"Her Power"

Tori Meglio next to Baron Batch grenade in Big Dog Coffee - photograph by Alex Young

Tori Meglio, a 22-year-old from Pittsburgh, is the brand manager for artist Baron Batch and creative collective Studio A.M. She introduces local communities to Batch's artwork and the encouraging atmospheres that Studio A.M. provides, like Sunday brunch. Meglio is mindful of her interactions with amazing women and men throughout the city. Though her work is cool, it's also professional. Curating display spaces for Batch's artwork in the Heinz History Center or collaborating with local businesses like Threads On Carson to celebrate "Her Power," Meglio is prideful of her presence in the city. Her confident personality allows her to navigate business waters that men think they own. In a brief interview below, learn how Meglio impacts equality, puts men in check and still enjoys the workplace because she could meet Mr. Right on the job.

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Meglio: First, let me explain where I've been with politics in the past nine months. I have successfully never watched a video of Donald Trump. None of my social media feeds have that. I plug my ears. That's not my battle to fight. So, I have come to this realization that it's the one-on-one interactions you have with people every day that will change the perception of what women are. By me holding myself as the kind of woman that I am and how I interact with men will change the perception of all men in the future. The way that I interact with women will change that perception. Be kind, and that's how I am going to make change. Every day, every woman I talk to I'm engaged. 'What project are you working on? How are you doing? What are you into?' It's about going deeper, making people think about themselves and respect themselves because they are accomplished in some sort of way and are proud of what they're doing. There's an impact I can make by doing that. 

ITR: Why is it difficult for women and men to collaborate with mutual respect and an appropriate professional relationship?

Meglio: I think there's two scenarios, there's the mature man and there's the immature man. The mature man probably approached me to do business with him, or the way we have come to collaborate we have mutual respect for each other. So he is respectful because he understands what's going on. Also, I'm never afraid to say what the boundaries are. Some people never say that out loud and if you don't say it out loud before it's a problem the immature man could flip it on you, 'wow, why would you ever say that?!' Like, yo, it's just for the record. This is more about me than him.

I've also found that, I'm 22-years-old right, it's time to date people, work is a great place to find a special person. Think about all of our parents who met at work or these people you find out they met at work. That's totally cool. That means you have the same interests. I hope it just didn't affect your work, or if you met them at work you then had other jobs. I would hate for you to have to put your feelings with your significant other into your work unless you really wanted to.

ITR: How does Baron Batch represent women fairly?

He's doing a wonderful job because for Baron it's not about saying 'make a woman your business and project manager.' He's like, 'My business is thriving and I have a woman doing it and she is doing a bomb-ass job.' It's much more about leading by example than verbalizing. I think he would just hire the best person of any race or any orientation for the job with the right timing. Beyond Baron, people who can work with all types of people have welcoming work environments.

Discover more about Tori and her involvement with Baron Batch and Studio A.M. here. May we absorb their legendary movements as a creative collective more thoroughly soon.

Art and Exotic Cars

Art and Exotics' art car painted by Baron Batch photographed by Alex Young

The blue Porsche 996 hummed around a corner. Pittsburgh's Downtown skyline blurred on the car's passenger door. This was not a reflection but paint, and specifically an image painted by Texas import, former football player, and foremost painter Baron Batch. The car's driver was Matthew DeSantis, a business owner, photographer, and supercar enthusiast.

Via @matthewdesantis on Instagram

Other than an amazing piece of art, the 996 Carrera 4S is a traveling symbol that links Pittsburgh's creative and supercar communities.

In cities like Los Angeles or Miami, walkers and motorists regularly observe beautiful sports cars speeding down the highways or cutting through the Downtown streets. The cars' specialties are almost normal in these environments, so people may or may not stop to gawk at the vehicles.

Though foreign and high-performance vehicles are in Pittsburgh, DeSantis and his Art and Exotics event, an automotive art pop-up series, seek to make supercars consistently seen and relevant to a community that appreciates them most.

 "Anyone who drives these cars I want to know," DeSantis says. He is readily building a platform to showcase the exotic car community to Pittsburgh more creatively than the Auto Show or Vintage Grand Prix.

The Petrol Network, which DeSantis founded, connects car dealerships to the world of online influencing and implements an effective marketing strategy. The sports cars become more viewable thanks to promotion done by DeSantis and other media influencers on social network sites.

 "Move content across all social media platforms," he says. Utilizing Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter generates more followers, reaches more eyes, and further establishes a person's brand. While posting photos and videos of the cars and the actors in the creative community, DeSantis exposes two communities jointly, and perfectly promotes his Art and Exotics show.

Matthew DeSantis in front of his art car

What is most interesting about the 21-year-old entrepreneur originally from Long Island, New York is the analysis he uses to dissect his business. He is well aware of logistics and understands that to build a following one needs cohesive and frequent content. "The most engagement for an event usually happens during the week leading up to the show," DeSantis says. Also, weekly meetings at the inclusive Unstuck Pgh help further develop his concepts thanks to the circle talks provided by fellow local innovators.

Along with the supercars, like the Lamborghini Huracan and BMW i8 on display, the main attraction at the event on August 26 at the Mattress Factory on the North Side is "The Artist," Baron Batch of Studio AM. Known for his colorful and spirited paintings of elephants, Pittsburgh cityscapes, open eyes, and inspiring text with upside-down exclamation points, Batch carries his genuine attitude over to the Porsche 911. An elephant, a symbol of wisdom and strength, with a horizontal heart line going across adorns the driver side door of the German car. "FREE" is artistically written across a bumper. White stars are at the front tip of the sports car.

When DeSantis thought of art and car to mix it only made sense for him to enlist Batch as the painter. The artist's work is widely seen on murals throughout Pittsburgh and at Studio AM in Homestead. New pieces from The Artist will also feature at the Mattress Factory.

The way Batch thoughtfully executes his positive ideas creates the same positive energy around the painted Porsche 911 and the Art and Exotics event.

 "It's easy to think the people that drive these supercars are snobbish, but we are trying to change that," DeSantis says.

Combining exotic, modern cars with art highlights the artistry behind automotive and artistic crafts. So, when the public attends Art and Exotics this Friday, creativity and imagination will be at the forefront.

Purchase tickets to the event presented by Petrol Network here.

Mattress Factory

500 Sampsonia Way

Pittsburgh, PA 15212