Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Should I get a swastika tattoo?

Nonsense " backpacker " type article on swastika tattoos from the Mail and Guardian Online ( South Africa ). One of the many reasons why most journalists should never be allowed write for the OPINION section!!!
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-12-21-should-i-get-a-swastika-tattoo

Monday, December 13, 2010

MANWOMAN: Path to the reclamation of the Swastika.

These pics show me awakening to the spiritual, changing my name, scaring my relatives, taking a leap of faith. By 1967, I was dreaming that the swastika needed to be restored and, what is more startling, I acted on it. 
Night after night in 1965, my body went into a spontaneous trance 
and my spirit soared up through a vortex of energy, power, and 
sound and melted in god, love, and peace. No drugs were involved.


I call this "Womb Of The Sacred" - my spirit soaring up into the mystical light of the Source. This triggered my swastika dreams and my realization that the swastika is universal and it stands for that blessing place inside all of us.
This was the poster for my first art
show in Edmonton, Alberta using the
name ManWoman. 1969.
Scared the shit out of my friends and relatives
.
My first tattoo - a tiny swastika on my pinky because of persistent dreams.
Tattooed by Sonny O using a needle in the end of a pencil. 1969
I created 5 dragon guitars from my dreams with the help of Frank Gay, a famous Edmonton guitar maker. This one is called The Miracle of Saint Penis - to express the sexual/spiritual energy in my spine "Shakti". 1969-1975
I designed Smiley Swastika knowing that he would be loved by millions all over the world in the future. 1968
My dreams told me the restore the swastika as a sacred symbol.
I started tattooing myself with swastikas. First one in 1969, on my pinky finger, then my hands tattooed by Fat Rick in 1971. Every tattoo shop had a big sign - No Hands or Faces Tattooed. When I tattooed my Third Eye, it ended my first marriage.
Here are my hand tattoos by Fat Rick. 1971
By 1982, I had all of my major work completed by Sudsy Soper.
My "Gentle Swastika" painting was created to soothe some of my Jewish friends. I used the image on a postcard which I silk screened for the swastika
conference at Swastika, Ontario, Canada, 1985.

In 1985, three of my swastika penpals and I held a conference in Swastika, Ontario, Canada.
Guru Svastika - Germany, Douglas Youngblood - Chicago, Carolyn O'Neil - town historian of Swastika, and me, ManWoman - Canada. A lady I know made us the fuzzy swastikas
.
This was a huge break for me, thanks to Lyle Tuttle (he had photographed me for his Tattoo Museum). I circulated a "Swastika Declaration of Independance" that was signed by many tattoo artists. The most famous are Lyle Tuttle, Don Ed Hardy, Leo Zulueta, Hanky Panky, and Spider Webb.
Sweet Swastika, 35" X 35", acrylic on canvas. Collection of Frank Anderson, Edmonton.
No publisher, no distributor, no bookstore would touch my book. In 2001, I published it myself. Some bookstores would return the books saying, "My customers say they will never shop here again if I don't get rid of that book," so most of 3,000 copies were sold online to Friends of the Swastika - Yay!  Available at http://www.manwoman.net/