GETTING Once taboo, modern tattooing puts art on human canvas Story by Lisa Z. Leighton
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onsidered taboo in the 19th century, tattoos evolved into symbols of courage and patriotism in the mid-20th century. In 2022, tattoos are recognized as an art form and a way to express one’s personality. And, a tattoo is sometimes used to manage a significant or painful life experience. Naturally, these two reasons are sometimes combined. Two Valley residents, 52-year-old Shana Ebright of Middleburg and 46-year old TeaJay Aikey of Mifflinburg, shared their reasons for wearing their art on their bodies. Ebright explained her “sleeve” which stretches from her shoulder to her lower arm. “The birth flowers represent the most important people in my life,” she began. “Then, the lion, the quote — ‘she’s a queen with a little bit of savage,’ followed by a wolf represents the graceful ferocity with which I would protect my children. The lotus flowers depict beautiful things coming from the mud. The mama bird is sitting at the edge of her empty nest. The cross is self-explanatory. Finally, the arrow can only be propelled forward by being pulled back first, so it’s a reminder that even if I am feeling pulled back by life, I can stand firm in the knowledge that I am about to be launched into something great.” The majority of Ebright’s tattoos, and the sleeve her son has begun, were created by Justin Craven of Acacia Tattoo Co., Lewisburg. Ebright had her first tattoo when she was 24 and she says, “You can’t just get one.” She currently has about 20 individual tattoos in addition to her arm sleeve. “For some pieces I could have probably taken a nap while they were doing it, it’s a low vibration kind of thing, then there are other ones where you are white-knuckled until they’re done,” she said smiling. Aikey waited until her early 40s to have her first tattoo Photo provided by Chris Bucher
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SUMMER 2022 | INSIDE PENNSYLVANIA
