Yesterday, we enjoyed the opening of Black Lotus Tattoo and Art Gallery, Jaz Toeque's new studio in the Clinton Hill/Fort Greene hood, which conveniently is steps from my home.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the Jameson at the bar, so I only managed to fire off a couple of shots on my iPhone of the works on display and the Art Fusion Experiment in effect. Check the photos here.
Indie band Blast Rocks Midtown played a set then DJ Sakir took over the night getting all to groove. [I think I convinced her to spin at my book release party. Will let ya know.]
Between Saturday's Rumblers car show and last night's opening, it was a weekend filled with beautiful people, art, music ... and booze.
So please excuse my hangover minor delay in getting the tattoo news review up later today.
This past Saturday, Brian and I checked out the annual Rumblers car show in Brooklyn and it's safe to say that we were part of a tattoo majority. And I'm not just talking about a couple of cherries on wanna-be pin-ups. I'm talking full on sleeves, neck and hand tattoos -- career-killer work -- on tar stained greasers. Needless to say, it was hot.
But while I was ogling the decorated human bodies, Brian was all about the metal. And he had the camera. So our Rumblers Flickr Set is largely of cars and bikes. Go figure.
While he ran around shooting skull shifters, I was looking at the clutches -- of the handbag style -- at the Father Panik Industries booth, who were also selling their famed Knux nameplates.
I also hung out with Suze of Inborn Tattoo who just finished her apprenticeship with Ray Jerez and is hungry for skin to get her portfolio going. Inborn had a table selling tees and giving away stickers. No tattooing among the exhaust fumes.
After breathing in enough of those fumes, we headed to Union Pool for a drink where we found plenty of cherry-tattooed pin-up girls relaxing on the cool, beer soaked bar stools, legs crossed to attract bachelors in wife beaters. There were veteran couples in matching dirty denim and ink. Bikers. Rockers. At least one tattoo blogger.
It was quintessential Brooklyn badassness. Look forward to next year.
This isn't an elegy, it's not a dirge and it's definitely not fucking sarcastic. The F.T.W. tattoo is alive and well and I'm here to tell you why.
It's true that these three initials have long been associated with your average prison scratcher ne'er-do-well biker type, and even your thug life three strikes gangbanger who now resides permanently at the Graybar Hotel -- but those are the folks that this country was built on. The United States was founded on the backs of the have-nots and built with the blood, sweat and tears of the same folks on whom we are wont to look down upon. No one cares about Do-Gooder This, or World Peace Ambassador That. We care about the hard-drinking, hard-fighting, hard-working men -- and women -- who would just as soon clock you in the jaw as tattoo you with a huge F.T.W. on your forehead just for being a pussy and passing out after too much whiskey.
So. After some serious consideration, I have absolutely and wholeheartedly embraced the F.T.W. tattoo and its place in the modern tattoo lexicon. Here are three reasons why.
1.) It's the best statement of all time.
It means "fuck the world," in case you weren't sure. The whole world. In a time where shock-value has lost all value, when everything's been done to death, the phrase fuck the world is about as blunt and ignorant-sounding as you can get. It's meant as the ultimate middle finger, but the phrase itself comes off as melodramatic. It's a little too high school angsty, yet it's been championed by so many outwardly tough subcultures that you really shouldn't be laughing at anyone who sports the initials. 1b.) Also note, I have a fondness for initialisms.
2.) History, sorta.
F.T.W. doesn't go back as far as most of what are considered the iconic western-style tattoo designs that are still with us today: the pharoah's horses, rose of no man's land, etc. Its predecessors were a bit more tongue-in-cheek when they wanted to be funny or crass, but it's got a little history all the same. It seems to me that F.T.W. tattoos peaked in the 90s (anyone?), and while there's never been (to my knowledge) any consistent designs, there has been the theme of, ahem, fuck the world. Hell, Method Man used it! (And unlike that toting-a-toothbrush gimmick he tried, this one stuck.) I liked the 80s okay. The 90s, however, I loved. Granted, I'm still a young man, so my experience in the 90s wasn't your typical Gen. X disillusionment or whatever the hell twentysomethings were doing in the 90s. But there's a history there. And I can appreciate that.
3.) It can be a complex statement (if you wanna read too much into it).
This is where I read too much into it. So if you don't want me to further spoil this, quit reading, because I'm about to tell you why the phrase fuck the world is so illustrative. Also, feel free to tell me I'm an idiot for going the English major route on this one. Tattoos are what they are, nobody needs anyone dissecting anything. But here I go.
