Indigenous Tattoo Culture Subject of New Art Exhibit at Humboldt Area Foundation

This is a press release from the Humboldt Area Foundation:

On display now through May 2020, Humboldt Area Foundation is hosting Ink and Skin and Bone, a solo art exhibit of acrylic portraits by Native artist Tiffany Adams.

Known for her shell work, painting, and jewelry making, Tiffany Adams (Chemehuevi/Konkow/Nisenan) is an artist, activist, and educator who incorporates her California Indian cultural practices into the fabric of her work. Tiffany’s work is deeply rooted in her cultural identity as a California Indian, from her sculptures, paintings, jewelry, and basket making to her equity activism in public education, Tiffany’s community-based approach to art and art making is reflective of the ways in which identity formation is vital to artistic expression.

According to Adams, Ink and Skin and Bone is “a (re)writing and (re)righting of past anthropological and stereotypical representations of California Indigenous womxn’s tattoo culture,” a practice that banned during colonization. “It is imagery about strength, resilience and the literary power of tattoo revival, a language that is universal within many indigenous communities. This feminist artwork is made to reclaim space in our homelands and on our bodies.”

Humboldt Area Foundation invites the public to visit the Community Center, located at 363 Indianola Road in Bayside, to enjoy Tiffany Adams works. Ink and Skin and Bone will be on display for public viewing during normal business hours through May 2020. For more information contact Jill Moore: [email protected] or (707) 442-2993.

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Angie C
Guest
Angie C
4 years ago

Beautiful.

binbearda4
Guest
binbearda4
4 years ago

every human on the face of the earth should give “Gravity” & “age” a real thought before tatting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just a thought

guest
Guest
guest
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Umm, “gravity” and “age” make tattoos MORE beautiful.

Steph
Guest
Steph
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

[edit] Indigenous tribes have practiced their tattoo traditions for thousands of years. I’m sure they thought about and have seen it through the aging process. Don’t be ignorant. Vanity is not a priority in Native culture. Stay in your lane.

Elaine
Guest
Elaine
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

Well said, thank you for saying that. I’m a native woman.

Summer
Guest
Summer
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

Amen

Jamie Nashookpuk
Guest
Jamie Nashookpuk
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

👏👏👏 Perfectly put. Seeing the tattoos on my elders is seeing the strength and perseverance of my people💖

Violet
Guest
Violet
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

thank you, it’s very well thought through before getting our lines done!

Phoebe
Guest
Phoebe
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

❤️

Phoebe Davis
Guest
Phoebe Davis
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

I’m native and totally agree with you. Well said on behalf of us all.

Mere
Guest
Mere
4 years ago
Reply to  Steph

Totally agree with Steph – this isn’t a fanciful whim; it is the manifestation of who you are.

Grace C. Beebe
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

I love this artist and her work. Taking back the power that was stolen away is so heartfelt with strength.

sue goodstar
Guest
sue goodstar
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

Yes age and gravity do make tatts more beautiful. I too have a chin tatt that is symbolic to my society.

divadoulamama
Guest
divadoulamama
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

That’s some sad colonizer thinking right there.

Tina M Collins
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  guest

Thank you!

IndigenousPride
Guest
IndigenousPride
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Mind your own life. Just a thought

Tayna dee
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

It’s more then just getting a tattoo it’s culture and culture is not walking into a tattoo store and picking a number 29 on a wall that you may regret later

Stevey Seymour
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

As a Native woman who made the choice to get a chin tattoo, I find it funny that anyone would think they had the right to say think about age and gravity. The point here is that we are done subscribing to the white mans version of beauty. We are indigenous, we have lived through 400 years of being told nothing about us is beautiful. We know better now, your idea of beauty is not mine. I look forward to being an old woman with a gravity pulled face that shows my Tattoos clearly. It is my way of making sure every person who looks at me knows I am indigenous and we are not the same. A 400 year attempt to kill us physically and spiritually had failed. We are here and our beauty is not up for your debate. We know who we are.

Kym Kemp
Admin
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Beautifully said.

ann benoit
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Agreed 100%, We are beautiful .

Ashton
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

👏👏👏 Thank you for voicing against this person’s ignorance.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

👍👍👍

Shirley May Paterson
Guest
Shirley May Paterson
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Well said. Rise up and claim all that has been expunged in your culture.
Kia Kaha.
Maori Women in New Zealand
Are doing the same. Age and gravity have nothing to do with it.

Marsha Thomason
Guest
Marsha Thomason
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

WORD!!!!

Elaine
Guest
Elaine
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

We are beautiful

Robert
Guest
Robert
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Agreed! Well said!

Andy
Guest
Andy
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

100%💪🏾👊🏾

Kathleen
Guest
Kathleen
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

An awesomely well said reply to that “thought”
Tino ātaahua ngā tā moko katoa!

Stevie Cornell
Guest
Stevie Cornell
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Thank you Stevey Seymour, well said.

