Employee Interviews
by Shelby Moser - Anti-Body Production Manager
Meet Lisa Narinian
This week, I am happy to highlight one of Anti-Body's dedicated employees, Lisa Narinian! She's the perfect blend of artistic, musical, methodical and hippy...in short, she's quirky as hell (as if it wasn't obvious from her wild curls and dreads). Our paths first crossed in 2006 when she was recording an album in Steve's studio (now the Anti-Body store house!). In February of 2007, during one of her recording sessions, Lisa casually told Steve that she "was unemployed and had plenty of time to finish the record...that's when Steve got a glimmer in his eye and mentioned that Anti-Body needed a soap maker." From that point on, we've managed to rope her in for more and more work. From soap, to lip balm, a.k.a. BLAM, to scrubs and massage oils, Lisa has shown a meticulous creativity in each of Anti-Body's products.
When asked what aspects of working for Anti-Body worked with her lifestyle, she lit up and said, "the flexibility," as she rattled off an exhaust- ive list of hobbies and crafts that she loves to participate in: music, travel, food, road trips, yoga, mosaics, tap and African dancing -- and the list goes on...
Shelby: Is there some correlation between Anti-Body and all your interests?
Lisa: Ceramics is back breaking work and it takes up a lot of my time. That's where yoga comes in. I make sure I wake up every morning to clear my head and focus on goodness. Tap dancing enables me to learn coordination with my body...it's very percussive, like the music and poetry I write. African dancing also involves rhythm; the movement is all very connected to this earth. It's representative of the movements of African's working their land -- like gathering shea nuts!
Shelby: You seem to be drawn towards the natural approach in life. Have you always been so focused on pursuing a passion over pursuing a career?
Lisa: No, actually. I started with every kind of "science" in college that I could. Between Biochemistry, Psychology and Pharmaceutical Studies I was pretty much going in the opposite direction. I decided to take a semester off to try tap, African dancing and yoga. That's also when I picked up the guitar and I started asking myself what am I doing on this planet. What is it about my talents that are different that I can use to help others? I noticed that everything about ceramics was recycled, using natural elements. Studying to be a pharmacist focused on offering a pill for every problem. I realized I wanted a more holistic approach in life. That's why I fell in love with Anti-Body, even before I started working here. Anti-Body is really trying to connect. It's not about me and my business it's about us and our business. Just like music or art, fair trade pulls you out of yourself and forces you to engage with other people. Anti-Body is about extending yourself to the less fortunate, like in Togo and Liberia. In my opinion, no one should go hungry. I realized pretty early on in college that I'd rather choose a life that uses my talent, rather then spend my life just making money. Wasted talent is the worst thing.
Lisa plans on pursuing a Master's Degree in ceramics in the near future. In the meantime, she will keep on incorporating her art with life and work, which seems pretty difficult to separate.
I am very grateful for all that Lisa has contributed to the Anti-Body team. Her initiative and bohemian spirit is one we can't do with out. Be sure to check out her ceramics at: mad about mud
