![]() ![]() That said, I must admit that there’s been a disconnect between that and a sort of prudish societal influence. WT: How has working on this project changed how you think about people who have abortions?ĮY: I’ve always been adamantly pro-choice, and I know and love people who’ve had abortions. I’m also encouraging people not in my area who want one of the designs tattooed to please take the design to their local tattooer and then match the amount (or whatever amount they can!) in a donation to We Testify. As part of the idea, I’m encouraging any interested tattooers to please use the designs and donate the profits. But the designs can be shared with tattooers everywhere. Obviously, I can only do so many tattoos, and only for people who are able to come to my studio. My hope is that it will reach further than I can. Then I remembered the idea I’d had about donating tattoo earnings from the We Testify images, and decided to act on that too. I felt better for the first time, suddenly hopeful and empowered. After a day or two had passed, a friend of mine reached out with the idea of planning an event in our community that would provide resources and raise donations. I was devastated along with millions of others. Later that same day, we all found out the results of the presidential election. Then, I thought about the Taco or Beer Challenge that abortion funds started over the summer, and how cool it would be to do something similar with tattoos. ![]() I said I’d love to be the one to do it, and I started thinking that it would be meaningful to donate the amount back to We Testify. Renee Bracey Sherman and Yamani both mentioned that they’d been thinking about having one tattooed as well. On the morning of November 8th, We Testify tagged me on Twitter to point out a post from a woman who had gotten a tattoo of one of the images I’d created for the campaign. I thought to myself, if I never do anything great again with my work, I will die happy knowing that I was a part of this. I was speechless I’d had no idea that it would be used in that context and I felt so moved and so proud. The first time I saw how you had put my work into context was when it was used on signs at the Supreme Court rally earlier this year. Like I said before, I didn’t realize the scope of the project when I started it. But it was new to me to be able to do something with my art that was purposeful at this scale. I’ve used my artwork before to support causes I believe in, mainly by donating paintings to art sales and auctions for various organizations. It took some personal work to decide that it was okay to pursue a creative career simply because it was what I loved. Power to the people tattoo full#I come from a family with the kinds of careers that unquestionably help people – my mom just retired from a career as a special education teacher, my dad is a psychologist, and my extended family is full of doctors, lawyers, activists, and volunteers. I struggled for a long time before I found my career, and part of the reason is that while I was always drawn to making art, I didn’t feel like it was a purposeful enough career. ![]() WT: What motivated you to not only support We Testify with your art, but through donations?ĮY: First of all, I’d like to say that supporting We Testify with my art was particularly powerful for me. I wasn’t totally sure what the project would entail, and I had no idea of its scope (which I later found was impressively far reaching!), but I was sure that I wanted to seize the chance to do something with my art that would support abortion access. I’m a pro-choice feminist, and while I’ve never fully been an activist, I’d say I’ve always had activist leanings. Right away, I saw that it was something I’d be proud to support. I wasn’t familiar with your organization at the time, so I looked up the website to learn more about it. And I felt very proud that my kindness had been meaningful to her, and led to something years later that I couldn’t have predicted. When she later reached out about We Testify, I was very flattered that she’d continued to follow my work, and that you all saw something special in it. I ran into her again a few years later, and she told me that I had stood out to her as someone who was welcoming and kind. ![]() I first met Yamani Hernandez briefly many years ago, while I was working at a tattoo studio during my tattoo apprenticeship. We Testify: What was your first reaction when we called and told you about We Testify?Įvie Yapelli: I was honored that you wanted my work to represent the project. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |