Meet Tina Quatroni (and Family)

by Carol-Lee Kantor

TINA MARIE MARAVELIS QUATRONI sparkles as she speaks about her life in Holmes with Anthony Quatroni, her husband, their young Labrador Retriever, and three adorable cats.  Tina is employed as a Technical Central Office Equipment Installer for Verizon and is very supportive of Tony as he establishes Your Brainiacs, a new Computer Business in the Village of Pawling. She is also a very creative artist, specializing in Photography and Digital Art, who also volunteers her talents to help PawSafe, (www.pawsafe.org), an animal rescue organization. Her many fine digital images include a particularly stirring work in progress depicting her interpretation of the Twelve Step Series for recovering addicts. Her portfolio may be accessed by clicking on the “Gallery” tab within her website, www.visualmodality.deviantart.com.

Tina grew up in Richmond Hills, Queens. From the age of seven, with her beloved grandmother’s constant and devoted encouragement, she began taking photos and writing poetry which, she recalls, she always kept private.  Saddened by her grandmother’s passing following a long illness, in 1995, Tina wrote a poem in her memory entitled “Parents of Reality.” Then she took a five year hiatus from the arts.

By the year 2000, Tina had moved to the Village of Pawling where she continued her work with Verizon.  Inspired by what she describes as the beautiful “local scenery,” Tina says she resumed photography. She toured the parks of Pawling, and those of Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties, all the while acquiring more complex cameras, and teaching herself how to effectively use multiple cameras to create her images. (Now she primarily uses the Nikon D 300). Soon, she experimented by putting her images into “print shop” choosing to utilize different backgrounds and change locations with some very exciting results.  Intrigued by spiritual meanings, Tina remarks, with laughter, that her first printed digital art piece reminded her of a Pharaoh, replete with hidden symbolism.

As she was growing up, Tina remembers having and loving many pets. To Tina, animals are “mysterious” and have an “ability to speak without speaking. “ They are purely “loving.”

“Communication with them is direct and simple,” she says. Tina cannot abide animals in pain. Her photographs tell the story of Tina’s deep sensitivity to and concern for animals.  Her keen artistry captures “natural moments in time, when animals are themselves.”

Tina’s volunteer work with animal rescue organizations began at the Harlem Valley Raptor Center (no longer in operation) where she donated many prints. After responding to a call for PawSafe, Tina was invited by Founder Diane Scuderi to an animal adoption event held last February.  During what she describes as a very “harried” day, Tina said she experienced a positive new energy  in  her life as she witnessed the pure joy that shone from persons with their pets – a kind of unspoken sense that they were preventing their pets from a harsh fate and would be helping them to  better lives.

“Little Girl with Puppy” (shown here) is Tina’s favorite photo because she says “it is very happy.”  This photo is representative of Tina’s works. She enjoys capturing   “the moment” …a critical moment… “when a person picks up a puppy” and in Tina’s words, gives that huge “I am taking you home smile.”

Tina explains that PawSafe Rescue provides transport for an average of 10-20 puppies per week from Virginia, after receiving medical attention and nurture until they arrive here ready for adoption. Puppies are primarily 8-16 weeks old, others, 2-3 years old.  Fergus, the mascot for PawSafe, became a therapy pet after his adoption.   Further information and adoption photos may be found on PawSafe’s Facebook page, which Tina administers.

Tina and Anthony were married last Halloween (her favorite holiday). The couple believes in bringing up their pets in a “gentle” manner with lots of love, open air, and plenty of green running space. Tina has even developed a specific escape plan for her pets in case of emergencies.  Cassie (10) their black Labrador Retriever, and their cats, Sheba (11), Mowgli (10) and Riley (2, adopted from the Putnam Humane Society) are  truly blessed to be  living the “good life” with two very loving, creative and  fascinating folks!

Thank you, Tina. We wish you and Tony well, and look forward to hearing more about you, your family, your rescue and art work.

Photo Submitted by Tina Quatroni