Remarkable Body Art From ReMarkable Blackbird

By Nancy K. Crevier

It was more “On Hands” than a “Hands On” program at the C.H. Booth Library, when internationally certified henna artist Genevieve Levin, of Gray, Maine, beautified the hands and palms of nearly three dozen young women, Wednesday afternoon, August 3.

The founder of ReMarkable Blackbird and Blackbird Studios, Ms Levin spoke briefly on the art of henna, a thousands of years old tradition of applying a special ground leaf paste in intricate or simple designs to adorn hands, feet, palms, bellies, backs, and other body parts. She explained that the henna she used was all natural and completely safe, unlike the so-called “black henna” often found in tourist areas that is actually a toxic substance derived from hair dye products.

Wednesday’s participants eagerly gathered around computers to see henna designs online, or browsed through binders filled with pages of Ms Levin’s design suggestions. Many of the girls chose to have Ms Levin decide for them what fanciful design would be skillfully and swiftly applied to the backs of their hands or palms.

Elizabeth O’Connell sat nearby her 8-year-old daughter, Grace, as Ms Levin leaned over Grace’s hand, quickly creating a floral swirl that will remain in place for one to three weeks.

“Grace had asked me before a couple of times when she saw henna art at fairs, if she could have it done,” said Ms O’Connell. “We saw the fliers here about the henna body art, and her friend was going. It looked like one of those great selections of things to do here at the library,” she said.

“What I liked was when I heard that henna draws heat away from the body. It likes the heat, and that’s good, because I’m going to the beach,” said 9-year-old Isabella Wakeman, as she began the four- to eight-hour wait before she could scrape off the paste, leaving the semipermanent stain of her body art behind.

According to information at remarkableblackbird.com, not only does henna protect the skin from the sun, when the henna fades away, a sun-exposed design can leave a reverse stain.

Juliana Patelli had henna art painted on the palm of one hand, a delicate tree of life with stars and moon. “I let [Ms Levin] pick, and the design is from the necklace that she is wearing around her neck today,” admitted Juliana, who added that she was really pleased with it.

Margaret Brown, young adult librarian at the C.H. Booth Library, was also pleased. “The event drew a lot of kids. I heard that ReMarkable Blackbird had done programs at several libraries across the state, and it is a program I’ve wanted to offer for a while,” said Ms Brown. The event also seemed to fit in nicely with this summer’s reading theme, “which is a multicultural one,” said Ms Brown.