The family flower shop in Escondido served as a kind of third space for Lucy Eagleson and her cousins to feed and explore their creative sides. She calls it a “highly creative environment” where her mom and three aunts ran the show, filled with ongoing conversations she overheard about what was up next.
“My cousins and I always joke that the back of the flower shop was a one-of-a-kind place for us to be wildly creative, do our homework, and connect with the family, all while learning the foundations of building and running a business,” she said. “I feel like I grew up around three types of conversations in that space: projects we were working on, projects we would be working on in the near future, and projects we dreamed of working on. By being around constant conversation around big ideas for the present and the future, I feel like I had the chance to grow up in a highly aspirational environment, where no idea was too big to become a reality.”
That included going to college, getting a master’s in fine arts from the University of Southern California’s film and television program, spending three years working and living at an orphanage in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and her current role as the new executive director of ARTS (A Reason To Survive). The National City nonprofit was conceived in 2001 as the founder, Matt D’Arrigo, turned to painting and music as his mother and sister were battling cancer. The arts gave him “a reason to survive” after his mother ed away, and he wanted to offer that same refuge to youth navigating their own life challenges. Today, ARTS sits in a 20,000-square-foot center in the South Bay and provides creative arts programs for kids and young adults from elementary school to 24 years old.
Eagleson, 39, lives in La Jolla with her 2-year-old son, Lazar, and previously served as the organization’s director of advancement before her current position as executive director. She took some time to talk about her work at ARTS, empowering young people in San Diego and in Eastern Europe to share their stories, and their “Recollections: Youth Arts Festival” from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at 200 E. 12th St. in National City.
Q: Why did you want to work with ARTS?
A: The work at ARTS really aligns with my ion to co-create shared opportunities at the intersection of youth, creativity, and economic mobility with a vision for relevant, sustainable, and future-focused impact within our region. Right away, I saw that the team here was interested in the same values that align for me: social justice, creativity, equity, and radical inclusion, and that they were here, in the community, doing the work to re-think, re-mix, and re-imagine what the future can look like for young people in South Bay and beyond. I knew I absolutely had to be part of that.
Q: Can you talk about your time living and working at an orphanage in Bosnia-Herzegovina?
A: I lived and volunteered in an orphanage there from 2007 to 2010. I didn’t get the chance to study abroad in college, so when I graduated from undergrad, I knew I wanted to gain some type of international experience and really immerse myself in a place very different than the one I come from. I figured, what better place than one aligned to my own cultural identity? It was a trajectory-bending experience. I went to work and create art in the on-site art gallery at the orphanage and, less than a month into my time there (and without much time to prepare), a 3-month-old baby arrived and needed around-the-clock care. They assigned me to take care of her. She had special medical and behavioral needs, which really challenged me to be the best caretaker I could and to give so much of myself to her wellbeing, all while navigating a new country and learning the Croatian language. While I was there, I felt like I was completely immersed in a new place with a unique way of life in the village, and I was surrounded by such interesting stories that I had never seen before, which inspired me to really dive into filmmaking and to bring stories which are often untold to the screen.
What I love about La Jolla…
I love walking to the beach, it doesn’t matter if it’s during sunrise, sunset, or anything in between. I find a lot of solitude and peace in being by the water.
Q: In what ways has that work in eastern Europe influenced the work you’ve been doing at ARTS?
A: My time there really taught me how youth and community on the other side of the world can be so different, but also that people are people. We share so many things in common, in of our humanity, hopes, and dreams. Having worked with young people, both in San Diego and in Eastern Europe, has really instilled in me what has become a mantra in my work: “If you have seen one learning environment, you have seen one learning environment.” That means that I believe that each place and space where the work happens is different, with its own history, complexities, needs, ideas, and dreams. I work with our team at ARTS to really understand that, through exposure to different art forms, methodologies, cultures, and practices, we have a wide range of tools and understandings for working with young people through creative art engagement. As artists, mentors, and educators, we can then best respond and adjust how we teach and engage to the nuances of different classrooms and learning environments.
Q: You’ve said that creativity is at the center of your work, with a focus on helping young people tell their own stories “because when young people know who they are, and where they come from, and can tell that story—they can write the next chapter of where they want to go with their future.” I’d like to ask you about the story of who you are and where you come from that you were able to articulate when you were younger, and how that helped you figure out your path to where you are today?
A: (Laughing) that is a big story to tell. I was born and raised in Escondido by working class parents who did not have the opportunity to pursue college and other education opportunities. I know firsthand the challenges for young people coming from similar shared experiences to pursue college and career opportunities in our region. While I was growing up, I always felt like the path I was on was not totally consistent with the people and conversations around me. I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to pursue higher education, new places, and big dreams. When I looked around, I didn’t see myself and my ambitions in the people and places around me. For me, that is where creativity is really important. Through creative exploration and expression, I was better able to understand myself and what was important to me. As my creativity progressed from drawing to painting to writing to, eventually, the camera, I found my voice. It was through the lens that I felt most equipped to really understand and authentically express my story. As I have grown creatively and in my career, I feel like the camera has always been my com. The beauty of looking through the lens is that it embodies so much perspective; I feel like I can look at the world from so many angles and gain so much perspective. That has helped me navigate my path to today, and will continue to as I move into the future.
Q: Tell us about “Recollections: Youth Arts Festival” on Dec. 7.
A: We invite you to reflect on the experiences and creativity of young people as youth 8 to 18 years old have collaborated with talented teaching artists to explore the memories that have significantly impacted their lives. Their work encomes a diverse range of artistic media, including paintings inspired by photographs and ghost houses, mobile sculptures, and abstract images that represent soundscapes. They have also created weekly “fit checks” (outfits) from our sewing course, and stained-glass paintings. These multidisciplinary pieces highlight the importance of sharing our stories and creating community. “The Recollections: Youth Arts Festival” is truly a celebration of all of the amazing artwork and growth of our youth. It is a community celebration where families and community come together to uplift our youth and celebrate their voice and vision.
The event will showcase artwork and offer interactive creative workshops throughout our arts center. Guests will hear from teaching artists, as well as the young artists themselves, during a tour of the space. There will be music and refreshments, along with fun, family-friendly art activities on our patio. Each guest will have the opportunity to create a handmade holiday decoration to take home, celebrating creativity and the spirit of the season.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: One of the nuns in the orphanage where I volunteered always said, “We make every choice based on one of two things: either love, or fear. Choose wisely.” When I am faced with a challenging situation or decision that needs to be made, I always look inside myself and try to figure out what is love, and what is fear. And I go onward on the path from there.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: People might be shocked that I love musical theater. And that I don’t eat chocolate.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: My ideal San Diego weekend includes spending quality time with my son, an art or cultural event, and a family or friends gathering of some sort.
