Permanent Behavior: Collective Ownership + Bodily Autonomy Through Stick-and-Poke - Publication Date |
- Sep 09, 2022
- Episode Duration |
- 00:19:48
Sophia Blum, also known as Pio Poke, is a master of the stick-and-poke (or hand poke) method of tattooing. With a handheld needle, she creates detailed textile designs and images of feathers, arrows, birds and botanicals.
On top of being a skilled artist, she's in the business of changing the industry — after recognizing unfair labor practices within traditional tattoo parlors, where owners get the lion's share of the the revenue and workers make a small percentage, Blum organized with other artists and formed Thorns Tattoo, a worker-owned studio.
This week, we talk with Pio Poke about manually making her mark, as well as the importance of workers' rights and bodily autonomy.
Read the episode transcript here.