Miss Amanda Arkansassy is the real deal. She was my first real SnP fan (besides friends & mothers who just support everything I do). When others could not imagine the purpose of a Stick & Poke Tattoo Kit – she excitedly told me that she loved it and would take one ASAP. She proceeded to have a Stick and Poke Themed Birthday. This badass southern belle may have given me the confidence I needed to get to where I am today (in my living room now with several paper cuts and ink stains) with over 250 kits sold worldwide in less than a year. I am very grateful to her. She has most recently photographed my kits, bumping them up to Professional Status.
Let’s ask her more questions…
Q1: How do you Identify? What should I call you?
activist-artist-queer-
Q2 How did you get into photography?
I have always loved photography, ever since i was a wee thang. i used to convince my parents to buy me disposable cameras for every summer camp (which was either church camp or cheer camp). when i was old enough to drive, my friends and i would spend all day taking the early 2000s version of the “selfie,” drive to the neighboring town Wal-Mart to drop off the film and eat tex-mex while it developed.
Q3: Who/what do you most like to photograph?
I love to photograph queers and rural landscapes (mostly my hometown landscapes in rural arkansas). i have yet to photograph queers in rural landscapes which would be a total dream.
{Let’s help her make that happen, Yall.}
Q4.: What are you dreams?
see above. i spend a lot of time dreaming about queer country revolutions, the politics of queer southern migrations (to and from), and creating queer rural communities that hold each other close.
Q5: What is the weirdest thing you ever did?
I’m kind of a weird human being, which people don’t usually expect from a high femme. when i had the opportunity to meet Bill Clinton, i told him my feet hurt.
{:-D}
Q6: What are you SO excited about right now?
surviving Pride and sleeping it off
Q6.5: What are your postapocalyptical skills (so I know if we can be on the same team)?
i’m calm under pressure and can make a stellar outfit out of found objects. every apocalypse needs fashion, because fashion is also a form of survival.
Q7: What is your experience with Stick And Poking?
i have yet to stick and poke myself or anyone else. but i am a big fan of DIY artistry and making art forms accessible to everyone. maybe i can get nic to poke me someday soon!
Q8: What is your next (planned) tattoo?
i’m in talks with a local tattoo artist, zeph fish, to get the word “Wild” in script on the top of my right thigh. i have many tattoo dreams though, which involve lipstick, leopard spots, turnip greens and mocking birds.
Q9: What would you like to share to the 500 people that visit my site today?
i would like to take your portrait (if you’re in the bay area or if yr a sugar thang that wants to bring me to you). i’m sliding scale and your photo won’t look contrived or corporate. also if you haven’t told any queer femmes in your life that you love them today, hop to it.
Q10: How can a sucka get in touch with you for professional help?
all suckas may inquire within:
www.arkansassy.com
www.facebook.com/
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