Friday, September 21, 2018

Ginkgo Twins


Christina Ferwerda shares this story of how her post on the MPT blog inspired another museum person's tattoo!

In 2014 I shared a short blog post about getting Ginkgo leaves tattooed on my shoulder for Museum People’s Tattoos. It’s a tattoo that people remember and comment on a lot. Its even been on my business card for years, because it starts lots of great conversations (though it has yet to segue into a new exhibit project!)

Flash forward 4 years. I’ve been consulting for the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum for nearly a year, and I was reintroduced to Danielle Hiliken, the Education Manager, on a particularly warm day in July. The director, Melissa Branfman, mentioned offhand that we have similar tattoos.

Danielle asked hesitantly, “Was your tattoo on a blog for museum people!?” Turns out, she had seen my post and it inspired her own tattoo. 

I have rarely gone back to look at my old post, but have checked out MPT a few times in between after seeing a particularly interesting notification on Facebook or realizing that its someone I know. I’m excited to think about museum people finding inspiration for all kinds of projects – tattoos, exhibitions, or otherwise, on Museum People's Tattoos.


Want to share your own story and tattoo?
Email Beth: bredmondjones (at) sdnhm (dot) org or Paul: info (at) orselli (dot) net.