Canadian director Jessica Edwards talks about her video portrait of Jenna Bouma, aka New York-based tattoo artist Slowerblack. Working out of the noted East River Tattoo studio in Brooklyn, Bouma is known for exclusively working in the historic hand-poking style of tattooing, where no machine is used to apply ink:

“Slowerblack connects her distinctive designs with the fundamental traditions of tattooing. Her commitment to hand-poking, one of the oldest techniques of the form, is what drew me to her as a subject.

“I made the film so I could explore tattooing as an art form, and celebrate this badass chick who turned her passion into a career.”