Heartbreaker Tattoo and Artist Co-op, operating under the trade name La Rompe Corazones LLC, is extending beyond its workshop to become a hub for community support. Co-owners Ilia Standish and Tyler Battloff have launched Spokane Strong, a two-day free event dedicated to helping those affected by wildfires. The festival is scheduled for September 19th and 20th, from noon to 8 PM, and will take place at North Central High School, located at 1600 N. Howard in Spokane.
According to Standish, the idea was spontaneous: on August 1st, the couple was driving to work and saw the horizon obscured by smoke from burning forests. “It was emotionally difficult; I immediately thought about how we could help,” she recalls. What began as a plan to host a tattoo festival with a portion of proceeds going to recovery quickly grew into a large-scale resource hub as the entrepreneurs began inviting regional organizations.
Who is Bringing What to the Festival
The organizers have gathered a wide range of partners for the event, each addressing a specific need of the affected individuals:
- Second Harvest Inland Northwest, Habitat for Humanity, Spokane Conservation District, and the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s office are providing information and resources;
- SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. is bringing supplies and pet care advice for families who have lost their homes;
- TW Renovations from Great Falls, Montana, will be discussing home restoration and rebuilding;
- Food, live music, children’s activities, and free lunches, which Standish is organizing with the help of volunteers, will be available on-site.
Standish emphasizes that the goal is for every visitor to find a booth that addresses their specific problem, rather than just receiving general information.
Tattoo Culture as a Social Elevator
This is not an accidental gesture for the tattoo industry. In recent years, studios worldwide have increasingly become gathering points for marginalized groups, and tattooing is transforming into a language of solidarity. Heartbreaker has given over 100 free red palm tattoos as part of the MMIW movement – in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. The studio also promotes projects on mental health and recovery from addiction. Battloff, in turn, worked for a long time with the American Indian Movement of Montana, and Spokane Strong intentionally extends assistance to the Spokane Tribe and other Indigenous, rural, and regional communities, not just victims of the Spokane fires.
Interestingly, both founders came to tattooing from other fields. Standish spent about 15 years as a software developer at DreamWorks, working on franchises like “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” “Kung Fu Panda,” and “How to Train Your Dragon.” Now, her technical skills are being applied to the studio’s website, graphic design, and promotional materials, while tattooing brings her back to her original artistic passion. Battloff says his son, Trace, motivates him: “My community is my family; these are my neighbors, my relatives.”
Finances and Long-Term Perspective
The financial aspect of recovery in Eastern Washington is supported by the Innovia Foundation. Its Eastern Washington Wildfire Fund covers organizations in ten counties, and the Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund is directed towards families affected by the Spokane fires. According to the latest fund data, over four million dollars have been raised for these purposes. Separately, the Karen Worthy Memorial Community Fund, established by Spokane developer Walt Worthy in memory of his wife, provides one-time grants of $10,000 to households whose primary residence was destroyed or deemed a total loss in August.
Battloff realistically assesses the scale of the task: “We understand that this is a long-term effort that won’t end with this event; it will take years.”
Rounding out the festival’s offerings is the participation of Levi Horn – a Spokane native, former professional football player who played at Rogers High School, attended the University of Oregon and the University of Montana, and then spent six seasons in the NFL, CFL, and AFL, including with the Chicago Bears. Having overcome poverty, intergenerational trauma, and a traumatic brain injury, he now works as a motivational speaker and mental resilience coach. At Spokane Strong, Horn will serve as a point of contact for people experiencing stress and trauma: “It’s important to know that you are not forgotten; these people are just starting to rebuild their lives.”
Ultimately, Spokane Strong is more than just a tattoo festival with a charitable component; it’s an example of how local tattoo culture is taking on the functions of a social center, from legal and insurance assistance to psychological support and housing recovery. For an industry that has been associated with subculture for decades, this represents a shift towards a sustainable public role.