Ikēna
Guest
Ikēna
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

💎 ♥

Kai LaPena
Guest
Kai LaPena
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

*Mic drop*

Alice H
Guest
Alice H
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

♥️✊🏽

Nicki Blue
Guest
Nicki Blue
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Beautiful words… Grandma Aggie was 95 when she just left us and she was beautiful with her tattoos and the most amazing human, that I have ever met!

Yaocihuatl
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Yes a million times and more!

NANCY L ROCK
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

BEAUTIFULLY STATED!!!

Tomi
Guest
Tomi
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

Respect!

Mere
Guest
Mere
4 years ago
Reply to  Stevey Seymour

<3

Wendy O.
Guest
Wendy O.
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

The kind of thinking that starts with “every human on the face of the earth” must conform to any single idea is what has kept humankind killing each other in wars and conflicts for the entire two hundred thousand years of “modern” human history. And it continues today. The fact that that there are still people who think we should all be pigeon-holed into a single mold to make us look and walk and talk and think and behave and worship the same way is why the world is in the constant state of chaos that it is. Get a clue.

pope suburban
Guest
pope suburban
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

No one owes you or your preferences anything. This art show is about sacred cultural practices that have been maligned and stamped out by small-minded people who felt they had a right to dictate how others live. You and I don’t get a say here, nor should we ever have imposed ours on others.

NativeNzMaori
Guest
NativeNzMaori
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Why? Vanity takes no part when it comes to cultural design. Go away with your white washed ways. This is why we age gracefully and you don’t

Kakendasot
Guest
Kakendasot
4 years ago
Reply to  NativeNzMaori

🙌🏻

Olivia RunningRam
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Women were not put here to look beautiful for you. Now give that a thought!!

Lisa
Guest
Lisa
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

This is ritual, tribal tatooing, not some stupid, drunken foray. Please respect the difference.

Wahine mau moko
Guest
Wahine mau moko
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

No, from culture to culture certain things hold differing degrees of importance and value. Maybe vanity is just a white person thing? Or maybe indigenous cultures have different ideas of what physical beauty is and what they find attractive in a mate?
Either way, sorry for your ignorance and your tunnel vision perspective. Man you are missing out!

Deborah Davey
Guest
Deborah Davey
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

You still don’t realise that we don’t give a dam about the effects of age on tattoos??? We ( persons who are tattooed) worry about the effects of age on our tattoos as much as we worry about the effects of age on our bodies.
You dont like tattoos? That’s ok, swipe on.

davina millay
Guest
davina millay
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

tribal tattoos are a form of expression and identification. No matter the age and the lifestyles people choose, their tattoos will always represent something deeper than what any other person or society my project.

Thomasa
Guest
Thomasa
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Indigenous Consciousness .
I am me.
I am Tohono O’odham.
Is all I have to say .

Joanne Ray
Guest
Joanne Ray
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

The women on my mom’s side of the family, have been wearing these special markings on their faces for generations. My great aunt when she died at the age of 87, had her special markings since she became a women while in her teens. Her markings on her face were precious and lovely to see. Sure they faded, but she still was a beautiful, graceful woman. There were no issues with “gravity and age” if anything they enhanced her looks as a proud Yupik indigenous woman.

Melanie Ortiz
Guest
Melanie Ortiz
4 years ago
Reply to  Joanne Ray

I’m so happy your family has persevered to keep this tradition alive.

Aiya
Guest
Aiya
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

You do realize alize that different interpretations of what beauty is do exist right? And it may be worth considering that your concept of beauty and world views are not the only ones, nor are they relevant to someone else’s cultural and spiritual customs and expression.

Charlene Chrisman
Guest
Charlene Chrisman
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Facial tattooing in most Native cultures have a religious and cultural identity connected to them. Most people don’t know this because it it not widely known or shared in educational institutions or in the press. As a California Tribal member, thank you for giving me a voice.

Ms. Tisiga
Guest
Ms. Tisiga
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Wow! Gravity & Age??!! Screw societal norms and what your thoughts on beauty. Beyond and above that egotistical train of thought. Indigenous rising

Melanie Ortiz
Guest
Melanie Ortiz
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Wow! Your thoughts are so colonized be. Ignorant of the oppression of our cultures have faced.

None yq
Guest
None yq
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

Binbearda4,

[Edit] maybe find a way to become a little more cultured. We’re not talking about tramp stamps for little college white girls here… thanks

Lady Krow
Guest
Lady Krow
4 years ago
Reply to  binbearda4

When we believe in something with our whole heart because it is our people’s way, our tradition, our culture, saggy tattoos are the least of our worries. We do these things with great spiritual purpose, not only as personal preference.

Transparency
Guest
Transparency
4 years ago

HAF needs to discuss its own “me too” moment regarding its past misogynistic Director before they have my support again.

