International Artist Day Celebration, October 2025
Color4Lives' International Artist Day, October 2025
On October 25, 2025, at Court E in the American Dream Mall, our community gathered to celebrate creativity, neurodiversity, and the extraordinary talents of autistic children.
Our theme, Blue Ocean, honors autistic youth — blue for imagination and calm strength, the ocean for openness, inclusion, and unconditional love. It was a meaningful way to mark International Artist Day, creating a sensory-supportive environment where every child could truly shine.
More than 30 autistic families and 150 volunteer families and students filled the day with art, piano performances, fashion runway moments, and boundless kindness — touching the hearts of over 2,000 visitors.
Sean Xu, student team leader from The Hun School of Princeton, shared: “Without our volunteers’ dedication and the long-time support of Sunflower Music Center, we wouldn’t have achieved such meaningful success.”
Volunteer leader Tanner Chen added with pride: “We finished setting up at 12:30 a.m. — but every minute was worth it.”
Our opening parade lit up Court E with Egyptian-inspired costumes honoring heritage, playful Halloween masks, and a mesmerizing Bian Lian performance — celebrating culture, sensory expression, and the beautiful unity among our autism families.
Zayden received the Gold Award for his mixed-media piece “Blue Ocean,” inspired by Spider-Man, dinosaurs, and his favorite color — blue — capturing the bold, boundless imagination of autistic children.
Lilly, a brave sixth-grade autistic girl originally from Egypt, received the Grand Prize for her deep-ocean artwork — a graceful swimmer holding glowing treasure, surrounded by swirling blues and quiet strength. Her piece is a gentle yet powerful journey into wonder — beautifully unique, just like her.
Her mother Suzy, a former lawyer from Egypt, and Leah, a devoted autism mom, welcomed families with warmth and grace, creating a space where everyone felt truly seen and supported.
Our photography exhibition “Thresholds and Passages,” curated by Shenyao Xu, showcased 18 images from Vietnam and Tibet, opening windows to diverse cultures and our shared humanity. One mother shared with emotion: “I’ve never seen anything like Tibet before… thank you for letting me see a different world.”
⭐ Nearly 50 students from 10+ schools filled our Star4Love Wish Wall with golden stars and heartfelt messages like “Be Kind, Always.” Special thanks to Tanner Chen (Susan E. Wagner High School) for building the wall with his own hands, and Jenna Chen (LaGuardia High School of Music & Art) for warmly welcoming and assisting families throughout the day.
Families celebrated together — including Shanel with her three children, Joi with her son, and Natalie with her husband and two children — spreading joy, support, and love that filled every corner of the event.
Outside at the American Dream Food Show, Sean Xu performed Bian Lian for more than 700 guests from NY, NJ, and PA — sharing the beauty of cultural art and sensory-friendly movement with the wider community.
To close this unforgettable day, our children visited SEA LIFE Aquarium, taking home wonder, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging.
Autism mom Shanel shared words that will stay with us forever: “For the first time, I feel truly seen by an organization. You are building a bridge across cultural stigma — and that is the key to today’s success.”
Thank you to every family, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who made this day possible. Together, we are not just raising awareness — we are building a world where every child is seen, accepted, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
