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Windsor is Forever: A Short Documentary

With Portland-based artist-in-residence, Jason Sturgill, we reframed his previous project, Art is Forever, as Windsor is Forever  – a community-driven art and tattoo project that gave Windsor residents an opportunity to make a permanent commitment to the city. Participants chose from a flash tattoo set created in collaboration with local artists and illustrators to receive as their free tattoos, which were offered free of charge by Dave Kant of Advanced Tattoo, and Jon Jimenez and Steve Jones of Flying Dagger Tattoo.

During the event, Andrew Frickey captured the tattoo artists at work and conducted interviews. The results were compiled into a short documentary which can be viewed above.

We’d like to thank everyone who came out for the sketch night and to everyone who helped make this project possible.

Tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones & Jon Jimenez.

Short Film Directed and Edited by Andrew Frickey

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Windsor is Forever Recap

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Last Thursday, March 7th, we transformed Civic Space into a tattoo shop for one full day. This was the final event in a project we co-hosted with Portland’s Jason Sturgill called Windsor is Forever. In the spirit of Jason’s Portland project Art is Forever, Windsor is Forever became a community-driven art and tattoo project that gave Windsor residents an opportunity to make a permanent mark on themselves. It also gave us an opportunity to discover what Windsor might look like as a set of icons. We found out which objects or symbols were important to Windsor residents, and which could begin to tell a story of what Windsor was and will be.

Windsor is Forever allowed us to connect with artists from the area and help create something that would last forever. This project demonstrated that Windsor is very important to many people, and for some, it is an integral part of their identities.

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Civic Space was transformed from a multi-use studio space to a sterile and appropriately-lit tattoo parlour in a day. This wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of everyone who played a part in making Windsor is Forever a reality. The commitment from those involved and the participants themselves was incredible.

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We should also note that if you didn’t get a free tattoo on Thursday, but you’re interested in using one of the designs, don’t worry. The flash set that was created from Monday’s Sketch Night and from submissions thereafter will be available at local tattoo shops shortly!

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We’d like to give huge thanks to everyone involved in this project. Thank you Jason Sturgill, Dave Kant, Steve Jones, Jon Jimenez, Arts Council Windsor & Region, all the reporters who came by to document the event, everyone who came out and contributed to Sketch Night, and everyone who contributed a Windsor story and came to get free a tattoo!

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To view the entire set of tattoos finished during Windsor is Forever, please click here.

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Seventh Batch Completed

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The seventh batch of appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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Dave Kant is on a roll with tattooing the crisp, black “W”. This guy had it done on the deltoid.

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Another recurring design choice, the Windsor rose / Bridge design is being tattooed on a forearm.

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Jon Jimenez pulls off another well-toned Windsor rose.

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This Windsor “W” is being done on a participant’s calf.

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Here it is, a completed Windsor “W”, nice and bold. Tattoo by Dave Kant. 

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Sixth Batch Completed

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The sixth batch of appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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Zeke shows off his two inner-elbow tattoos. Tattoos by Steve Jones.

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This participant got a Windsor / Detroit “W” on a very sensitive area near the inner elbow.

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Here is another fine iteration of the “W” by Steve Jones.

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Here is another crisp rose design underway.

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This finished Windsor rose has been intensified with tonal work. Tattoo by Steve Jones.

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Fifth Batch Completed

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The fifth batch of appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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Somebody finally got the Ford Model A design that Hiba designed. Tattoo by Dave Kant.

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This participant submitted a “W” pulled from a classic car named the Chrylser “Windsor”.

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The tattoo didn’t take long, but it looks fantastic. Tattoo by Steve Jones.

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Here’s another inner arm tattoo…it’s a popular spot today! This guy is getting a Windsor seal.

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Here is the finished Windsor seal. This time Jon Jimenez took it on.

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Fourth Batch Completed

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The fourth batch of appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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The man himself, Jason Sturgill, got a nice ambiguous Colbert-inspired design tattooed by Jon Jimenez.

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One participant got the Windsor rose / bridge design on the back of her shoulder.

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Jon Jimenez added some detail to his Windsor rose / Ambassador Bridge design.

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One participant got a simplified version of the Windsor seal.

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Here is the finished Windsor seal with the outer ring removed (tattooed by Dave Kant).

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Third Batch Completed

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The third batch of appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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Here is another version of the Windsor seal Dan Bombardier found (tattooed by Dave Kant).

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Here is Dave Kant tattooing a Windsor “W” on a participant’s lower leg.

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…and the finished product by Dave Kant. Check out that amazing line work.

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This is the look of pure joy, the moment you realize that you have an awesome salt shaker tattoo on your arm.

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Here is the finished work by Steve Jones. He added a bit of extra shading to the sides of the shaker. Awesome.

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: Second Batch Completed

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The second three appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three Windsor tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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Here is a detailed mayfly design done on the shoulder by Dave Kant.

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Here is a design Jon Jimenez did of a rose with the Ambassador Bridge nestled inside.

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Here it is, in ink! Jon Jimenez ended up tattooing his own design and adding a few extra details.

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Here, Steve tattoos a rose on the forearm of one participant.

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Steve Jones’ added some depth to the original design on the fly.

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Windsor is Forever Tattoo Day: First Batch Completed

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The first three appointments for Windsor is Forever, a collaborative project with Jason Sturgill, have been finished. Here are the results: three fine tattoos by Dave Kant, Steve Jones, and Jon Jimenez.

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The first appointment was a simplified Windsor seal completed by Dave Kant.

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Process shot of the second appointment, a mayfly done on a participant’s ankle.

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Here is the first iteration of the mayfly tattoo design, done by Jon Jimenez.

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Process shot of the Sandwich Town Windmill Design.

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Here is the completed Sandwich Town design done by Steve Jones. Please stay tuned for more updates from the day.