As part of Women’s History Month, Downtown Chula Vista is featuring some of the remarkable ventures of its women-owned businesses.
Many would not think that the fine arts and arts and crafts could mesh as a business, but Dewanna Dallas and Via Gary will disagree. They became inseparable friends in high school, meeting each other at Lincoln High School. Now, both Chula Vista residents came together and in 2016 they both took the leap and founded D’Via Art & Style. Both, self-taught artists and designers, this vibrant business became a canvas for their enduring passions, offering an array of original fine art, wearable art fashions, stunning earrings, statement jewelry and other fashion accessories. Each piece reflects their boundless creativity and unwavering dedication to artistic expression.
Gary said even in high school, they both wanted to own their own businesses. Gary specializes in fine arts and jewelry, and Dallas was a fashionista with her own business.
“Together with art, fashion, and interiors, we developed D’Via Art & Style,” she said. “We found our shop by going up and down Third Avenue, trying to stay in Chula Vista so we did not have to commute so far. We have been here now for eight years, and we love it. We call our studio a sanctuary because this is our place where we can be who we want, and when people come in, that title reflects the energy that we have. And we are proud of that. We are also a community service as well as business women here in Chula Vista. That is something we would never trade in.”
Dallas said her background is in theater arts, and she leads with that.
“I have always been fascinated with colors palettes,” she said. “When Via called me in 2016 and said we were going into business together. I was, ‘Let’s do it.’ We are both very creative in our own way and it just meshes together. And now, here we are.”
Gary said the studio comprises of fine art, wearable art fashion, hand-painted clothing, earrings, glasses, home interior accents, wine bags, coasters, tables, chairs. “Whatever we can get paint on, we paint it,” she said.
Dallas said they consider their business a sustainable one.
“We are out there, and we upcycle, recycle, and that is what makes us extremely unique,” she said.
Gary said this year they are going with their own t-shirt line, so that everything that they do does not have to be hand painted. She said they have many items that they have good request for, but plan on doing a few new things to “add a little splash of color” to the business.
“We are extremely proud of our little studio, gallery, and boutique. And we love being on Third Avenue,” she said. “There are many women businesses at this address. We have a tailor, a hair stylist, a primarily women-run real estate agency, and the camaraderie here is just amazing. We all look out for each other and support each other. We would not change this location.”
Dallas said when you walk into their business, it is a “wild moment.”
“It is totally unexpected,” she said. “It is a hidden gem in Chula Vista. People are totally blown away by the colors and the atmosphere here. And just the feeling that they get when they come here. They come in and see all the creative things and see the unexpected. We do call it a sanctuary. We are not here just for art. We are here to be a listening ear and people immediately feel comfortable.”
Gary said their business is a “higher calling.”
“We are not here to be an island of ourselves,” she said. “We are here to enhance our lives, the lives of people that come here, and enhance our community. We love walking up and down Third Avenue just meeting and talking with people and letting them know we are here. It is a labor of love to do this all day. Our husbands sometimes must call to see if we are coming home.”
Dallas said their husbands are both retired and their children doing their own thing.
“We are here, just women over 60, living the dream and having fun doing it,” she said. “We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.”
Gary said D’Via Art & Style is the place you want to be.
“If you have not been here, you need to get here,” she said. “Our essence is multi-cultural. It is not contrived, it is because our family and our lives are multi-cultural, so we represent a broad spectrum. People come in and expect everything to be Afro-centric, but all are things are not. Art is multi-faceted and multi-cultural.”
