Going from a small town, Nina takes us on a journey into New York City, as she dreams of an artistic life filled with travel.
Nina has an opportunity to travel to Tuscany where she is exposed to art of mosaic craftsmanship.
Returning to N.Y.C. she takes on a quest to document the underground subway mosaics. Along the way, she falls in love with a complicated stranger almost derailing all her hopes and dreams.
This tale is based on the author’s adventure documenting the subway mosaics, for an exhibit at the New York Transit Museum.
Excerpt
Lunchtime in the cafeteria, each major clings together and forms a tribe. Like animals in the wild we group in according to our likeness. As we work, eat, live and sleep together we start to look alike. We speak a dialect that only our own can understand. We dress alike, act alike, carry the same art supplies that warp our bodies and alter our gait as we mold into our craft and who we want to be. At lunchtime the animals, each in a designated zone merged together to gaze and graze.
The Fashion Design students are by far the most flamboyant. They strut in like plumaged peacocks (bouncing to the beat of Madonna’s Dress You Up). They are punked out with blue hair, arms full of bangle bracelets, cropped striped tops held together with safety pins, spandex leggings and high-top sneakers. They are gay and proud and wild. Seekers of attention, they are the loudest, jumping up and down from seats that overlook uptown 8th Avenue; the direction they all wanted to be some day to make their mark on the fashion industry. They are stars if only in their own mind and in their mind it was only a matter of time before they too would be the next Calvin Klein, an icon, an alumni, their dream come true.
Merchandising girls in their power suits walk in a military formation swinging their brief cases (to the sound of Hall and Oats Man Eater). They flip their big teased hair to the beat. They adjust their suits; dressed in power red, ambitious blue or kill ’em black with big shoulder pads, synch belts and go get ‘em pumps. They wear tons of make up to hide their bad skin and wasp nose jobs. They believe that you dressed for success and for the job you want. They all wanted to be buyers at Macy’s or marry men who could afford their desire to buy clothes at Macy’s. Seated in a row, their power suits adjusted, they snap open leather briefcases as if on cue. With man killer manicured fingers they sip diet Tabs, eat their lean salads and squawk like geese over the latest fashion magazines.
Professional Reviews
Loved this story
Young artist meets the dream of her life while putting herself through school in NYC., however things are not always what they should be..
Nina takes us through adventures in Italy, romance in NYC, and finally victory in her life!
I loved this story a great read.
Women's Struggle
I liked how Nina stays true to her artistic quest and gets rid of the complicated boyfriend. She teaches us that revenge is a dish best served cold. I recommend this to my friends.
Nina Girl
Loved Nina's determination and adventurous spirit. She falls into a dark path but finds her way stronger and more determined - good ending!
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