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CULTURE, FEATURES, PEOPLE
Banner Photo: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Painting-Booth.jpg
Caption: Keshana Monique sells wine glasses, tumblers, lip gloss, oils, and lip and body scrubs made with plants and herbs from her backyard garden at the Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival from April 14 to 16, 2023, at the Mississippi Trade Mart Center in Jackson, Miss. Photo by Malcolm Morrow
‘It’s Therapy’: Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival Unifies Body-Art Enthusiasts and Vendors
By Aliyah Veal and Malcolm Morrow
SEO Title: Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival Debuts in Hinds County
SEO Keyword: Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival
Meta Description: Body-art enthusiasts gathered in mid-April for the inaugural Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson.
Four birds, two-dimensional and made of ink, statically soar across the back of tattoo artist Jaslyn Tate, also known as Lynk Art. Her first of many tattoos, the birds represent Tate’s three siblings and herself and symbolize their ability to exceed their own expectations in life and goals.
An amalgamation of designs adorns Tate’s left arm as a sleeve, while a portrait of her mother, who passed away from cancer when the artist was 10 years old, rests on Tate’s right forearm. The latter serves as a motivational piece for Tate.
“And then I have ‘No Excuses,’” Tate said while pointing to the tattoo on her right wrist, below her mother’s visage. When she has moments where she breaks down and cries, one glance at the tattoo helps Tate pull herself together and move forward, she explained.
“I feel like it doesn’t matter how I’m feeling, there’s things that have to get done,” she added. “So yes, it’s OK to express and to cry at that point in time, but know that there’s time for it, and then you have to pack it up, pick yourself up and move on.”
Artist Jaslyn Tate (right) and a client take a brief break from an extensively detailed foot tattoo at the Jxn Tattoo Soul & Arts Festival on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, Miss. Photo
