Staff Spotlight: Tori Anne
Each month, we highlight one of our incredible staff that makes the magic happen here at Austin Creative Reuse. This month, it’s Reuse Specialist, Tori Anne (she/her)! Tori is a talented, DIY crocheter with a unique punk style. She is essential to our retail team, working the register, and chatting to folks about their projects. Her frilly-black skirts and fun eye makeup bring us so much joy! Look out for Tori’s ever-changing killer hairstyles next time you’re in the center.
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?
A friend told me about the store some time around 2015.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
It’s always fun when customers come in with a concept and I get to help them actualize their projects, whether it’s picking the best type of paint for something or pointing them towards different items in the store that fits their “theme”
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with?
I feel like I can be all 3 depending on my mood & others’ perception. Though I realized early on that I prefer making things that get baby-puke and cat hair on it over something that’ll sit in a sterile gallery setting, I do not see much difference between a painting in a gallery, a well done tattoo, and a handmade blanket that took days worth of time.
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR?
I enjoy crocheting, tattooing, illustrating, being in nature, good food, and bad horror movies.
What’s the craziest thing you found in donation mountain?
The medical equipment & old medicine surprises me every time, but my favorite in recent memory was a huge amount of post-punk & similar cassettes
About Tori:
Tori moved from San Marcos, Texas to Austin in 2016 to pursue a career as an artist. She enjoys dipping her toes in any craft available to try - but spends most of her time crocheting, listening to experimental music, and illustrating. In her free time she can still be found searching for la Llorona in the San Marcos River.
Follow her on Instagram @spider_fungus
