On Friday, Library Walk buzzed with student art vendors and a flow of lively customers for the Multi-Identity Art Collective’s annual spring Art Bazaar. Featuring over 40 art vendors, the Art Bazaar provides a platform for student MIAC members and outside vendors to showcase and sell their work.
Founded in 2018, MIAC hosts weekly meetings that range from creative workshops to casual art sessions, offering a low-pressure space for artists of all identities and skill levels to connect and share their work. MIAC officers spend all year preparing for the club’s magnum opus: the Art Bazaar.
“Art Bazaar begins in Fall,” J Lim-Hernandez, head event coordinator, said to The UCSD Guardian. “All officers are involved in Art Bazaar. Everyone. All hands on deck. This is a family operation.”
MIAC carefully selects participating artists from applications open to the student body and local vendors. Throughout Winter Quarter, MIAC officers curate a vendor lineup that reflects a range of artistic styles, merchandise, and involvement in the UC San Diego art community.
Simone Wilhelmy, MIAC president, explained that the event is designed to be approachable, especially for artists who are new to selling their work.
“It is like a perfect way to start,” Wilhelmy said. “Most of the artists we have on Art Bazaar this time are first-time artists. We set it up in a way that the more experienced vendors are partnered with less experienced vendors so that they can help each other out and be able to learn from each other.”
The Guardian spoke to multiple vendors at the event to get a sense of their experience. Recent UCSD alumnus and vendor Micah Andres explained the importance of self-expression through art.
“I think, for me, art is a way to express myself, and especially, like if I want to produce a certain feeling, I think art is the best way for me to translate that in the form of visuals,” Andres said. Her work consisted of digital illustrations on prints, postcards, and stickers.
Among the sea of vibrant colors and illustrations, second-year Tim Li’s black-and-white realism art stood out.
“I primarily do charcoal, graphite, realism paintings, and I’ve been drawing for more than nine years,” Li said. “I started with watercolor and traditional Chinese paintings, and then I started to focus more on classical realism paintings with charcoal and graphite. I think art … transcends life because it adds understanding into still life, and the artistic nature of objects can be amplified. I think it’s a very great way to show people’s feelings and to enjoy life.”
A couple blocks down, fourth-year student and jewelry artist Jennie Haber offered live commissions.
“I started off wanting really cool accessories that I saw on other people, but not having the money to afford it, so I decided to make it for myself, and I was like ‘Oh, why don’t I try selling it and making more affordable whimsical options for other people as well?’” Haber said. She adorned her booth with colorful handmade earrings, phone charms, keychains, hair clips, and other accessories.
For Haber, the highlight of the bazaar was experiencing the support for her work.
“It is a really nice community of artists and queer people, and it’s like a nice warm community,” she said.
At the far end of the booths by Center Hall, fourth-year Jamie Lim offered a medium-diverse range of art.
“When I was younger, I always wanted to be an artist, and I love creating,” Lim said. “I love using my imagination, and I just really like to express myself. I always had this interest in selling art and sharing my art with the world.” Among digital prints, Lim also sold her paintings, charms, and crocheted bags.
Artists and visitors alike connected through conversations and shared appreciation for the work on display.
“I’m feeling very welcomed, and everyone is so friendly and talented,” Lim said. “I feel really inspired to be surrounded by so many creatives.”
UPDATE 5/5: The spelling of Simone Wilhelmy’s name was corrected in the fifth parapgraph.
