Help keep art and dreams alive, while entering to win some killer prizes; horror icon Jovanka Vuckovic launches campaign to save The Tell Tale Heart.
The Tell Tale Heart Tattoo & Gallery is hoping to raise $20,000 to cover the costs of accumulating rent, utility bills and other hard sustainability costs while the have been forced to close during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
So many incredible small businesses, filmmakers, musicians, and artists — not to mention countless individuals and families — have been hit hard during this pandemic. As entertainment journalists and genuinely passionate fans, we are devastated by the impact on the indie filmmaking and music scene, and we continue to remain dedicated to supporting this community we love in every way possible. Even members of our own Morbidly Beautiful family have been negatively impacted in so many ways. As creators, our ability to do what we love can be hindered by stress, worry, and anxiety.
There are so many people suffering right now, and I strongly believe those of us fortunate enough to be in a position to help have a moral and ethical obligation to do so. I think it’s especially important for those of us who have benefited, and continue to benefit, so greatly from the healing power of art to support members of the creative community who need us now more than ever.
I was just scrolling Instagram, and I came across a post from one of my favorite filmmakers and influential members of the horror community, Jovanka Vuckovic. After reading the post, I knew I had to immediately drop everything and share it with people I know will be affected as much as I was.
I don’t know Jovanka well, though I’ve been a fan and admirer of hers for years. She’s an absolute inspiration, especially for women liking me working in the horror media and journalism. I am fortunate to know people who do know Jovanka on a personal level, and I know she is incredibly giving and kind hearted to others who need her, while never asking for help of her own. This time, however, she does need help.
And, as is her nature, she is giving back at the same time she reaches out for a kind hand from this incredible community.
Jovanka and her husband own THE TELL TALE HEART on historic Brant Street in Ontario. Over the past four-plus years, the shop has been a strong contributor to the local economy and has quickly become a local landmark, with visitors from all over Canada and the abroad making the trek every day to get a custom tattoo with one of their in-demand artists.
In addition to Superior Custom Tattooing, the shop also contributes to the local arts scene by curating art shows that showcase the work of international artists including horror icon Clive Barker (Hellraiser), Hellboy’s Mike Mignola, dark artists Travis Louie, Chet Zar, Nat Jones (30 Days of Night), and many more.
On March 13, 2020, they had to make the painful decision to shut down operations of their beloved family business, a place they have poured everything into. As a result, they’ve had to lay off their staff and tattoo artists, who depend on their work to sustain them and their families.
Sadly, no one knows how long this will last and when it will be safe to reopen. Meanwhile, the expenses continue to mount, including the enormous commercial rent costs and all the non-negotiable monthly bills. With $0 coming in, the shop’s emergency fund has been depleted.
As a result, Jovanka has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to keep the business afloat during this difficult time, so that she and her talented team to get back to serving the community as soon as it’s safe to do so. She states on her campaign page:
“We’ve worked too hard on this place and we are not ready to give up on it! With your incremental help, we hope to be able to raise enough funding to survive the closure and ultimately reopen and rehire our staff so they can continue to provide for themselves and their families.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The shop is giving away over $5000 worth of tattooing, one-of-a kind art, merchandise and other creative services in order to raise the funds required to survive the COVID-19 crisis. Every donation will automatically enter you into a draw to win one of FOUR PRIZES PACKS. (See below to see some of the amazing prizes you could win while helping support some truly deserving artists.)
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