New Urban Arts

While in New England this summer I completed a six week internship with an arts organization called New Urban Arts located in Providence. I had been following them on facebook for a few years and jumped on board as an intern when I made the decision to spend my summer in Rhode Island. My summer responsibilities were unknown until I arrived and was thrilled at how the six weeks of this "zen zone" project turned out. This was my very first attempt at taking on an interior design project without any background knowledge on interior design techniques...ever. So this basically turned out to be a six week project that was later perfectly named by a friend at the studio as afternoons of "IDK with Tori Litardo." Besides the basic theme I had in mind for this room, everything else was done by trial and error of the many mini projects I had envisioned. My initial thought was to start with terrariums and that turned into a sort of a rustic pre-historic feel that students helped me with. After five thousand coats of white paint and overcoming my fear of ladders, the zen zone came to life! I am so grateful for the freedom the staff gave me to be creative with this space for the students, and for trusting me with a staple gun. It was such a fun experience to be a part of! For all of you DIY folks, it is possible to transform a room with a small budget, I promise!

BEFORE...

the wall that took five thousand coats of white paint...

the pole also took a significant amount of coats...i love painting now

TERRARIUMS!

AFTER!!!

that, my friends, is made from paper toilet rolls

hand made coffee table from a local

you find a lot of goods in the basement of an art studio...

dyed paper crane mobile students helped me with

you always gotta have whimsical lights

dinosaur friends

Mornings at Grandma's

This summer it was very special for me to get in touch with the one experience that most people frequently had during their childhood, spending time at grandma's. Besides my early years, my visits to grandma's only happened about once a year, and it always stung to part ways after only a week of being reunited with family. Most holidays have been spent celebrating over a quick phone call and relying on snail mail to send christmas gifts. However, this summer I got to experience those childhood moments, at the age of 21. Many mornings were spent at grandma's watching the Ecuadorian morning news, running errands to the grocery store, walking around the track, and hearing grandpa tell stories of his childhood in Ecuador. I quickly picked up on their daily routine that was never a minute off...I'm serious. I was hanging out with grandma one morning when I decided to pick up my camera and capture a day in the life of my grandparents. I wanted to have a visual reminder of a home that hasn't changed one bit in over thirty years, though the people inside of it have. Now they spend their days living out a routine that brings them comfort and joy of many life's events they have experienced on 46 Fisk Street. Here's to you grandma & grandpa, I loved every minute of being in your home this summer...

The BIG 21

I'm all for low-key birthdays, so the title of this blog has nothing to do with a wild raving 21st with 21 shots, or something crazy like that. I just think in general turning 21 is a big one. It solidifies your adulthood, your responsibility in this society, and the things you are now held accountable to. You're still in your cutesy 20's, but the realities of life become more apparent. I spent my day reflecting a lot on my childhood, asking my family members to think back on what I was like as a toddler and the stages of life I have experienced since then. My day was spent in good conversation on this topic with the people I love, near and far (virtually). So, though my 21st wasn't anything outrageous, I decided yesterday morning when I woke up to photo document my very laid back day. After all, you only turn the BIG 21 once, and it was the day I decided that life does actually go by fast and it's certainly not just another saying. So live it wisely. Enjoy the day's events below...

6:45 AM- wake up call

7:00 AM- morning 2.5 mile power walk with Aunt Rose

10:30 AM- flower delivery from the boy

12:30 PM- patty melt for lunch at Harriet's Kitchen with family

3:30 PM- Awful Awful shake at Newport Creamery

6:00 PM- Surprise skype call from home, a fruit pie to all share around the table

7:00 PM- complimentary first cocktail and chicken wing at Providence Coal Fired Pizza

7:30 PM- Biana pizza and some Narraganset lager with my cousin and the boy

8:00 PM- A walk around Providence only to stumble upon a free concert