Chance Kenyon works on Remon Knijnenburg at Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival in Fredericksburg. Today and tomorrow, tattooists will donate proceeds from their work to the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault. SCOTT NEVILLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View and ORDER more photos.

Ink sales go to assault victims

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 8/3/2007

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Today, Carol Olson faces a tough choice: fish or turtle.

The 43-year-old has never had a tattoo, but she'll get a sea animal indelibly inked on her body.

Today seemed like a good day for a tattoo: All of the money Olson spends on the body art will go to the nonprofit agency she runs, Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault.

"A chance for a tattooer to do something nice doesn't come along very often," said Kenny Brown, an owner of Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival. "We get to give back on our own terms."

He and the other owners of the tattoo parlor on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg will donate all the profits from tattoos for today and tomorrow to RCASA.

When they opened the place in January, they wanted to do a charity event, said Tawnia Brown, Kenny Brown's wife and one of the owners. She had RCASA in mind from her days as a volunteer there.

Tawnia Brown said she hopes the tattoo charity event will be annual and rotate among small, local nonprofits.

About 30 people have already made appointments for tattoos over the next two days, Kenny Brown said. They include both those who already have tattoos and those without ink yet.

One woman is 65 and has never had a tattoo. "She figured this was as good a time as any," Kenny Brown said.

Tattoos are about vanity and personality, he said, and helping other people just adds to the attraction.

But not everyone likes tattoos.

After Kenny Brown was featured in National Geographic Magazine in December 2004, someone wrote a letter complaining about people who "make profits off of ruining people's lives," he said.

And when a Weekender calendar listing previewed the charity event, an upset caller said The Free Lance-Star shouldn't promote an event that features tattooing.

"I just can't understand why anyone would be mad about someone wanting to help the community," Kenny Brown said.

But people sometimes complain about tattoos, usually religious people, he said.

"I don't force people to get tattoos and I'm not mad at people when they don't," he said.

Olson said she wasn't worried about any stigma associated with a fundraiser by a tattoo parlor. She's just thrilled a business wants to help.

RCASA's volunteers were called to the hospital 15 times in June for physical evidence recovery exams--a jump of more than triple the usual calls, she said.

Among other things, money raised for the group gives victims a change of clothes to wear home from the hospital. Theirs are kept as evidence.

The agency holds one major fundraiser each year, a cookie sale in December. During the rest of the year, RCASA relies on fundraisers such as the one at Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival.

Olson and Tawnia Brown both hope the event raises more than money.

"Maybe people will come in and ask about volunteering," Tawnia Brown said. "Because they really need volunteers."

WHAT: Tattoos for Community WHEN: Today, noon to 8 p.m.; tomorrow, noon to 9 p.m. WHERE: Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival, 1919 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg HOW: Call 540/899-9002 for an appointment or walk in. WHY: All proceeds support Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, 540/371-1666. DETAILS: Extra tattoo artists will be at the shop for walk-ins. Two came up from a shop in Richmond and one came from Charlotte, N.C., to help out at the charity event. Tattoo prices range from about $50 to $300. To get a tattoo, you must be 18 or older or 16 and older with a parent or guardian. 1. Always insist that you see your tattooist remove a new needle and tube from a sealed envelope immediately prior to your tattoo. 2. Be certain you see your tattooist pour a new ink supply into a new disposable container. 3. Make sure your artist puts on a new pair of disposable gloves before setting up tubes, needles and ink supplies. 4. Ask the tattooist about sterilization procedures. Feel free to ask about experience and qualifications. --Alliance of Professional Tattooist, safe-tattoos.com

Date published: 8/3/2007

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