Sept. 2 — Tattooed and Tenacious: Inked Women in California’s History at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum

OXNARD — The Oxnard Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) Presents Tattooed & Tenacious: Inked Women in California History. Opens to the Public Sunday, September 2, 2018; 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm at 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard 93035. Explore the rich and surprising history of women and tattoos in California at CIMM’s newest exhibit. An opening reception is planned for the evening of Wednesday, September 5th, 2018, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Free for members, $7 non-members, $5 seniors/military.

While many may think of tattoos as a recent trend, inked women have a long history in California. From the working-class Tattooed Ladies who performed in circus sideshows to the upper-class inked women who helped popularize the tattoo craze; visitors will discover the largely unknown history of women and tattoos through photographs, personal histories, and artifacts.  “We are so excited to share the remarkable stories of these women and connect them with tattooing today”, said Heather Behrens, Curator, and Collections Manager at CIMM.

Almost a quarter of American women now have tattoos, while over a third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 40 wear permanent skin art.

From the upper-class women who started the tattoo craze to the working-class Tattooed Ladies who performed in circus sideshows, this exhibit puts the foremothers of modern tattooing in the spotlight. Through photographs and personal histories, this exhibit uncovers the fascinating and largely unknown story of women and tattoos before WWII. A show-stopping mannequin, hand-drawn by current Bay Area female tattoo artists and specially commissioned for this show, highlights how far women and tattooing have come.