Hanako Rodgers relaxes, eyes at times closed, as Cochrane tattoo artist Jordan Shea carefully creates a permanent artpiece on Rodger's forearm with his electronic needle.
The simple design of Rodgers’ own choosing is both an expression of who they are and a nod to their cheeky personality.
The tattoo reads kwIr: the phonetic spelling for queer.
“I’m so excited,” said Rodgers as Shea revealed the final work. “It looks so good.”
Rodgers, who is from Airdrie, and girlfriend Daryenne Fletcher, 19, came to town this week to wear their hearts on their sleeves for Sink or Swim Creations tattoo studio’s first Pink Flash charity event, in which $25 from each $85 piece of “flash” body art is donated to Camp fYrefly.
The annual camp aims to give Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, and two-spirit youth a welcoming place to embrace diversity and develop resiliency and leadership skills. Retreats have taken place since 2004 in locations around the country, including for four weeks this summer in Saskatoon, Peterborough, Edmonton and Cochrane.
“It was really cool,” said Rodgers, who worked at Camp fYrefly this year with a group of 14-year-olds. “It was just a lot of learning and a lot of being immersed in this accountable space. There were a few campers that really opened up at the end … it’s just a place to get to express yourself the way you want.”
After decades of fighting the fight, Rodgers said gender-fluid and gender-creative youth are now walking the hard road to a place of acceptance and Rodgers was happy play a small part at the camp to show kids there is peace on the other side.
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Rodgers said. “I’m passing the mic over.”
Tattoo artist Shea and partner Rebecca Pare, a semi-permanent makeup artist, are originally from Jasper and just opened Sink or Swim Creations.
Pare said they came up with the idea to raise money for Camp fYrefly after being drawn to its message and mandate of a strength-building, fear-free experience.
“I think it’s really great that kids can feel free and comfortable in their own skin,” said Pare, who has four children with Shea under the age of eight in their blended family. “I don’t really ever want them to be pushed toward something that they don’t want to be.”
The charity tattoo event continues at their 205 1st Street East shop until the end of the week. Clients can book time by calling (780) 931-6429 or visiting Sink or Swim’s Facebook page at facebook.com/sinkorswimcreationscochrane.
Shea will have a number of designs for charitable clients to choose from, like keys, hearts and other miniature motifs – or people can bring in their own, ready-to-go ideas, like Rodgers and Fletcher did.
“I love the way that art looks on the body. It’s a form of self-expression,” said Shea, adding he is also drawn to the positivity that Camp fYrefly offers kids.
“I had friends when we were younger that were trying to come out ... I know how difficult it was,” he said. “To support a kids’ camp where they can be free ... is a stepping stone that kids my age didn’t have when we were growing up.”