Wendy O.
Guest
Wendy O.
4 years ago

Thank you for this post, Kim. Indigenous tattoos and faces that wear them are beautiful. And I particularly like the comment about minding one’s own life.

TeriLynn Caine
Guest
TeriLynn Caine
4 years ago

They are beautiful, I carry mine proudly, with honor!

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

Tatau =
Polynesian culture

Tatau is not a north American first nation tradition.

If they were doing it, it wasn’t known as tatau.

Co-opt others culture much?

Ufa oi

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” -Billy S.

Asiqłuq
Guest
Asiqłuq
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

In Iñupiatun (Iñupiaq in Alaska), the chin tattoo is called tavluġun. It has been an Iñupiaq women’s cultural heritage for thousands of years. It is not just a Polynesian tradition.

Amanda Julius
Guest
Amanda Julius
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

What do you mean “If they were doing it”? Of course they were. It was stick and poke or hand poke. Hand scratching and other titels translated to english. This term tattoo or tatau is universally known now. I call my chin “tattoo” medicine? Oh…. I’m not indigenous to the America’s either. Nothing like scaring fellow people of the same skin tone. XD

NzNativeMaori
Guest
NzNativeMaori
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

We are all connected. Our ancestors went from tahiti to the native Americans a very long time ago, before colonisers even knew how to sail. Hence why us Māori have the Kumara (sweet potato)…

Lizzy
Guest
Lizzy
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

Inuit women have been doing it for Millenia. It obviously wasn’t called tattoo. In our language is was called tunniit.

Melanie Ortiz
Guest
Melanie Ortiz
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

🙄🙄🙄🙄

NZ Māori Native
Guest
NZ Māori Native
4 years ago

I love this… Reinforces the theory our people met before Colonisers even knew how to sail. My people too wear moko on their face both men and women

Jan
Guest
Jan
4 years ago

My Great Grandmother had these tatoos on her chin. When she died at approx 101 they were very faint. In our community the stripes were earned and a matter of respect in our community for various strengths. Now I see young ladies with stripes that I know are not even old enough have had earned the stripes. More upsetting is to see a non tribal person wearing stripes. I was 6 when my Gram died. Later on in years i found her obituary she was very respected in our community. But now days to each his own I think all Native women are beautiful in their own ways.

Thomasa Rivas
Guest
Thomasa Rivas
4 years ago

Indigenous Consciousness
I am Tohono O’odham
I am me.

Juliana Marez
Guest
Juliana Marez
4 years ago

Having survived termination policies, forced sterilization, boarding schools, colonization, domestic violence and abduction in frightening numbers, the 111 is a mark of courage, belonging and cultural continuity. Despite all the past, resilience and timeless beauty will always define indigenous women.

Kakendasot
Guest
Kakendasot
4 years ago
Reply to  Juliana Marez

Thank you for this and thank you persevering tawi.

Don Steinruck
Guest
Don Steinruck
4 years ago

Native women have a royal beauty about themselves. Having tattoo’s on their face just accents their beauty and it is a means of honoring their heritage, culture, language and family traditions.

Gnee
Guest
Gnee
4 years ago

It is not a Decoration. It is a Declaration!

Kimberly Kelly
Guest
Kimberly Kelly
4 years ago

A picture is worth a thousand words. I added a chin tattoo in honor of my Nadawa Heritage. I used an aging app and here is the result.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0CzVnfFaHc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This is me unaltered with the tattoo
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXmUpyFCOl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Maraea
Guest
Maraea
4 years ago

In my country Aotearoa (New Zealand) we call these Moko Kauai. They are traditionally done on women to represent where they come from but also the change of wairua (spiritual/essence) within that wahine (lady). They are mostly worn by our Kuia (women elders) and most of them are healers within our culture.

Pamela Lujan
Guest
Pamela Lujan
4 years ago

Always a hater in the group. These paintings are so powerful and beautiful one day your skin shall sag for the remark you made about the tattoos. Becareful what you say. #INDIGENOUSSTRONGWOMEN

Kakendasot
Guest
Kakendasot
4 years ago

Bozho. Hello. Considering all my tawi have already told off the colonizer in the group I wanted to use this to reach out. I love this fire and all the conversations and stories you’ve shared. I am Loon Clan Bodwewadmi (Potawatomi according to the Federal Gov). I am a MA/PhD student hoping to restructure, reclaim, and decolonize institutions. My research is on tattooing because I know my ancestors tattooed but white anthropologists did not care about women or their tattoos, and by the time they started exoticizing these medicines we had been forced on the Trail of Death and into boarding schools. Our tattoos no longer existed except in our hidden elders up north. My family was removed to Indian country and thus removed from these elders. In the process of revitalizing this medicine do you have any advice? I am still too young and undeserving of these medicines but someday I hope I can be and I hope to help my people for the 7th and 8th fires. Migwetth – thank you.

Mara
Guest
Mara
4 years ago

Are the variations of the tattoos from different families or do they have other meanings?