TaHN 35: The Tattooing Industry and Upbringing with Pym Avery

Pym Avery is a revolutionary tattoo artist who began tattooing in 1987 at just 19. Travelling around Europe in a van and learning the craft entirely on her own, She opened her first tattoo shop in southern Germany in 1995, making her among the first women to break into a strongly male-dominated trade. More than three decades later, her journey is laid out in her memoir Show Time (published 2024), which recounts her struggles, travels, and evolution alongside the tattoo industry’s transformation from underground subculture to mainstream art. Today, while she tattoos only occasionally at conventions or by guest-spot, she continues to create, turning to writing and other art forms when not at the tattoo machine. You can find her Instagram account at @pymtattoo Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Joshua Thomas - Editor & Producer Savanna Carpenter - Editor & Producer Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Aaron Deter-Wolf is a Prehistoric Archaeologist with the Tennessee Division of Archaeology in Nashville, where his responsibilities include managing ancient Native American sites on State-owned lands and conducting archaeological excavations and research. In addition to his work in Tennessee, for the past decade Aaron has been a leading researcher in developing the archaeological study of tattooing. Those efforts include using contextual analysis and microscopic use-wear signatures to identify tattooing tools in archaeological collections, efforts to systematically document tattoos on mummified human remains, and experiments recreating and testing ancient and historic tattooing implements. In 2009 Aaron organized the first American academic symposium to examine ancient and early historic Native American tattooing, which culminated in the volume Drawing with Great Needles: Ancient Tattoo Traditions of North America. He is co-editor of the volume Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing, and in recent years was part of research teams that identified ancient tattooing tools including a 2,000-year old set of cactus spines from Utah, and 5,000-year old turkey bone needles from Tennessee. He and Ben Robitaille share information about the history of tattooing and body modification on the Instagram account @archaeologyink. Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Joshua Thomas - Editor & Producer Savanna Carpenter - Editor & Producer Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Michelle Myles started tattooing in 1991 when tattooing was still illegal in New York City. When tattooing was legalized in 1997 Michelle and Brad opened Daredevil Tattoo on Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side. We discuss with her the history of tattooing in New York, some of which she covers on her walking tour of the Bowery, and her own personal experience as a tattoo artist working in New York both before and after the tattoo ban was lifted. If find yourself in New York, stop by her shop/museum to see their entire collection. Here are some links to sources discussed in this episode: http://www.daredeviltattoo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/daredeviltattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/daredevilmichelle/ Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Su‘a Sulu‘ape Aisea Toetu‘u is of Tongan and Filipino descent and lives in Hawai‘i. Since 2007, he has been the owner and operator of the world-renowned Soul Signature Tattoo in Honolulu. He received his tatau from Su‘a Sulu‘ape Alaiva‘a Petelo and was also given the Sulu‘ape title as a tufuga, which gave him the right to use the family tools. It was then that Toetu‘u started tattooing using the traditional tapping method. After completing several tataus and malus, he was given another title, Su‘a, from tufuga Su‘a Sulu‘ape Petelo. Toetu‘u teaches art courses in Hawai‘i, frequently organizes art shows, and is a leading figure in the Polynesian tattoo and cultural revival. Here are some links to sources discussed in this episode: http://www.soulsignaturetattoo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/soulsignaturetattoohawaii/ Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Dr. Becci Owens is a regular co-host on TaHN. As a trained evolutionary psychologist, she brings a fresh perspective to all the anthropological interviews we do with our regular guests. In today's episode, we'll talk to her about her research, her journey to where she is, and most interestingly, her personal experience as a heavily tattooed woman in academia. Here is a link if you'd like to learn more about Becci: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/about/staff/psychology/rebeccaowens/ Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Stacy Becker is an artist and tattooist who specializes in medical tattooing, in particular NAC (nipple-areola complex) reconstruction. She owns her own medical tattooing center in Longwood, Florida where she takes patients in need of a wide range of services. Here is a link to her website: https://www.empowertattoo.com/ Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Matthias Bartneck about his recent study on the way tattoo inks are received & metabolized in the body after they are administered. Apart from his research into tattoos, his research group is mostly focused on using drugs with nucleic acids (formulated as lipid nanoparticles) as an active ingredient. He lives and works in Germany. You can learn more about his lab and his research at https://www.ukaachen.de/kliniken-institute/klinik-fuer-gastroenterologie-stoffwechselerkrankungen-und-internistische-intensivmedizin-med-klinik-iii/forschung/ag-bartneck/ You can reach Dr. Bartneck via email at [email protected] We highly recommend you watch this video made to beautifully illustrate what we learned from his research: https://youtu.be/nGggU-Cxhv0?si=DeKs5SaJgPQps2Sk Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Tricia Allen is a tattooist with an extensive background in Polynesian history. Her approach to the art is unique in that she has tattooed over 8000 members of the Polynesian community, yet has an extensive academic background. She completed her Master's thesis at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1992 on the early practice of tattooing in the Marquesas Islands. Having completed her Master's degree in Anthropology, Allen began her doctoral research in the islands, researching the revival of the arts in the Pacific. Her work has taken her to Samoa, Aotearoa, New Caledonia, the Society Islands, the Marquesas and Rapa Nui, as well as numerous museums and institutions abroad. You can learn more about her on her website: thepolynesiantattoo.com/ Tattooing & Human Nature is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Co-host Tricia Allen - Co-host Saige Kelmelis - Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media or email us at [email protected].

Tricia Allen is a tattooist with an extensive background in Polynesian history. Her approach to the art is unique in that she has tattooed over 8000 members of the Polynesian community, yet has an extensive academic background. She completed her Master's thesis at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1992 on the early practice of tattooing in the Marquesas Islands. Having completed her Master's degree in Anthropology, Allen began her doctoral research in the islands, researching the revival of the arts in the Pacific. Her work has taken her to Samoa, Aotearoa, New Caledonia, the Society Islands, the Marquesas and Rapa Nui, as well as numerous museums and institutions abroad. You can learn more about her on her website: https://thepolynesiantattoo.com/ Inking of Immunity is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Associate Producer & Co-host Mike Smetana - Associate Producer & Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media on Facebook (inking.of.immunity), Twitter (@inking_immunity), and Instagram (@inking.of.immunity) Email us at [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of self-harm. mel is a métis, nehiyaw, nakota, saulteaux, french, and irish mother, community worker, researcher, writer, visual artist, traditional tattoo practitioner and phd student at concordia university focused on healing, decolonization, and (re)connection for Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous women. working closely with the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, mel is vice president of the board, advocating for the safety of Indigenous people as well as Indigenous representation, education, and employment. Inking of Immunity is made possible by all these people: Chris Lynn - Executive Producer & Co-host Becci Owens - Associate Producer & Co-host Mike Smetana - Associate Producer & Co-host Kira Yancey - Production Manager Find us on social media on Facebook (inking.of.immunity), Twitter (@inking_immunity), and Instagram (@inking.of.immunity) Or email us! at [email protected]