who. the artist
major. sociology, portuguese, and art
hometown. santa barbara, ca
dream job. designer for an ethical company
The sun shone on “the dome,” a unique home existing as a token in Isla Vista. Sitting in a distinct circular shape, with windows at angles only talked about in math equations, it's a location that has been home to many, including the current eclectic group of seven.
It’s another Saturday in Isla Vista, an added opportunity for many to connect, as has been cultivated through some of the members of the dome as they hosted their monthly pop up sale. Clothes line rusty racks and ceramics sit atop tables as customers floated in and out of the dome’s flourishing yard, Irises lining the pathway leading from booth to booth.
Bela, standing 5’2’’ and draped in a hot pink blouse that she cut from a vintage dress, bounced around the scene, her sun hat dancing with the wind as she interacted with potential customers that looked at her art, unaware that they are tokens of the individual’s spirit who created them.
People continuously drew interest in her work, purchasing prints that proclaimed “Save The Bees,” and ceramic mugs the color of the sky. “Saturdays are for creativity,” she later told me, as she put away the scarce amount of ceramics left over from the sale. Her mason jar, which sat emptily at the beginning of the morning, now overflowing its glass rim, a reassuring site for any aspiring artist.
Isla Vista, the “never-land” of college locations, serves as a tool for many to become expressive in their passions. As a location, it hosts a set of individuals with multifaceted interests, many of which Bela is fully utilizing.
"Living in IV really helps with selling my work in terms of knowing people and having a huge body of people who are interested in art and active engaged in, you know, that young art culture."
"It took a bit of a leap for me to venture into art as something that I could make, you know considering yourself someone who can make art or considering yourself an artist I think is the first big leap of faith."
"Being at UCSB with all the amazing labs and equipment and expertise to be able to get your hands on, you realize you are able to do these things, it just requires a little but of glue, a little bit of paint, and a lot of hours, late night hours in the lab."
In concluding the conversation, Bela began to express the changes in which pursuing art has brought to her, the most prevalent being a sense of reassurance in her ability to sustain herself off of her work. Contemplating her words, she brought forth her changes, stating "I think the biggest change in terms in the way I see making art is the fact that I was able to actually make money off of it and actually support myself.” Confidently she expressed her ability to pay her last months rent from the sale, an endeavor that is often fulfilled by her various other jobs, including a being a Court Mandated Reporter.
For Bela, a Saturday in Isla Vista served as not just another day away from classes, or an opportunity to alleviate a weeks worth of stresses. Instead, her utilization of Isla Vista as a space of exploration and pursuit, has enabled her to follow goals of being an artist.