Friday, October 10, 1997
Campus Crafts
ART:
By Kristi Nakamura
Daily Bruin Contributor
They can be seen on campus from time to time, especially during
the first few weeks of the quarter. Often, they disappear just as
randomly as they appeared, only to turn up again later sitting
under some shady tree.
No, they are not the cats that live around Rolfe or the
recruiters from the various groups on campus. They are "poster
gypsies," as one vendor playfully refers to himself. They are the
businesspeople and artisans who come to UCLA to sell their work and
try to make a living.
There are many different vendors on campus. Most often they
station themselves on Bruin Walk or in front of the North Campus
and Lu Valle eating facilities, selling everything from jewelry to
artwork to handmade Peruvian vases and flutes.
"If they had you do art as much as they have you do English and
math in high school, people wouldn’t be impressed by these, people
would be drawing these," says Andy Zirkin, who sells posters made
by other local artists on Bruin Walk.
Some of the vendors set up canopies and tables to display their
goods, while other vendors choose a more bohemian approach and lay
their merchandise out on the ground.
The decision of how to display their wares may be determined
less by aesthetics and more by whether or not the vendor has
permission to be on campus. Not all of the vendors are selling
legally.
While some obtain permission and are sponsored by the bookstore,
others sneak onto campus and sell at various locations until they
are asked to leave by the administration or the police.
"I’m taking a risk by doing an interview, but to me it’s like,
whatever, I’ll come back. I’ll just go to that side of campus.
They’re not going to find me everywhere," Zirkin says.
Zirkin is one of the vendors who sells posters on campus without
a permit. Dubbing himself a "poster gypsy," he slips on and off
campus with his posters in order to make a living for himself. He
usually sets a rough price range, but ultimately, he says, the
price of the posters depends on the customer’s bargaining
skills.
For many of the vendors, selling at college campuses comprises a
large part of their income. For others, it is simply an
after-school job or a favor for a relative.
Amparo Lechuga, a high school student, sells Peruvian
tapestries, hand-painted vases, carved wooden flutes and other art
in front of the North Campus eating areas. She works after school
and on weekends selling at different places.
"I got started here helping him in fairs and shows," Lechuga
says of the vendor she works for. "He’s an artisan and he’s
Peruvian and made the vases and stuff like that and he works for
shows, for cultural shows, fairs. He’s my godfather."
Many of the vendors supplement their income, as Lechuga
describes, by selling at fairs and shows. Others travel to other
parts of the state with their products or solicit small,
independent jobs.
"This is our company and we use various wholesalers," says
Maralynn Sharpe, who is on campus about three times a year to sell
posters with her business partner, Richard Hughes. "You know, we
make a living and it’s fun … and in my spare time, I make
chandeliers."
However much the vendors might make in other venues, the
consensus seems to be that college campuses are the best places to
sell. On campus, the vendors find a balance between making the best
money and having an enjoyable time.
"At fairs we’re busy all the time, trying to make so many hours,
and here it’s really relaxing and I like it," Lechuga says.
Among the college campuses, UCLA appears to be a popular choice
for the vendors, especially within the Los Angeles area.
"I’ve only gone down (to USC) a few days. I don’t like USC. They
suck. It’s boring," Zirkin says. "I tried (the California State
University at Northridge). It was just boring … they’re not
having fun there. People are having fun here … It’s actually a
cool school. I like it here a lot."
The feeling seems to be mutual. Not only do the students
financially support the vendors, some know them by name and stop to
talk with them to and from classes.
"They add a lot of culture to our campus," says second-year
undergraduate John Lam. "Really, there’s no way to avoid them!"
INGA DOROSZ
Mindy Palomo, a third-year linguistics student, tries on glasses
on North Campus. Vendors periodically sell crafts at and around
UCLA.
JANA BONDERMAN
Tonia Dinh, a sociology student, tries to decide which poster
she likes better in front of the Lu Valle Commons.
INGA DOROSZ
Daiana Cipollone looks at wallets and glasses at a North Campus
stand.