Tattooing is an increasingly popular craft, yet, in Vancouver, it remains inaccessible to some communities. One local tattoo artist aims to change that.
Zion Greene-Bull has been assigning themselves a Black History Month project for the past five years to connect with their roots and learn more about Black communities and history.
In 2023, Greene-Bull plans to give free tattoos for the entirety of Black History Month which takes place in February. The only prerequisite to getting tattooed is to be Black.
"From my own experience and from listening to the experiences of other Black folks, particularly those with deeper skin tones, there are a staggering amount of barriers for our communities that prevent us from a good tattoo experience," tells Greene-Bull to Vancouver Is Awesome. "I wanted to offer something that would not only counteract that, but would also connect me with my community and spread joy."
The tattoo artist welcomes all Black folks, especially those who are also queer, transgender, a bigger size, have a disability, or are experiencing poverty. "I know those intersections can affect someone even more when trying to book a tattoo," says Greene-Bull.
They will be putting out a booking form in early January of 2023 and those interested can book a free appointment for February.
Crowdfunding for supplies and costs
Greene-Bull started a fundraiser to help cover costs for tattooing supplies, tattooing time, studio space, and other things, which will make the Black History Month project entirely free.
They also hope that the fundraiser can provide a fun and relaxed tattooing experience for their community, and hope that it will inspire similar initiatives in the future.
As of Nov. 1, the fundraiser has raised just over $2,300 of its $8,500 goal.
Greene-Bull will be tattooing at the Baohaus Collective studio and will have access to a private studio as well for accessible appointments.
Racism in tattooing
According to Statistics Canada's 2016 Census, around one per cent of B.C.'s population is Black. In tattooing, that means those looking to get a tattoo are more likely to be tattooed by a non-Black tattoo artist, including in urban centres like Vancouver.
"Every single Black person I know who has been tattooed including myself has a story about an uncomfortable encounter getting tattooed, whether it’s someone telling them they shouldn’t get colour in their tattoo, being forced to listen to racist shop banter, or having to sit through someone telling them how difficult it is to tattoo them. The list goes on, and I have personally encountered it in Vancouver multiple times, even with the privilege of being a mixed/light skin Black person," shares Greene-Bull.
Tattooing is a sacred and ancient practice, they tell V.I.A., and those getting tattooed deserve a relaxed and trusting experience. "People are not canvases," Greene-Bull says, adding that background, age, gender, sexuality, body size, skin tone, culture or ability should not prevent someone from a safe, respectful tattooing experience.
More artists have begun to take a respectful, trauma-informed approach, the tattoo artist notes, hoping that the industry will continue to head in that direction.
"Colonialism condemned us for these practices and then subsequently co-opted the skill while making it extremely difficult for us to become tattoo artists, even now in 2022," they share. "We deserve a place at the table, both tattooing and being tattooed in a comfortable and safe setting."
