Dao champions art and acceptance in Davis
PHOTO: Kim Dao, founder of Couleurs Vives
By Natalie Neal
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
Kim Dao is striving to make the Davis community inclusive and inspiring. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Couleurs Vives that works with people who have neurodiversity. The goal of Couleurs Vives is to encourage people with special needs to be creative and go out in their community.
Couleurs Vives gives its artists the opportunity to sell their artistic products and start their own business. All artists working with Couleurs Vives obtain a free booth and supplies at the Davis Craft and Vintage Fair. Dao hosts free art classes for artists who are atypical three times a week.
There are currently five local artists working with Couleurs Vives.
Couleurs Vives’ slogan is “Be Kind.”
The nonprofit started when Dao’s daughter, Alexandra Dao, who has autism, graduated from Davis High. She has been doing art since elementary school and wanted to follow an art career path. “She expresses herself beautifully through art,” Dao said. She wanted Alexandra to be able to pursue art and have colleagues.
Alexandra produces all kinds of art, from drawings and paintings to wallets, bibs and quilts. “I’m very proud of what she’s accomplished. She’s very persistent, and she has a goal,” Dao said. “I really want other kids like her or adults like her to do the same.”
Dao believes that people are inspired by Couleurs Vives because they realize that the nonprofit “[supports] inclusion and so they are very accepting of [the organization].”
Jami Mark was one citizen who felt inspired by Couleurs Vives. She became involved with the nonprofit when the Davis Craft and Vintage Fair sent a message out to all vendors about the opportunity. Mark chose to volunteer and teach art classes with Couleurs Vives because she loves to experiment with new mediums and techniques.
“I enjoyed working with [Dao] and her students so much that I invited my son to help teach classes with me,” Mark said. She also recruited Kevon Wong, president of the Origami Club at DHS, to teach a class this winter.
Mark has enjoyed seeing the students “embrace the process.”
“We grow as individuals when we share ideas, hopes, likes, and even Star Wars trivia,” Mark said.
Dao loves how Couleurs Vives has changed her life. “We are always creating something every day and every week,” Dao said. “It’s fun, it’s really fun.”
The Davis Community has been great for Dao and her family. It has been the perfect place for Couleurs Vives to launch and inspire others. “We really appreciate this kind of acceptance,” Dao said.
