The neighborhood around campus is full of life in the arts. From local photographers to body art, creative flow is aplenty.
Meet Brittany Graziosi; NJCU alumni, mom of one and kick-ass bartender. Born and raised in Greenville, she is the owner and founder of Antisocial Jewelry Company.
“[Antisocial] came about somewhere around 2011/12. I was working with Microsoft products at the time and it took up pretty much my whole day. A few months into the craft I lost my job and had zero income so I started selling the earrings at Creative Grove. Around the same time a friend of mine gave me a deer vertebrae and said use this for something. That was the catalyst that turned my focus to bones,” recalls Graziosi.
“I started scavenging, buying scraps, anywhere I could find bones. I learned how to clean and whiten them, how to work with them. [I] experimented with which pieces worked the best and held up the best. Since then the line has expanded to include Americana inspired pieces as well. Being from Greenville helped me because I’ve always been able to stand up for myself. I have no fear. When working with and marketing something controversial like animal bones, I’ve faced a lot of adversity. I’ve been told my work is disgusting. That scavenging bones from hunters and fur trappers is disgusting. But I stand my ground. The way I see it, I’m recycling scraps in a beautiful and respectful way. Our slogan is, “We were never here to make friends,” and that will always remain true. Whether anyone likes us or not is the least of our concerns. We’ll continue to put out pieces we love.”
Flavio Vilchez is a 15-year resident of Greenville. His talent as a tattoo artist began soon after he moved to Jersey City in high school.
“I’ve wanted to tattoo ever since I was a kid. My uncles were always getting tattooed when I was younger. Watching the artists working, I thought the way the ink stayed in your skin was dope. I was tattooing in Barcelona for a year, I was working in New York City for seven years in two different shops. It was dope. That’s where I gained my confidence. Right now I want to work on getting my own shop. I do it all, but I really love black and grey. Most people hate tribal tattoos, but I love them. I find my inspiration through the ideas customers bring me. I put my flair on it for a truly unique piece that you won’t find anywhere else. Choose your artist wisely. Don’t be cheap, because you get what you pay for.”
