Huntington Beach teens use amateur art as an agent of change

To Laura Nguyen, art isn’t just something pretty to look at. She believes it can be an agent of societal change.

Laura and her friend and fellow Huntington Beach High School senior Lauren Skinner run an online nonprofit organization that seeks to use art as fuel for local charitable efforts.

Their enterprise, Charitee, sells shirts adorned with amateur art. The funds raised are donated to Huntington Beach charity Robyne’s Nest, which provides resources and support to local high school students who are homeless or otherwise at risk.

Laura and Lauren, both 17, started Charitee last year after realizing how many unknown, talented artists are on the Internet, Laura said. They decided they could do something to support those artists and raise money for the betterment of the community at the same time.

“We started this because we believe art can create change, and not enough people recognize this,” Laura said. “By giving back to the community, we ensure that art plays a bigger role in it.”

The teens search for promising artists online and get permission from each one chosen to use one or two images on a shirt. They currently offer 15 designs from nine artists on their website, artcharitee.com.

Since the operation is online, the two can use artists from around the world, including France and Spain, Laura said. They receive orders from all over the United States, she said.

Laura credits an Advanced Placement art history class that she and Lauren took and their membership in the school’s Model United Nations program as prime influences for Charitee.

“MUN focuses more on international relations, but it’s given us the critical thinking skills to apply these solutions to the local level,” Laura said.

Neither student has a background in visual art, but both are musicians.

Laura is part of the high school’s Academy of Performing Arts, playing piano for the orchestra and taking dance. Lauren plays guitar and regularly posts her music online.

For the girls, art can be a catalyst for positive cultural change.

Laura believes good art can cause people to question their preconceived notions, which ultimately can lead to progress in society.

“People look at certain forms of art and they are offended by it or it makes them uncomfortable,” she said. “If something makes you uncomfortable, then you should think, ‘Why?’”

Laura said they plan to continue with Charitee after they move on to college next year.

Influenced by the experience, Lauren hopes to go into business, specifically to aid small businesses in less-developed countries.

Laura is interested in defending civil rights and is considering working as a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union or a similar legal team.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilot