A Real Life Happy Ending for Bishop Diego’s Art Program

Santa Barbara School Community Bands Together to Create a Joyful and Inspiring New Space

The renovated art patio at Bishop Diego comes with student-made ceramic totems and other art pieces, as well as a koi mural, new lounging area, shade, and reimagined landscaping. | Photo: Courtesy

In Bishop Diego High School’s Cinderella story, their newest art and ceramics teacher, Jennifer Tangel, plays the role of fairy godmother. In this tale, the somber princess in need of a makeover and some overdue TLC was the school’s art spaces.

Tangel sketched up a vision, and with the help of the community, she and her veteran teaching partner Leah Sodusta transformed the three spaces from dreary to cheery over the past year, starting in summer 2022. On May 16, they celebrated with a full-blown gallery featuring a year’s worth of work from all their student artists in the newly-renovated art sanctuaries.

Teachers Leah Sodusta, left, and Jennifer Tangel worked together to revamp the school’s art spaces. | Photo: Courtesy

“I hope that, if anything, I bring encouragement and joy to this place,” Tangel said. “I feel like the greatest masterpiece, in this whole world, is people. Like, if I can encourage kids — even if it’s not just art — that’s the best masterpiece.”