Louci Kurtz

What inspired your most recent tattoo?

The most recent ink I had done was an addition to an unfinished back. I have five passages - snippets of poetry, quotes, and songs - that start on my rib cage and stair step up to the top of my spine. Each passage represents an obstacle I have overcome. I am a survivor of sexual assault, domestic violence, and suicide. My body tells my story.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

It can. I have many words. Each is a snapshot of someone who loved me, a lesson I learned the hard way, or someone who left a mark on my heart. Every tattoo I have has significance. A pickup for my late father. Falkor for my inner child who still wants her own luck dragon. The chemical structures of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are the three neurochemicals that those of us bipolar spectrum disorder can’t balance. And other totems that honor my children and favorite creatures.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My husband died on January 6, 2025 after a year-long battle with cancer. He assured me I was going to be okay financially. He was wrong. This money would help me start over. I lost my job trying to care for him and allow him to face death in his terms. I was a teacher, but with the current climate, I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to the classroom. This kind of money would give me the opportunity to have a fresh start somewhere else.