Salma Travels Cross-Country!!!!
Donation protected
ABOUT ME:
Hello, my name is Salma Vir and I thank you so much for taking the time to consider supporting my journey. Let me start by telling you a little about me and why this trip is much more than a post-undergrad detour. I recently graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2015 with a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Global Poverty. This degree took me 7 years to obtain. In the midst of my education came chaos, instability, continued struggle with an eating disorder and a serious drug addiction. In 2011, I was given the opportunity to get clean from all substances and two years after that I was blessed with the same opportunity to finally abstain from a 10 year battle with bulimia nervosa. Through recovery I was able to complete my education, get my degree, and realize lost dreams. I have been given a second chance at life and I don’t take that chance lightly.
Before I entered the downward spiral of addiction, mental illness, and disordered eating, I had many dreams. Dreams of being an artist, dreams of dancing, dreams of using art to heal others - so many DREAMS. This past January I realized my most burning desire - to become a tattoo artist. Not just any tattoo artist, but a healing artist; one that uses tattooing as a healing practice for those suffering from body image, self-mutilation and poor self-esteem. I want to use my talents to provide others with hope and healing, and to inject positivity into the world around me.
ABOUT MY JOURNEY:
Well, in honor of my decision to commit to my dreams of becoming a tattoo artist, visual artist, and healer, I will be chronicling my journey through social media and video - the end result being a mini documentary entitled Stick ’n Pokes and Spiritual Giants: Healing Ink. In this documentary I want to explore the healing power of art - particularly tattooing. How can tattooing not only produce interpersonal and internal healing, but heal those wounds that arise due to systems of power, such as racism, sexism, and capitalism? How can tattooing be used to protest against malicious beauty standards and patriarchy? How can tattooing bring people together and build community? What are the implicit biases that appear when discussing tattoo culture across racial, ethnic, gender, and class lines?
During my travels, I will be interviewing various tattoo artists and tattoo fanatics. And as someone who has recently learned (and still learning) the art of stick ’n poke tattooing, I plan to incorporate my own tattoos and tattoo sessions in this documentary. I plan to be on the road for at least 6 months, collecting video footage, interviews, and material all along the way.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Once again thank you for taking the time to consider supporting my journey! I am so excited and nervous, yet so so grateful that I have the opportunity to embark on such a mission. I am incredibly lucky.
Anything will help push me one step closer towards my goal. Your generous contributions will be providing me:
- Transportation (car maintenance)
- Gas
- Food (dry goods, stove top)
- Lodging
- Tattoo supplies (needles, ink, cleaning supplies, tattoo recovery supplies)
- Art supplies
- Recording and lighting equipment
- National Parks Pass
- Camping gear
- Self-defense needs
- Clothing and personal care
- A once in a lifetime experience :)
Hello, my name is Salma Vir and I thank you so much for taking the time to consider supporting my journey. Let me start by telling you a little about me and why this trip is much more than a post-undergrad detour. I recently graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2015 with a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Global Poverty. This degree took me 7 years to obtain. In the midst of my education came chaos, instability, continued struggle with an eating disorder and a serious drug addiction. In 2011, I was given the opportunity to get clean from all substances and two years after that I was blessed with the same opportunity to finally abstain from a 10 year battle with bulimia nervosa. Through recovery I was able to complete my education, get my degree, and realize lost dreams. I have been given a second chance at life and I don’t take that chance lightly.
Before I entered the downward spiral of addiction, mental illness, and disordered eating, I had many dreams. Dreams of being an artist, dreams of dancing, dreams of using art to heal others - so many DREAMS. This past January I realized my most burning desire - to become a tattoo artist. Not just any tattoo artist, but a healing artist; one that uses tattooing as a healing practice for those suffering from body image, self-mutilation and poor self-esteem. I want to use my talents to provide others with hope and healing, and to inject positivity into the world around me.
ABOUT MY JOURNEY:
Well, in honor of my decision to commit to my dreams of becoming a tattoo artist, visual artist, and healer, I will be chronicling my journey through social media and video - the end result being a mini documentary entitled Stick ’n Pokes and Spiritual Giants: Healing Ink. In this documentary I want to explore the healing power of art - particularly tattooing. How can tattooing not only produce interpersonal and internal healing, but heal those wounds that arise due to systems of power, such as racism, sexism, and capitalism? How can tattooing be used to protest against malicious beauty standards and patriarchy? How can tattooing bring people together and build community? What are the implicit biases that appear when discussing tattoo culture across racial, ethnic, gender, and class lines?
During my travels, I will be interviewing various tattoo artists and tattoo fanatics. And as someone who has recently learned (and still learning) the art of stick ’n poke tattooing, I plan to incorporate my own tattoos and tattoo sessions in this documentary. I plan to be on the road for at least 6 months, collecting video footage, interviews, and material all along the way.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Once again thank you for taking the time to consider supporting my journey! I am so excited and nervous, yet so so grateful that I have the opportunity to embark on such a mission. I am incredibly lucky.
Anything will help push me one step closer towards my goal. Your generous contributions will be providing me:
- Transportation (car maintenance)
- Gas
- Food (dry goods, stove top)
- Lodging
- Tattoo supplies (needles, ink, cleaning supplies, tattoo recovery supplies)
- Art supplies
- Recording and lighting equipment
- National Parks Pass
- Camping gear
- Self-defense needs
- Clothing and personal care
- A once in a lifetime experience :)
Organizer
Salma Josephine Vir
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
