Sean O'Meallie: Prism Tattoo

 This is Sean O'Meallie. I originally created Prism Tattoo for the exhibit "We Are The Sky", which took place at the Gallery of Contemporary Art on the University of Colorado campus in Colorado Springs in the summer of 2024. The exhibit was the brainchild of GOCA Director Dr. Joy Armstrong, who invited regional artists and artist teams to respond to the show title.

Here I'm using found doors and windows as portals tagged with rainbows to honor the idea that all varieties of people may seize on possibility no matter their stripes. The title Prism Tattoo is a play on prison tattoo, which itself has many connotations, not least of which might be a rite of passage.

This work is an homage to Joy whose work with disadvantaged and mistreated people and animals is heroic and stalwart. Had a gallery talk during that exhibit I mentioned I'd read somewhere that dogs don't see rainbows. Joy responded, "But dogs are rainbows." Thank you, Collin and the Arvada Center for including this piece in the exhibit.