The F-bomb is about as strong a single curse word as you can get. It's the apex of single-word profanity. But we're the ones who gave it that status. The world crowned the F-word king of all curses. And we, being a people who love contradictions, a people who adore criminals and vilify the simple man, love to use fuck. Because it's so fucking crude.
And the world? You want to fuck the world?! Not only is this statement far too large in scope to actually be taken seriously, it's completely ridiculous, no matter which meanings or connotation you want to ascribe to 'fuck'. However, when I can clear my head, it makes sense. I like to think of the world as a big silly mess of materialistic nonsense. If you want to put it in a spiritual context, it's a lot of stuff that clouds our minds, distracts our focus and slowly murders our spirit. If you want to put it in a Tyler Durden context, "The things you own end up owning you." I get the feeling he was right.
And it's not just things. It's the jobs we kill ourselves over, making enough money to scrape by and pay rent, maybe take a meager vacation to your parents' house and do it all again. It's advertising, television, fashion, thirty-eight different things every day telling you who you should be, why you need something, what you should fear. It's corporations bilking people out of pensions, bleeding seniors dry on medical bills, it's Bernard fucking Madoff. It's religions that use a cheap spirituality as an excuse for hatred, war and death. It's politicians, it's junk food, it's even blogs like this one. Holy shit, it's even. Fucking. Tattoos.
So fuck the world! Meth and Tyler were right. Now, where do I have room for an F.T.W. tattoo?
A little while ago, I was coming off a literal high from Anti-Gravity Yoga at Crunch gym and decided to settled down on the stationary bike with the September issue of Blackbook mag. In my zen-like state, I flipped through the Fall fashion preview (the season is all S/M ya know) and came to a punk-inspired spread that they called "Tattooed Love Boys," playing off the old Pretender's song by the same name.
Now, some of you may remember from my old Needled blog days that my biggest argument with fashion mags was that they'd feature heavily tattooed models but never credit the artists whose work is shown. If they credit hair and make-up artists and stylists, why not the tattooists?
That question was first posed to me by legendary tattooist Spider Webb about ten years ago. Back then, you didn't have the mass appeal of tattooing as you do today in mainstream media nor as many heavily tattooed models. But today, high fashion tattoo models are ubiquitous in magazines, and their agencies need to be providing editors with tattoo artist credits especially when the tattoos are central to the spread like they are in this month's Blackbook.
What you won't be able to read clearly is the credits at the end of that layout, which not only include hair, make-up, stylists, their assistants, interns, but even the freakin caterers. It seems egregious to have a full page of a sleeve and hand tattoo and not note the canvas on which the Cartier rests. But the guy who delivered your paninis, no prob.
Has it really been over a month since we last objectified tattooed men?
Forgive me. I've been so preoccupied with my upcoming book (and my own hot tattooed man) that I've neglected your one-handed typing needs. Well, I'm making up for it by objectifying one who is not only beautiful but beautifully tattooed by a roster of artists that is a Who's Who of the world's best, from Jack Rudy to Bugs to Brad Fink and beyond.
"When I first got tattooed way back in 1992, all I wanted was one little tattoo on my shoulder. Over 17 years and 200 plus hours later, I'm just working on one really big tattoo."
If you'd like to be objectified, send your photo and stats to marisa at needlesandsins dotcom.
This Sunday, join me in celebrating the opening of Jaz Toeque's Black Lotus Gallery right in my own Brooklyn hood of Clinton Hill/Fort Greene. I got a private preview of the tattoo studio/art gallery -- which means I passed by uninvited and asked Jaz for an impromptu tour. And I was impressed. The space is gorgeous with exposed brick walls, hardwood flooring and perfect lighting for tattooing and viewing fine art. See photos of the space in the NY Times blog post on Black Lotus.
But the real draw is Jaz's tattoo work and those of a stellar line-up of guest artists including black and grey tattoo veteran Tony Olivas of Sacred Heart Tattoo in Georgia. Tony is taking appointments at Black Lotus now. [I just have to find some available space on me!]
Tony will be leading the Art Fusion Experiment at the opening -- that is, live collaborative drawing between artists where you can watch a work of art come to life. See videos of Art Fusion around the world here.
Tattooist and painter Mark Pinto of Thick as Thieves Tattoo in Denver, Co is also a guest artist and will be showing his fine art at the party as well.
The opening runs from 4-9PM with the after party at Sweet Revenge. Hope to see y'all there.
Tonight at 9PM Eastern time, the History Channel will premier a new six-part tattoo series called Marked, which "will explore the world of tattoos
belonging to the intense modern day tribes that operate at the edges of
society, including 1% motorcycle clubs, hardcore prisons, urban gangs
and street culture."
Stop that!
