This fundraiser is for individuals who want to support the Fem Tattour docuseries. The current plan is to leave for the Philippines mid-May to interview the world's oldest tattoo artist (108!) and the young women who serve as her apprentices. They live in a small, rural village about a 10 or 12 hour drive from Manila. The trip is difficult but well worth the effort.

About Fem Tattour

Take a journey across borders, cultures, generations, and time to see the relationship women have with the art of tattooing. From ancient Egyptian tattooed female mummies to the South Korean underground scene, this docuseries illuminates the unique connection between gender politics, body image, autonomy, and art.

The Director’s Story

When I was 36, I made a pivotal decision: to have my head tattooed. My hair began falling out when I was 13, and yes, it was devastating for an adolescent girl. It took another 23 years for me to embrace it. As a tattoo-less 36-year-old, I also embraced the beauty of art on skin. An obsession was born. My body is no longer something that fills me with shame. It is a canvas for some of the best tattoo artists in the world.As I began researching tattoo artists for my canvas, I found that they are some of the most interesting people around, especially because of their existence in an artistic subculture. The women artists were those I related to the most, understanding the desire to make changes to the body to feel a sense of control. Thus began my world tattour. My vision was to visit drastically different locations and artists and write a book about my experience and discoveries. While the book is in the works, a docuseries has become a frequent suggestion from fans of the fem tattour idea.

I hope you will consider making a donation. Even a dollar helps.

--Jenn Gibson

Jennifer is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who began her television career twenty years ago. She has a bachelor’s degree from NYU in social psychology and film and a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her producing credits include work for Discovery Channel and The History Channel, and she spent almost 12 years at Arkansas PBS where she produced many television programs and directed, produced, and edited the Emmy-winning documentary feature about soil conservation “Dirt.”