Wizard of Oz

So for a movie that was made in 1939 the wizard of oz still kicks ass---and is even better as I pay attention to the lyrics.  Man, that cowardly lion is pretty darn funny.  I used to really like the scare crow because of his song, "whilin away the hours consulting with the flowers...." and really who can tell me "why the ocean is near the shore..."  Id be thinkin things Id never thunk before!!  But after this showing - the lions song is way way better.

"What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?"



What the heck is a hottentot you ask???  I did, to google that is...and came up with this:

Saarjite Baartman, a young Khosian woman from Southern Africa whose body was the main attraction at public spectacles in both England and France for over five years, is perhaps the most infamous case of a Khosian body on display.  Baartman, who became known as the Hottentot Venus, was brought to Europe from Cape Town in 1810 by an English ship's surgeon who wished to publicly exhibit the woman's steatopygia, her enlarged buttocks.  Her physique, particularly her steatopygic appendage, became the object of popular fascination when Baartman was exhibited naked in a cage at Piccadilly, England.

But I digress....

The local TV/Internet company here hosted a free showing of the Wizard of Oz at a little local theater.  It was gonna be awesome!  So, I decided 2 things
1. I was going to start reading the Wicked books.  You know...the books about how the wicked wich of the East came to be and all that.  Very political that land of Oz - and whats up with Glenda being so stuck up and frivolous????
2. to invite a bunch of people and make them dress up as characters from the movie.  Lots of people asked why was it like a Rocky Horror Picture Show thing or did we get a discount to get in...which is a dumb question cuz it was free....so heres my answer - because I wanted to dress up and I didn't want to be the only one.  So I told everyone else they would be the only one and what do you know peer pressure worked!

Mom is a munchkin from the lollypop guild
Dad is the Tinman
Aunt Ren is Auntie Em
Emily is the scare crow
Natalia is a flying evil monkey who hasn't gotten her wings yet so isn't quite evil enough
Carissa is another munchkin

They played it on the big screen and all I can think - maybe that wasn't such a good idea???  Like - you can see the fake settings - its more like a theatrical performance than a movie.  Yes I know it was made in 1939 - but on the TV its still magical and you don't get quite the same feeling.  Here it was like we were almost watching a live performance....which could be a good thing....

The Munchkin that hangs himself in the forest is NOT true and I know that it was demythed long time ago - as in its old news to you all, but...I can confirm this urban legend is false!  Ive seen it now with my own eyes.  One of the birds on set is in the background and fluttered its wing at the wrong moment.  If you notice when they walk up to the woodcutters cabin you will see the African Gray Crowned Crain....when you watch the movie on the big screen and they are just about to dance off to the wizard - YOU SEE THE FREAKIN BIRD....on the tiny tv its the munchkin who killed himself for love....*sigh*...

annnnnd....maybe its because it was HUGE screen and all but you could tell the blue evil flying monkeys were just "little people" - and they weren't as scary as I recall.  Oh and the Tinman was wearing gloves....rubber gloves.  His pants were also just that-pants - you see the wrinkles in the material when he walks away.... 

Spontaneous scarfication

So, I got it.  It was all so fast and I am so happy with it.  I know some people may have comments and thoughts of what could be done better, but this is for me and I like it... so keep your thoughts to yourself now unless its all in praise and adoration, then its ok.  Its a lot like people giving comments to new parents about baby names - as a parent to be, you don't want to have finally decided on a name and tell your friends and get the response of "oh I knew a (insert name here) once, they were a horrible person (insert examples of horrification here)"...and now your name that you struggled with for ever to finally decide on to brand this new life for the rest of its life...it is ruined....  So, I drew it and am very happy with all the meanings for everything in it.  There are a couple of things that I might have him touch up, but otherwise it is something I am glad to have on my body for the rest of my life. 

So you may or may not know the story behind my tattoos, but it started in Antarctica when I knew a
lady named Wendy Feather.  (no she wasn't lucky enough nor native American to be born with the name Feather, she renamed herself when she was 18).   She was a 63 year old cook that worked the night shift when I was working in the kitchens at the south pole.  Wendy and I bonded pretty well and were discussing getting a tattoo together when we got back to New Zealand.  I knew right then what I wanted to get and how I wanted it to look (inspired by a necklace frog thing a friend gave me).  It was discussing with her about my life travels and such that inspired the theme of an animal from every continent - which would limit me to 7 tattoos...not too bad a limit.   Wendy ended up getting off the ice before me (I was on one of the last planes out for the season; she was on the first).  I never did hook up with her afterwords.  But the seed was planted.  Its taken me a while as it is a work in progress and there are struggles with getting exactly what I am happy with for the rest of my life (i.e., no regrets). 
Since I had to go through New Zealand to get to Antarctica and spent a significant amount of time on NZ & because there is no "native" culture on Antarctica - this is inspired by the Maori art. 

In the latest installment I got the penguin.  

 The bat/bird for the head represents sociality (not a big deal for me, I just liked the form it took to create the head)

The fish hook in the neck represent strength, prosperity,abundance, fertility and a great respect for the sea.  It also is said to provide good luck and safety when traveling over water so is often worn by travelers. This is a very common symbol many people have from New Zealand art.

The fern in the back represents maturity
The figure above and below (the tail) the fern are made by the hammerhead shark motif, representing determination and tenacity. 
The spiral are Koru (found in the neck region, tail and belly), and represent the fern frond as it opens bringing new life and purity to the world. It also represents peace, tranquility and spirituality along with a strong sense of regrowth or new beginnings.

The bird on the chest represents freedom and safe return and, like any bird, watching the world from a different perspective.

In the wing is the twist with its crisscross form it represents the many paths of life and love and as such is regarded as the original eternity symbol. A single twist, in particular, would show the joining together of two people for eternity. Even though they sometimes move away from each other on their own journeys, they will always come together again sharing their lives and blending to become one. It tells how the strength of bond of friendship, loyalty and love will last forever.  The double and triple twists have a similar meaning but refer more to the joining of two peoples or cultures rather than individuals.  They also refer the the three baskets of knowledge.

slender loris

I am not finished, I have only 3 continents done - I need to decide what to do for Europe and North America (if I do one for NA at all) and I am now trying to settle on a design for Asia which has been narrowed down to a slender Loris or stripped hyena.

Stripped hyena from Kutch India

Id take suggestions for inspiration for the design for Asia - but this is what I am thinking thus far...It has to be inspired by images from India...and while there I really enjoyed the Buddhist colony near by which has some incredible art.  Much more influenced by Tibet, but I loved it.

 

Also, of course is the mendi work done on the streets (see my other blog June 24th about why I was in love with my own hand).  This may be more difficult, but should work.