While I was sad when Kat von D got fired from Miami Ink in a really shitty way, I was happy that I no longer had any reason to watch the show, since Ami James annoyed me so much. And I was even happier when I found out that Kat’s got a new show of her own, LA Ink.
She’s a phenomenally talented artist, and a success in a male-dominated field. So it was very happy-making for me to see that the crew she assembled for her new shop is mostly female, and deliberately so.
Even better, they talk about being women in a male-dominated field, and at least one of the artists, Hannah Aitchison, talked about pin-ups being an ironic acknowledgement of women’s traditional roles that can be enjoyed because we no longer are so tightly bound to them.
That’s not to say it’s perfect — Kat spoke of Corey Miller, a veteran tattoo artist and the only man on the crew, being a good influence if the women are “all PMSing,” for example — but just hearing the word “empowering” coming from a woman on TV, non-ironically, is an amazing thing. Especially on a network that’s pitching a lot of its programming to men by being as macho as possible, and featuring women, if at all, as self-sacrificing mothers or freaks-of-the-week.
I’ve never watched Miami Ink, even though I live very near Miami, because the idea of the show never really appealed to me, but I may have to give this one a look.
I’ve only seen “Miami Ink” a few times, but it didn’t take me long to realize that she was the most talented artist of the lot. Her skill with shading is second to none. I’m glad she’s got her own show now, even though I still think big tattoos are ugly. You go, illustrated girl!
Hey Zuz, do you have some sort of email/contact info. I want to email something to you and … sniff … don’t know how to reach you!
kindlypogmothoin (at) gmail (dot) com
Kat was my fave in Miami and I was thrilled when I saw the first commercial for her own new show. I wish her the best. I don’t recall them ever focusing on a gay customer in Miami, hopefully they may in LA. Florida, even Miami, is so backwards, it’s good she got out.
I think this show is the best thing that can happen to kat and to us.i was also thrilled when i saw she have her own show.it is a different side of the tatto industry they are showing( i think a nicer side) and they show more of the town’s culture maybe it’s because LA is more interesting than miami.It is a also interesting to see that on tlc the show a channel that vehicles mostly old traditional american ideas.
I agree. I’ve seen Miami Ink only a few times, and I didn’t even know she’d gotten canned until I saw the first episode of LA Ink…
I’ve always wanted to have her as an artist for one of my tattoo’s, but now that I’ve figured out what I want, it’s gotta be Kat’s work! She’s one of the only artists I know that could do it justice.