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Pretty in ink: In tough times, tattooists offer a unique way to help.
Kenny Brown is co-owner of the tattoo studio Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival. He and his fellow artists are donating all payments over two days Area residents not interested in going under the tattoo gun can still make donations during the fundraiser. |
BY SUSANNAH CLARK
Kenny Brown is a multitasker. While tattooing an elaborate Halloween scene on a customer's arm, he is being interviewed by The Free Lance-Star, humming along to Willie Nelson and feeding the hungry.
Brown is the co-owner of Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival, which is holding its annual Tattooing for Community fundraiser this weekend. The parlor will donate 100 percent of proceeds from tattooing to the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank.
During the event, the parlor will also be holding a canned-food drive for the bank. Customers who bring three cans or more of food will be awarded $10 off any piercing.
"With the economy being so bad and so many people losing their jobs, we decided it was more important than ever to support the Food Bank," Brown said.
According to Dayle Reschick, resource development coordinator for the Fredericksburg Food Bank, the number of impoverished families in the area receiving food boxes has tripled this year, while donations have not increased.
"We are trying to feed 30 families with the same funding we used for feeding 10," she said. "This is a great time of need for the bank."
Brown said that his own business is also suffering from the current economic crisis.
"We might have to save a few of those cans for ourselves," Brown joked.
Sarcasm aside, Brown is serious about his philanthropy.
"Every year it gets harder to find the time and money for charity," he said. "This is our way of giving back and keeping our ties with the community."
Two guest tattoo artists--Fred Pickhardt of Salvation Tattoos and Drew Manley of Tattoo 702, both from Richmond--will be joining the regular staff of Jack's Tattoo Revival.
All tattoos start at $50. Prices are determined by the artist based on the amount of time and ink needed. According to Brown, the average tattoo costs between $75 and $150.
"If a tattoo is big or elaborate enough, it could take all day," said Brown. "After a certain point, we start to charge by the hour."
Last year, Tattooing for Community raised almost $6,000 for the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault. Brown estimates he and the other artists completed more than 100 tattoos in the two days.
Brown connected with RCASA through his wife, Tawnia Brown, who used to volunteer for the group as a victim advocate.
"We had a really positive turnout last year," Twania Brown said. "It was successful not only monetarily, but in educating the public about sexual assault as well."
Carol Olson, director of RCASA, seized the charity event as an opportunity to get her first tattoo.
"I'd been thinking about it for a while, and when a good cause came along, I knew it was the right time," Olson said.
Olson got a sea turtle tattooed on the back of her left shoulder. She said she chose a sea turtle because "they are strong yet vunerable."
According to Olson, getting tattooed "feels like being continuously stung by a bee for 45 minutes."
Kenny Brown, whose many tattoos include a rat in a space suit on his neck, said he has no idea how many tattoos he has.
"I've lost count. If I keep keep getting any more, pretty soon they'll all touch each other and I'll just have one."
To get a tattoo in Virginia, a person must be 18 years old unless accompanied by a legal guardian.
Jack's Tattoo Revival will still collect food and monetary donations for the Food Bank from those not interested in getting inked this weekend, as not everybody identifies with the tattooing culture.
"A lot of people don't respect tattoos," said Tawnia Brown. "There is a negative stereotype about body art. If this event changes how some people feel about tattoos, then that would be great."
After The Free Lance-Star covered last year's Tattooing for Community, the newspaper received phone calls from readers who disapproved of tattoos and thought they should not be promoted for charity.
"It is shocking that someone would criticize an art form that is raising money to help people," said Kenny Brown.
Tawnia Brown agrees.
"Tattoos are definitely not for everybody and we respect that," she said. "We're just trying to raise some money for charity."
Overall, Kenny Brown has a lighthearted attitude about the negative reputation of tattooing.
"We try to not get too political about it," he said, then added in a humorous fake Southern accent, "Our job is just to draw pretty pictures."
Susannah Clark: 540/374-5000, ext. 5617
Email: smclark@freelancestar.com
| What: Tattoos for Community When: Nov. 8, noon-9 p.m. and Nov. 9, noon-8 p.m. Where: Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival, 1919 Princess Anne St. Info: Call 540/899-9002 to reach the studio. The Fredericksburg Area Food Bank's Web site is fredfood.org. |
