Replace Eunnuri’s Art Materials from LTAC Fire
Hello my name is Emily Eunnuri Lee Dobbs a Korean-American multi medium artist.
A bit about who I am. I was born in Seoul, South Korea. I immigrated to the US after the unexpected death of my birth parents in the Korean Air Flight 801. I am a recent graduate of the California Institute of the Arts. Shortly after graduating remotely, I began creating at my first post grad studio, Little Tokyo Arts Complex. In the early hours of June 8th 2021 an explosion occurred, caused by a smoke shop on the first floor of the my building. My studio was housed in a 100-year old historic building where 20 other artists studios also burned to the ground.
The explosion was so powerful the building isn’t structurally sound enough to even enter.
This devastating event has destroyed 15 years of my personal completed works, a lifetime of collected materials and irreplaceable mementos from my deceased birth parents. This is a tragic loss for the Los Angeles arts community and for all the artists who have also years of memories, time and art.
The purpose of this GoFundMe is to ask the global arts community for aid in replacing my supplies and alleviate overwhelming financial stress. Projects in progress where large amount of resources and time were lost, as well as pre sold highly valued works were destroyed. Subsequently loosing expected revenue and resources to make more work has been devastating.
This studio space was my first real studio, home, safe space, and my place of creation and solitude. Especially cherished, as I had recently finished my degree remotely during the COVID 19 pandemic. In the pandemic my studio was the only place I found temporary relief and happiness. We have yet to receive any support or insurance payouts from our landlord. This isn’t in my nature but given the immeasurable loss and need to rebuild, I ask that in anyway you can contribute via sharing or donating will be forever appreciated and cherished. I have been deeply humbled by this heartbreaking loss and honored to have friends urging me to ask my creative community for help.