By Martin Solano |Staff Writer|
We may not always get to do what we desire, but when you find your passion, it’s only right to chase it.
This week, I was privileged enough to interview Art major, Lena Augusta Olsen, as she took me inside the CSUSB ceramic studio.
Olsen recalls her youth growing up in Greenland, and how she began doing art.
“As long as I remember, I have always been playing, and trying to be creative. I was usually just home in my room, so I had to do something to entertain myself,” said Olsen.
However, art was not something that she thought she could find a long term career in.
After high school, she decided to study social work, hoping she could at least help people that way.
Still in Greenland and studying social work, Olsen got the opportunity to be a theater assistant for a local production company making props and sewing costumes.
It was working in theater that made her realize her true calling.
She gave up social work, applied to University of Wyoming as a Theater major and began her journey as an artist.
Olsen continued that as she got older, she began to lose interest in subjects that weren’t art related.
For her, art is, “just the most easiest, fun thing to do.”
Since the education level in Greenland is so low, Olsen left home because she felt that if she got an education, it would be easier for her to get hired. “I wanted to get more experience and learn more.”
This is her second quarter at CSUSB and she is currently taking her fourth ceramics class as a student.
She came to CSUSB from Wyoming because she wanted the opportunity to explore more of the country.
She enjoys California’s warm weather and feels that San Bernardino is the best option for her to be in California.
As a foreign exchange student from the National Student Exchange Program, she found it hard to get accepted by a lot of other universities.
CSUSB gave her the opportunity to explore its great art program.
Currently she is focusing on ceramic projects due to her class schedule.
However, she is versatile and enjoys all forms of art.
“I enjoy working with ceramics, painting and drawing. [But] right now I mostly work with ceramics,” said Olsen.
“I can’t really see myself doing anything else” she says, “I’ve grown so much and so fast in just these two years since I’ve been here than I’ve ever been in one isolated spot,” said Olsen.
After graduating, she plans to go back home to Greenland and put everything she has learned into action. In a country that lacks “diversity and inspiration,” Lena plans to bring her art out and work for, or start up her own production company.
Greenland is a big country with a small population of 57,000, but Olsen is skilled, passionate and determined to be noticed, reach her goals and make a difference in her homeland.
Leave a Reply