For the record, I think your Juno design is fantastic, not cutesy at all.
I'll admit it: I'm prejudiced against knotwork tattoos. It's an awesome style of art, but I have bad associations with poser spiritualists of the wiccan/pagan/made-up-mysticism variety. This. *raises hand* Me as well.
I don't feel like I personally have a culture or community to draw artistic inspiration from, to find comfort or identity in, and as a result I feel sort of... bereft, I guess. Isolated. I get this, completely - I'm a diasporic European mix, and I'm so many things that I'm only a little of any one of them. But even though I get it, I think there's a danger in starting with that kind of feeling and ending with a design based on indigenous artwork being inked onto your skin. No matter how good your intentions are, how much the art style speaks to you, there's still a power imbalance that's going to make your use of Haida design look appropriating.
The history of colonialism in the Northwest is enough to make me deeply uncomfortable whenever white folks use anything from the tribes out here without asking permission first. We've got a lot of time and work ahead before any 'cultural dilution' can be something that isn't harmful, and it's in the hands of the indigenous people to decide when to reach out.
All that said, you might consider getting in touch with someone - maybe from one of the cultural councils or foundations? I'm not really sure who would be appropriate - and asking a Haida representative directly about their feelings on the use of their style to create new works like your horse, especially for a tattoo. They could very well be fine with it (but that doesn't mean no one will be offended by it).
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-06-18 02:21 am (UTC)I'll admit it: I'm prejudiced against knotwork tattoos. It's an awesome style of art, but I have bad associations with poser spiritualists of the wiccan/pagan/made-up-mysticism variety.
This. *raises hand* Me as well.
I don't feel like I personally have a culture or community to draw artistic inspiration from, to find comfort or identity in, and as a result I feel sort of... bereft, I guess. Isolated.
I get this, completely - I'm a diasporic European mix, and I'm so many things that I'm only a little of any one of them. But even though I get it, I think there's a danger in starting with that kind of feeling and ending with a design based on indigenous artwork being inked onto your skin. No matter how good your intentions are, how much the art style speaks to you, there's still a power imbalance that's going to make your use of Haida design look appropriating.
The history of colonialism in the Northwest is enough to make me deeply uncomfortable whenever white folks use anything from the tribes out here without asking permission first. We've got a lot of time and work ahead before any 'cultural dilution' can be something that isn't harmful, and it's in the hands of the indigenous people to decide when to reach out.
All that said, you might consider getting in touch with someone - maybe from one of the cultural councils or foundations? I'm not really sure who would be appropriate - and asking a Haida representative directly about their feelings on the use of their style to create new works like your horse, especially for a tattoo. They could very well be fine with it (but that doesn't mean no one will be offended by it).