History of Orange County Chinese Artists Association (OCCAA)
Early October 1990, some twenty art enthusiasts met for lunch at which they held a mini art exhibit and unanimously agreed with Ve-na Chen (鍾維娜) and Chung Fan (范仲) to organize an Orange County Chinese Artists Association and named Ve-na Chen as Convener.
A statement of purpose and a draft set of bylaws for the Orange County Chinese Artists Association (OCCAA) were adopted on February 14, 1991. Eight members were elected to the Board of Directors: Ve-na Chen was elected as President, Louise Kuo Chen-Tsai (郭菉漪) and Francis Wei (魏連深) as Vice Presidents. OCCAA began meeting in June and started organizing art exhibits and other events to which it invited famed artists to speak on selected topics and to hold demonstrations. Over the years OCCAA has been graced by: Hu Nien Tzu (胡念祖), Li Chi Mao (李奇茂), Au Ho Nien (歐豪年), Tang Da Kang (唐大康) Hsu Shih Shang (徐石上), Yang Zhi Guang (楊之光), Zheng Baizhong (鄭百重), Lao Ji Xiong (勞繼雄), Wang Zhi Yi(王之一), Oliver Lin(林友梧), Sophie Chou (孫樹佛), George Lin (林卓祺), Xu Jian Bai (徐堅白), etc. Such events were well attended by members, their relatives and friends.
OCCAA is an avid participant in community activities. It introduces Chinese art at the annual Irvine Global Village Festival. No laggard in philanthropy, it actively stimulates giving through contribution of members’ works of art and wielding a brush pen at charitable events. It has organized outings to enjoy blooming lotus and plein air painting at Echo Park, to visit museums and even to China mainland for an ancient culture tour.
In the twenty years since 1990, Ve-na Chen served three times as President, for a total of seven years. Chung Fan was President from 1995 to 1997; Steve S. Wang (王友遂) was President from 1999 to 2001. Terry S. Lee (陳淑妍) was President from 2003 to 2010 and was succeeded by current President I-Tuan Wang (趙儀端). In November 2006, OCCAA received formal recognition as a nonprofit organization. Each successive president has been unstinting in cultivating OCCAA, and membership has increased through the years. Everyone embraces the purpose of the organization: To meet friends through art, to communicate ideas, to exchange art techniques, to enhance personal relations, to promote understanding, to advance well-being and to beautify life. All who love art and share these aims are invited to join the Orange County Chinese Artists Association.
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橙縣華人藝術家協會
一九九O年十月初，有一群熱愛藝術的朋友在南加州聖塔安娜市雅集。除了聯誼之外，並舉行小型畫展。集會中由鍾維娜女士，范仲先生等倡議組織橙縣華人藝術家協會，當時得到在座廿餘人全力支持，並一致推選鍾女士為召集人，負責籌備事誼。
一九九一年二月十四日，召開籌備會議通過會章及草案，選出理事八人，鍾維娜任首屆會長，郭菉漪、魏連深為副會長。當年六月開始定期集會，舉行作品展覽，時有茶、餐敘，並邀請名家蒞會作專題演講並作示範。歷年應邀藝術家有胡念祖、李奇茂、歐豪年、唐大康、徐石上、楊之光、鄭百重、勞繼雄、王之一、林友梧、孫樹佛、徐堅白等等。每有活動，會友們呼朋引伴踴躍參與，在聆聽演講，觀摩示範中，大家受益良多。
范仲前會長於一九九三年創刊“華藝”，內容包括本會對內、對外活動，會友書畫、金石、陶藝、攝影及詩詞文章。題材豐富，為會友開闢創作園地。
本會熱衷參與社區活動，每年一度的爾灣地球村多族裔節目中介紹中國藝術家作品。慈善不落人後。會友們提供作品，也有人當眾揮毫，引人慷慨解囊。為了聯誼並啟發創作靈感，我們到迥聲公園賞荷郊遊寫生，美術館觀畫，甚至遠征大陸作古文化之旅。
自一九九O至今廿年間，鍾維娜三度擔任會長，歷時七年，九五至九七范仲會長，九九至零一王友遂，零三至2010年陳淑妍任會長。 2010年由趙儀端接任。 二OO六年十一月，本會正式立案為非營利組織。每任會長都努力耕耘，無限付出。會友人數與年俱增，大家以藝會友，溝通理念，交流技巧，敦親睦鄰，促進瞭解，怡情養性，美化生活。會員們繼往開來，竭誠歡迎有志一同愛好藝術的朋友前來參與。