural exchanges through the medium of artistic and non-verbal communication for children, youth and adults in a local community.

(d) to deepen understanding and build relationships between people from different culture, ages and social group through the process of making art.

Mission Statement

 

IGNITE YOUR ART SPIRITS

 

To promote educational and cultural exchange through the creation of communal art with children around the world.

 

To provide children in underprivileged communities with spaces for self-expression and artistic endeavor.

Our Story / How we found this organization

1978

Takeshi Kuwakado (father of the current director Cho) studied Early Childhood Education at University of Washington for one year. Takeshi was introduced to the professors of Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena at a ECE conference. Exchange program started between Pacific Oaks College and Kyushu Otani College, where Takeshi was a president, from which Lumbini Kindergarten learned and benefitted greatly since.

2013

To commemorate the 50th year anniversary of Lumbini Kindergarten, Cho Kuwakado requested Yasuyuki Sakura, muralist/artist, who is a graduate of Lumbini Kindergarten, to plan an art event. In December, Sakura, with kindergarteners and the parents, made a large mural on the playground wall. At the same time, Sakura started Chara-Rimpa project based in Lumbini Kindergarten. This project offers educational art experience to children and their community.

2014

Jan. Andrew Jones, a sociologist, and Sarah Clark, a graduate of Pacific Oaks College, visited Lumbini Kindergarten. They were impressed with the memorial mural work. Sarah Clark was interested in the idea of doing an art project in her town of Burney, California. In May, Chara-Rimpa project team visited Burney and made a sister mural there.

2015

In April Andrew Jones, son of Betty Jones of Pacific Oaks College faculty, passed away due to incurable cancer. Part of his assets, gift from his wife Taeko Teshima, was designated in her memory, were donated to Chara-Rimpa project to use for its development in all parts of the world. Board members and officials of “Pacific Kids Mural Foundation” (california public benefit cooperation) are planning to offer educational arts projects to create beautiful and peaceful spaces.

Pacific Kids Mural Foundation

– Directors

Anh-Hao Thi Phan / Chair (President / Chief Project Coordinator)

Hiroaki Seo / Secretary (Chief  Photographer)

Cho Kuwakado / Financial (Chief Project Manager)
Representative of Chara Rimpa Project

Sarah Clark (Vice President / Project Coordinator)

Toshie Yoshioka (Artist / Chief Mural Designer)

– Officers

Yasuyuki Sakura (Artist / Chief Director of Arts)

Young Ju Kwon (Vice President / Project Coordinator)

Keiko Kuwakado (Project Manager / Photographer)

– Advisors

Betty Jones

Noriko Yamaguchi

Kate Yonezawa

Georgina Argil

Laura Gilabert

la Houille Blanche en couleurs:
Nicole, Keiko, Anne-Françoise, Marilyne, Jeanine et Catherine

Contact

SACRAMENTO OFFICE
1501 16th Street #312, Sacramento,
CA, 95814

JAPAN OFFICE
5-4 Jokahigashi-machi, Saiki City,
Oita-Prefecture, JAPAN
Postal Code 876-0848

T: +81-972-22-8315 (For English & Japanese)
E: acrossultra@gmail.com

Contact Form

Directors and Officers

Anh-Hao Thi Phan

Anh-Hao Thi Phan

Chair・President
Chief Project Coordinator

Based in New York

Hiroaki Seo

Hiroaki Seo

Director・Secretary
Chief Photographer

Based in Tokyo

Cho Kuwakado

Cho Kuwakado

Director・Financial / Chief Project Manager
Representative of Chara Rimpa Project

Based in Oita

Toshie Yoshioka

Toshie Yoshioka

Director
Artist / Chief Mural Designer

Based in Tokyo

Sarah Clark

Sarah Clark

Director
Vice President / Project Coordinator

Based in California

Yasuyuki Sakura

Yasuyuki Sakura

Officer
Artist / Chief Director of Arts

Based in Tokyo

Keiko Kuwakado

Keiko Kuwakado

Officer
Project Manager / Photographer

Based in Oita

Young Ju Kwon

Young Ju Kwon

Officer
Vice President / Project Coordinator

Based in New York