Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Mila Strugatsky of Central Phoenix

We recently had the chance to connect with Mila Strugatsky and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Mila, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
Everyday is different. One day I devote totally to developing a script for a play, with a cup of coffee, other days our group comes together and we work on stage building, or costume making for our little performers, spreading lots of colorful fabric all over… When all is ready, we begin to practice. That is usually very active, noisy; music playing and everybody eating something on their own. It is never boring here.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I came to Arizona from New Jersey 13 years ago. I was a person of the arts. A professional artist, an architectural designer and a builder, I played piano and had a hobby of a puppet theater. The artistic air of Arizona at an instant suggested an idea to create a unique art space for intellectual / artistic social gatherings.
I even knew the name of it — BAHaus, as a nod to an early twentieth century movement Bauhaus — the collaboration of art and design. I began to do everything toward my vision. The BAhaus begun its own life. It was a small house with very ugly backyard, but artists, musicians, poets, even dancers gathered there and it was a truly magical atmosphere. Then I began to improve the place. As a designer and a builder I had a vision and the knowledge of what to do with the space.
My biggest passion was taken by the marionette theater. The productions of plays included many skills, such as visual art, music, puppet making, set designs, etc, and it became totally captivating. Then we formed a community of talents. We even built a big stage for the performances and especially a system designed for marionette theater productions. Now the lights, effects and sounds make BAHaus very professional and magical.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I was always a free thinker and determined to complete any desired aims. When we came to the United States from the Soviet Union, as refugees with four hundred dollars for the family of four, I knew I had to make something of myself as I had no one for a back up. From a very early age, I did not see myself as anything but an artist. But in order to survive I had to become the best artist. I studied a lot in New York in a number of art schools, walking between locations on foot as I didn’t have any money for the subway or a bus. After the graduation I made a successful life.
But the fear of being poor unfortunately stayed with me.
Even with my desire to create the venue of BAHaus I was reluctant to jump into serious action because of money. I was dreaming of someone, an investor, or government, or God. Finally, I understood that there is no one but myself who has to do it. I am alone responsible for my own dreams. And I did it, I took that risk and now I made my vision a reality. Something that wasn’t there before now is born and alive, and I pinch myself on the butt to prove to myself that I have done it.
My only regret is that I had my fears to slow me down before.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
When I lived in New Jersey, I ran my own design and construction company for over a decade. I loved it—creating beautiful, thoughtful spaces for clients brought me real joy. But I never expanded it into the thriving, larger design business it could have been. Looking back, I think fear played a part in that—fear of financial risk, fear that I didn’t have the technical or business skills to grow it further.
Later, when I moved to Arizona, I felt called to follow a different path—one rooted in the arts. I wanted to create a space for artistic and social connection: a black box /think space for bold ideas, where imagination and innovation could come to life. That shift gave me the quality of life I truly wanted, and more importantly, it began to offer that same gift to others. I knew deep down I was doing something meaningful.
Still, the fears didn’t go away—especially the fear of overspending or not having the “right” expertise. But once I finally took the leap, I found something beautiful waiting on the other side: a community of talents ready to join me.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
It is not always a bad thing to question my own thoughts or preferences in order to avoid stagnation of a vision.
The world fabric is always progressing and the new expressions are explored and absorbed by the audience. But the audience will always feel the honesty of the art work. Always, even if they cannot explain what or why the work did or didn’t grasp them.
The creator must create the work as a calling from the guts and for himself and then to present it to the audience whom he/she respects and values. And not the other way, when one creates work based on what audience may (possibly) like.
Second part is to be true to your aesthetics, vision and values. Even though some friends’ or critics’ voices may tear you sideways. Sometimes, I have to fight for my ground, as other people don’t share the same visions. So what? It is my voice and it has a right to be heard.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I would embrace the new times with new growths . I would continue to create something that wasn’t there before.
Through the language of art I would bring the same messages- the importance of individuality in the humanistic tradition .

Contact Info:

• Website: Milastrug.com and Marionettetheater.org
• Instagram: Mila Strugatsky
• Facebook: BAHaus And Mila Strugatsky

Image Credits
All images by Mila Strugatsky