Tattoo artist inks support for Ukraine

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This article was published 06/03/2022 (1026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the Ukrainian community watches its embattled homeland face down invading Russian forces, a Winnipeg tattoo artist is making a mark raising money for a cause that’s close to home.

Heather Mellor, who operates out of Ink Noir — a downtown boutique shop — is offering Ukrainian-themed tattoos to support an important cause.

“The response for it has been unreal,” Mellor said.

Over three days, the 24-year-old has earned more than $7,000 and is donating it all to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. The federal government is matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross fund until March 18.

Despite living more than 8,000 kilometres away from the besieged European nation, Mellor was determined to make a difference.

“I thought it was the perfect thing to use my business for and get people who maybe wouldn’t have donated on their own to want to support the cause,” she said.

Mellor grew up in a Ukrainian household. She took Ukrainian dance lessons for 12 years and her grandparents were born in Ukraine.

“I’ve always been surrounded by it,” she said. “It’s a beautiful culture.”

Mellor said she felt helpless when the invasion began, though she’s heard stories of war before from her father, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces.

“Thinking about the atrocities that people are facing right now makes me emotional,” she said. “It’s hard to think about because in North America we would never imagine something like that happening here.”

Mellor, who has been tattooing for six years and normally specializes in black and white floral art, said the initiative has challenged her artistically and physically.

The designs, which took over 20 hours to create, emphasize the art of cross-stitching — an ode to her Baba, who died before Mellor was born — and several other traditional details, including a woman wearing a vinok (traditional Ukrainian wreath) in one piece and sunflowers, poppies, and cornflowers in others.

She said she’s received over 200 emails about her Ukrainian-themed art since last week and has been working 11-hour days to fit in as many clients as possible. Mellor expects to have tattooed nearly 50 people by the March 18 donation deadline, twice the number of clients she typically serves in a month.

Mellor has also released three digital prints for sale on her website as another way to support the cause and has raised an additional $2,800 since Sunday evening. She plans to continue donating proceeds from her digital prints as she resumes her regular work.

Though her efforts leave her without income, Mellor said she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“Being able to do this every day makes me so happy and seeing the people’s responses who get tattooed, they’re so grateful.

“Looking at that tattoo for the rest of your life will remind you of such a beautiful thing you did.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca