Sarah Whatley

What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My most recent tattoo has been a kind of memorial piece. I lost my nephew, who was more like my little brother, last year in prison. He had expansive ink from his time and one piece of an astronaut really resonated with me and my feelings that my Jacob will always be traveling the stars.... out existing, exploring...not trapped in a cage or confined to a box or urn. So I got a non-jailhouse tat version of his work to remind me of me star faring traveler (he went by Pluto, which was also fitting

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

They tell a story of my journey. The first, a lotus tattoo spoke of a time of discovery and vulnerability. My cheap nautical stars spoke of the poverty & youth of living in midtown Memphis. There's a sister tattoo & a few that speak of my children. Some are reminders to not give up hope. One sings out about the interconnected nature of things & the beauty in that God-like symmetry. There are some that bring laughter from inside jokes and others that softly remind me of the hollow ach

What would you do with the $25,000?

I'd use the money to pay down my debt and as a down payment on a small place. I left my partner and moved in with my oldest daughter almost 2 years ago (daughter in yellow face tattoo.) She wanted me to escape from that very unhealthy relationship for years and when I was finally ready, she supported me and gave me a home. I love it here, but part of me really would like to have a place of my own. This money could help a broke Memphis City school teacher own her first home.