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Feminist Flash Day Sunday 31 May, start time 11am

Things&Ink and theFeminist Library present:

FEMINIST FLASH DAY
Sunday 31st May 2015
At: King of Hearts Tattoo Studio
137 New Cross Road, London SE14 5DJ

 Things&Ink magazine and the Feminist Library are delighted to announce Feminist Flash Day, a day celebrating feminism, females and tattoos. The day is being held to raise funds for the Feminist Library, with the aim to buy a new building to house their growing collection.

The day will bring together tattooists and enthusiasts alike to discuss the bonds between the female body, feminism and the empowerment and ownership that tattoos can afford women. The day will start with the opportunity to get a tattoo of feminist flash from one of three talented tattoo artists: Dexter Kay, Julia Seizure and Lou Hopper. This will be on a strictly first come first served basis, and all designs will be priced between £60-£100.

Feminist Flash by Julia Seizure
Feminist Flash by Julia Seizure

 

This will be followed by a panel discussion comprised of some of the industry’s most knowledgeable individuals, including renowned tattoo artists Dominique Holmes and Claudia de Sabe, who curated the Time: tattoo art today exhibition at Somerset House, performers Maxi More and Ruby Jones, and feminist cultural critic Doctor Jane Elliott. The discussion will be lead by art historian Dr Matt Lodder and cult tattoo figure Blue from Into You in Farringdon.

Performer Ruby Jones will be part of the panel discussion on tattoos and the female body.

 

Dominique Holmes at work

 

 

Originally set up as an alternative to what founding editor Alice Snape felt was largely sexist tattoo media, Things&Ink magazine has worked hard to promote a variety of alternative lifestyle choices, by challenging beauty and body standards, and exploring themes such as sexuality, gender and feminism throughout its back catalogue.

Performer Maxi More will be part of the panel discussion which starts at 4.30pm.

 

As the Feminist Library has reached its 40th anniversary this year, this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate how far the library, and the feminist movement, has come as well as setting sights on securing its future.

The event will showcase the history, progression and future of women in both the feminist movement and the tattoo lifestyle, and it hopes to highlight topics such as the female body, ownership, notions of beauty, societal reactions and equality within both worlds.

Feminist Flash Day is also supported by award-winning Sacred Microdistillery. It is the first and smallest commercial distillery of its kind, and  the only one based in a residential house, in north London. Sacred Spiced English Vermouth, made with English wine from Three Choirs in Gloucestershire, and Sacred Rosehip Cup – the English alternative to Campari – all of which can be enjoyed together in a Sacred Negroni, served from 3pm before the panel discussion.

 For more information email hello@thingsandink.com, or head over to the Things&Ink social media pages, @thingsandink | facebook.com/thingsandink. 

 

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Frida Kahlo Mirror Mirror…

New York art gallery, Throck Morton is showcasing a rare collection of photographs taken of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in a variety of settings.  Some show the true love that her and Diego Rivera shared in what look to be private moments captured candidly on someone’s camera.  Others show Frida in the garden of her Casa Azul, where she was born, grew up and eventually lived with Diego. We also get a glimpse into the pain that Frida was experiencing on a daily basis due to her poor health and how her pets gave her great comfort and joy in what must have been a difficult life.

Frida With Caimito de Guayabal, 1943

Frida With Itzcuintli Dog, 1949

Frida Winking, 1933

Frida And Diego Kissing, 1933

Frida And Her Ducks, 1948

Frida Wearing Tehuana Dress, Coyoacán, 1940

Frida Seated With Globe, Puente de Alvarado Studio, 1937

Frida On The Rooftop, New York, 1946

Frida Wearing Plaster Corset, Which She Decorated With Hammer And Sickle (And Unborn Baby), Coyoacán, 1951

Frida In San Francisco, 1940

Frida With Pink And Green Satin Blouse, Coyoacán, 1938

The exhibition will run at the Throck Morton fine art gallery in New York until September 12th

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Cosmic Cuties: Body Confident Cartoons

Sixteen-year-old Mikhaila Nokel from Brooklyn, is the creator of Cosmic Cuties, a series of cartoon style illustrations that spread self love and body confidence. Mikhaila is a body image activist who uses her drawings to help other girls who may be struggling with self esteem issues.

The Cosmic Cuties website describes the illustrated girl gang as:

Kickass space girls who fight sexism throughout the universe. They stand for feminism, body acceptance, and self love!

 

Follow @cosmic_cuties for more awesome babes.

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16th International Tattoo Expo Roma

Our Italian Contributor Ilaria went to Rome Tattoo Convention, this is the diary of her visit, including the incredible artists she met along the way…

 

“The International Tattoo Expo Rome was held from 8th to 10th May 2015. I could not resist, so I went there on Sunday, the last day…

“It is one of the biggest tattoo conventions in the world, where you can meet 300 international tattoo artists, from St. Petersburg, Beijing and Austin to Las Vegas, Montreal and London. The artists are very prestigious, and the convention allows the curious to get tattooed by their idols: for example, Sarah Miller, star of the US television show Ink Master, the phenomenon of Los Angeles Matt Arriola or the artists coming from the famous Lowrider Tattoo Studios.

“During last year’s convention, actress Asia Argento had marched on stage showing off her brand new tattoo done by Marco Manzo, as a competitor in the 2014 Tattoo Contest. This year Marco Manzo is still bringing his Haute Couture tattoos to the tattoo scene – feminine black lace inked onto skin. Last February, he also presented his tattooed clients at Maxxi Museum, the National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome. It was a success and a great step towards the acknowledgement of tattoo as an art form.

“Next I met Miss Juliet and Fabio Gargiulo, who created two limited editions prints to help Nepal earthquake victims. The proceeds will be donated to the appeal, and they will go on selling these artworks at other tattoo conventions: Naples, Athens, Milan and Cagliari. I think this is a strong and wise action, and the tattoo community has once again demonstrated sensitivity to world emergencies.

Miss Juliet and Fabio Gargiulo

 

“Walking around, I spotted so many new artists and I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Here are four people I was super happy to see:

David Côté. He is a young graphic designer and tattoo artist from Montreal, Canada. His psychedelic tattoos are stunning, and he is really a kind guy. Here is what he created during the convention.

 

Denis Elice. He is from Turin, Italy. I think you should keep an eye on him. He has clear ideas and his tattoos evidence this. Whales, sailors, roses, these are only some of his subjects. His style is black traditional, but with a very personal touch.

 

Chad Koeplinger. Well, he is one of the greats. Here are some of his tattoos from the convention.

 

Nicoz Balboa: (yep, after three men, we have a powerful woman!) She is an illustrator and her works on skin are simply beautiful, I think she has the right sense of balance between colour and subject, and she is great in freehand tattoo.

 

“Tattoo conventions always make me feel at home, and I think this is the best feeling ever. No judgments but only love and admiration for tattoos and art (that, to me, are just the same thing).”