Burlesquer Moxie Rhodes talks about her excellent tattoo of Shane O’Neill
Having something tattooed always carries the potential for some serious buyer’s remorse. The only real way to avoid that pitfall is to go for something timeless or something so staggeringly awesome that it will never get old. Burlesquer Moxie Rhodes (a.k.a. Jenna Borchert) chose the latter approach when she recently got a tattoo of Madison music legend and all-around great guy Shane O’Neill. O’Neill recently moved to New York, and his absence from town has been noticeable. The A.V. Club sent Rhodes an e-mail to talk about the tattoo, a wonderful homage to her friend that kind of makes it feel like he’s still around.
The A.V. Club: Where did you get your tattoo done? Who did it?
Moxie Rhodes: I had my tattoo done by Brian at Capitol City Tattoo. He is friends with Shane, so I figured the mutual appreciation of Shane would make for a good tat.
AVC: Who drew it?
MR: I had a close friend of mine, Glenn Watson, owner of Duck Soup Signs, draw it up for me. We met at Dr. Sketchy’s Madison when he was doing posters and organizing for them.
AVC: Why did you decide to get it?
MR: I have plans for my body. Ink planning is a big deal to me. I hope to one day have all my major limbs covered in female impersonators/drag icons. I like the idea of gender-bending pinup. I have, on my right arm, Divine, and Shane O’Neill on my left calf. I hope to have Leigh Bowery on my left arm and Willi Ninja on my right calf someday.
When I decided on having the piece done, I was coming home from a Human Aftertaste show in Iowa with members of Screamin’ Cyn Cyn & The Pons. I realized a pinup of Shane would be amazing. I still think it’s one of the best ideas I’ve ever had.
AVC: What does Shane think of the tattoo?
MR: Shane and I have been friends for some time. I believe he’s flattered about it; I haven’t had the chance to directly ask him about it, as he moved to New York in December. This piece was done just before NYE ’12. We could ask him directly via Facebook though?
[That’s a good idea, so we did, and he replied.]
Shane O’Neill: Of course! I’m very flattered. Jenna and I have been friends for years, and she’s been bandying about the idea of the tattoo for a while, although, to be totally honest, I was a bit surprised that she actually went through with it! I thought the artist did a great and flattering job, and the tattoo was obviously well executed.
It’s a little strange to think about the fact that I’m permanently etched onto someone’s calf, but ultimately Madison means a lot to me; my band Screamin’ Cyn Cyn & The Pons mean a lot to me; and my friends mean a lot to me. So it’s really humbling and heartwarming that someone else commemorated those three important elements of my life onto their body. Jenna’s also a ball of joy, and it’s a total honor to share a body with a portrait of Divine.
