Miss Amanda Arkansassy is the real deal. She was my first real SnP fanย (besides friends & mothers who just support everything I do). When others could not imagine the purpose of aย 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. ย 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. ย also if you haven’t told any queer femmes in your life that you love them today, hop to it.
Q10:ย 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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