#american traditional tattooing

[youareyourpathyouaretheobstacle]

[sheltiechicago]

Christopher Martin’s “VOID.”

In “Void,” the artist expands his visual language by blending imagery from the African Diaspora, personal mythology, and American Traditional tattooing into striking figurative and text-based banners.

Martin addresses contemporary injustice by incorporating cotton as a primary medium, pointing to the Atlantic slave trade and his Southern roots. His large-scale, hand-cut, painted, and sewn black-and-white banners tackle themes of religion, captivity, and freedom.

[m3rden0ms]

⛓️

[uwmspeccoll]

The author, Angela Hovak Johnston.

Johnston and Marjorie Tungwenuk Tahbone, traditional tattoo artist.

Catherine Niptanatiak: "I designed my own, something that represents me and who I am, something that I would be proud to wear and show off, and something that would make me feel confident and beautiful. . . . I have daughters and I would like to teach them what I know. I would like for them to want to practice our traditions and keep our culture alive."

Cecile Nelvana Lyall: "On my hand tattoos, from the top down, the triangles represent the mountains. . . . The Ys are the tools used in seal hunting. . . . The dots are my ancestors. . . . I am so excited to be able to truly call myself and Inuk woman."

Colleen Nivingalok: "The tattoos on my face represent my family and me. The lines on my chin are my four children -- my two older boys on the outside protecting my daughters. The lines on my cheeks represent the two boys and the two girls on either side. The one on my forehead represents their father and me. Together, we live for our children."

Doreen Ayalikyoak Evyagotailak: "I have thought about getting traditional tattoos since I was a teenager. . . . When I asked the elders if I could have my own meaning for my tattoos, they said it wouldn't matter. My tattoos symbolize my kids."

Mary Angele Takletok: "I always wanted traditional tattoos like the women in the old days. I wanted them on my wrists and my fingers so I could show I'm Inuk."

Melissa MacDonald Hinanik: "As a part of celebrating my heritage and revitalizing important traditional customs that form my identity, I believe I have earned my tattoos. I am a beautiful, strong young woman. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and an active community member. I reclaim the traditional customs as mine, I re-own them as a part of who I am."

Star Westwood: "We still have some of our culture, but some things are slowly dying. Having tattoos helps us keep our culture alive. . . . . My tattoos represent my dad and my dad's dad. The ones closest to my wrists represent my sisters."

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National Tattoo Day

July 17 is National Tattoo Day. To celebrate, we present some images from Reawakening Our Ancestors' Lines: Revitalizing Inuit Traditional Tattooing, compiled by Angela Hovak Johnston, co-founder with Marjorie Tahbone of the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project, with photographs by Inuit photographer Cora DeVos, and published in Iqaluit, Nunavut by Inhabit Media Inc. in 2017.

For thousands of years, Inuit have practiced the traditional art of tattooing. Created the ancient way, with bone needles and caribou sinew soaked in seal oil, sod, or soot, these tattoos were an important tradition for many Inuit women, symbols etched on their skin that connected them to their families and communities. But with the rise of missionaries and residential schools in the North, the tradition of tattooing was almost lost. In 2005, when Angela Hovak Johnston heard that the last Inuk woman tattooed in the old way had died, she set out to tattoo herself in tribute to this ancient custom and learn how to tattoo others. What was at first a personal quest became a project to bring the art of traditional tattooing back to Inuit women across Nunavut.

Collected in this book are photos and stories from more than two dozen women who participated in Johnston's project. Together, these women have united to bring to life an ancient tradition, reawakening their ancestors' lines and sharing this knowledge with future generations. Hovak Johnston writes: "Never again will these Inuit traditions be close to extinction, or only a part of history you read about in books. This is my mission."

Reawakening Our Ancestors' Lines forms part of our Indigenous America Literature Collection.

Angela Hovak Johnston (right) with her cousin Janelle Angulalik and her aunt Millie Navalik Angulalik.

View other posts from our Indigenous America Literature Collection.

[cicada-heart]

the vintage dress i’m hand embroidering in between holiday commissions is coming along nicely 💘☁️ once i’m done filling in the heart i’ll be adding some detail to the handle & it’ll be done!

(update: this dress is finished! ❤️ and sold)

more embroidery on my etsy 🎀

[jisatsuwaifu]

Put me on a pedestal just so you could kick it out from under me and watch me hang.

[amtraditional]

Carlin Dacheff

Perth, Western Australia

[extinguishergirl]

my girlfriend indirectly asked for a sink dog tattoo and i had to oblige and draw one up

[its-jackiemcsoup]

I know this doesn’t look different (bags on point) but I’m in Ireland, my loves!! 🥰

Visiting a country from your ancestral history is life changing… couple more to check off that list after this😉

[harumirart]

I just love putting him in a jar :) (available as a sticker or print on my redbubble)

[gothamgrrrls]

folie à deux flash edition

track one / disloyal order

[organicmatter]

New flash sheet ❤️🦞 India ink on 140lb cold press arches. If you are near Portland feel free to message me about booking :)

[now-lets-cheers-to-thiss]

𝟘𝟞/𝟘𝟙/𝟚𝟛

[dickjohnsonsbeard]

[diamond-eyes-666]

[renstrapp]

As the shrike to your sharp And glorious thorn

Posting January's postcard early bc I'm REALLY happy with how it turned out! This mini print will be sent to Lucky and Love Letter tiers next month <3