You may have seen on Facebook that I have taken advantage of the lockdown to
have carpal tunnel release surgery done on both my hands. I'm pleased to say it
was successful and my hands are significantly improved!

During my travels I've always collected interesting ethnic fabrics. I
certainly didn't expect to be using them to make facemasks however. It's been a
fun challenge as I approach it the same way I would a tattoo, trying to utilize
the designs to fit the face in the most artistic & interesting way possible.
They were popular sellers early in the pandemic; I probably produced over 500.
Fortunately it got me through the summer months during lockdown when there was
no other work. I still have a number on hand if you are interested in
purchasing. You can see a selection on Instagram - @MasksByTricia. I am also on
Instagram under @TriciasPacificArt which is where I occasionally post tattoos. I
have only a few colors/sizes/styles remaining, but the price is largely reduced.

When travelling I also try to support local artists and galleries by buying
art -largely prints (they are easy to carry). I've realized that it's time I
clear out a lot of my art collection.  I'll be selling vintage framed
prints by my favorite Matson artist, Eric Gill. I also have a number of prints
of Bobby Holcomb's art. Bobby was an incredibly talented musician and artist who
resided on Huahine in the western Society Islands. He had a tremendous impact on
Tahitian culture in the 1980s & 1990s. Today a beautiful fare pote'e and
community museum on Huahine features Bobby's work and sells his prints. Whenever
I visit I buy a handful but I've been hoarding art for too long. Email me with
Art & Prints in the subject category and I'll send you samples of what I'm
selling.

It is with regret that I must share the news that the Polynesian tattoo
community has recently lost a remarkable practitioner, Croc Coulter, who has
been tattooing on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands for many years. Croc was a
master of traditional tattoo methods and shared his art and methods with many
other Island artists. Croc passed after a long battle with cystic fibrosis in
early January. You can see a brief video and interview with Croc at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mInLBgdKM

VIRTUAL EVENT

I'll be giving a virtual presentation on Polynesian tattoo on June 7th from
6:30-8:30PM California time, It's hosted by the Asian Pacific Resource Center of
Los Angeles County Library. The presentation is free but you do need to register
at https://bit.ly/3tWyeXh  Please help
spread the word!

ONLINE

Teuila Talks is a program from Aotearoa (New Zealand) that brings up many
diverse cultural topics.  The episode on Polynesian Tattoo streams at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87itINE_A7Y

I am often asked how I got involved in Polynesian tattoo.  It's a long
story, one that is summarized in an online interview at

https://olywip.org/tattoo-artists-evolution-marked-by-respect-for-polynesian-traditions/
The interviewer, Matt Crichton, once served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Samoa
so he knew enough to ask some very interesting questions.

There are some excellent brief articles on Oceanic art on The Metropolitan
Museum website in the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.  You'll learn
about the moai of Rapa Nui, early Maori wood carving, and a number of other
Pacific Island art forms.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/essays/#!?geo=oc

The Met also has a number of their publications on their collections
accessible free on their website. Their catalog of the Pacific collection is at

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Oceania_Art_of_the_Pacific_Islands_in_the_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art

Another excellent source on Oceanic art including essays and photographs by
Professor Christopher Witcombe of Sweet Briar College is well worth browsing.
Skip over the Heilbrunn Timeline if you followed the links in my first entry
above. There are some good articles here!  See

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHpacific.html#pacific

Do you ever wonder where Polynesians came from? How and when did they settle
the remote islands of the Pacific? Then this may be of interest to you:

https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-science/where-did-polynesians-really-come-008243

Learn about tattoo traditions of coastal Papua New Guinea!  There's an
excellent article online at

https://postcourier.com.pg/living-art-mailu/

TATTOO TRIPS

Although my schedule is still somewhat tentative I am hoping to travel to
both No. & So. California during August/September assuming that the COVID risks
are minimized.  In the meantime I am available in my Kaneohe studio.

If I have worked on you before, you are aware of how careful I am with
hygiene; there is no risk. I've also had both doses of the COVID vaccine.  If
you want to get an appointment with me this trip I require that you have either
your second vaccine for more than 3 weeks or that you provide proof of a
negative test within 72 hours of your appointment. Thank you for understanding.

If you are interested in becoming a new client or have any questions, the FAQ
link on my website has quite a bit of info on the process-it may help to read it
over.
http://thepolynesiantattoo.com/schedule.htm You can email me at
tattoo@lava.net or call (808) 734-8677.

Aloha,

Tricia