I saw your eyes rolling over yet another tattoo show, but I'm actually gonna sit down and watch this one because it's produced by veteran tattooist Mario Barth and director Billy Burke, who's first collaboration Under The Skin -- a film on underground Japanese tattooing and surrounding rituals -- won numerous awards for Best Documentary. A clip from the documentary is below. [You can order the DVD online here.]
Like Under the Skin, tattoo's fringe culture is explored, including initiation rights, the meaning behind tattoo symbols, technique and history. It seems like it will take Gangland, another History channel show, further by delving into the tattoo culture of gangs. I'm particularly interested in how certain groups use tattooing as bonding, marks of hierarchy as well as belonging, and personal story telling, so it looks like a TV night for Brian and I this eve.
If you watch it tonight as well, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section.
For more on Mario, check his blog, where he recently posted pics of Jim Jones' backpiece that he's working on.
In discussing racism and the swastika with The Lizardman, the wise reptile said that if we wanted to take back the original meaning of the symbol -- one used for luck & well being -- from hate groups, black Jewish gays should tattoo it on their bodies en mass. Ru Paul could work it on the runway as NeoNazis line-up at laser centers worldwide. Dare to dream.
And while there are just not enough drag queens sporting the swastika, yet, the ancient symbol is indeed tattooed on many today who are trying to remove its Nazi cloud. You can see it often in the portfolios of Xed Lehead, Daniel DiMattia, Swastika Freakshop, and Jondix (whose work is shown above), among any others.
These artists are all part of my upcoming book Black Tattoo Art (to be released in a week or so), and their work depicting the ancient swastika raised some issues for my German publisher. The symbol is banned in Germany, so would this mean the book would be banned as well? Well, we took a chance and did not censor ourselves, and hopefully the distinction between the real and hateful swastikas will be made.
I do hope that people go back to viewing it in its original light. Blogs like Svasticross do a great job in promoting it. My friend Kor posts pics daily on the blog of the symbol in everything from products, art and sexual positions.
Personally, however, it's hard for me to let go of its hateful history. Growing up with a Jewish grandmother and living in a Jewish hood in Brooklyn, hearing stories of Holocaust survivors -- it carries too much baggage. This makes me a hypocrite, sure, but the idea of walking down the street and having my tattoo spark a nightmare remembrance in another is a burden I can't bare. So, I'll leave it to the beautiful freaks, artists and drag queens.
After spending most of last week at my Ohm-tastic yoga retreat, I came back feelin goooood, and so I promise a zen like news review, free of blogger snark but full of tattoo goodness.
"Tattooing gives so much more than it takes. It allows an individual to
acknowledge life with permanent markers. Getting tattooed is a leap of
faith that reminds you of that exact time and place for the rest of
your life."
This past weekend, Shawn was one of the many great artists working the Tattoo Hollywood Convention in LA, reported on by Modblog here and here.
Only more beautifully freaky than Lucky is this news item: "A man with a tattoo of Britney Spears' name on his arm or neck
allegedly stole a Chihuahua with pink earrings from a South Florida gay
bar." I'll just leave it at that, thank you.
In Russia, however, hate symbols like the Nazi swastika, can be ordered removed on offenders. I disagree, if only because I like to know what kinda haters I'm dealing with. Tattoos can be a great personal filter for people you meet in life.
Going through the tattoo news, I found this "Ink & Stay" promo for the Hotel Erwin. From now until December 30, 2009, the Venice Beach hotel is luring tattoorati with the following:
* a $100 voucher for their "in‐house tattoo and graffiti artist" Norm * Lubriderm lotion and ice‐pack for healing * Bottle of tequila to numb the pain
There's also a $500 bonus if you get a tattoo that says "I HEART HOTEL ERWIN" but don't do this unless your bod is only worth less than a two-night stay. Rates start at around $400/night for the boutique hotel.
Or sleep on the beach and use all the money at Spotlight Tattoo where Norm currently works.
Check this video of Norm decorating the hotel's facade ... legally.
I'm off on an Internet-free yoga retreat so my friends are taking over. Check Chris Stauber's account of her latest self-transformation and tattoo by Nathan Kostechko.
On January 1, 2002, I embarked, with the immense support and
assistance from my spouse, Peter, on a journey of self change. My mother-in-law
had recently overcome a battle with cancer and was encouraged by her physician
in turn to make additional lifestyle changes that equated to surprisingly
effective weight loss. This inspired both my husband and I to get off our asses
and do something about our ever expanding waistlines. Using at first diet and
then the powerful combination of diet and exercise, I lost about fifty pounds
the first year. In the second year, I pushed on to lose another thirty pounds.
From the day I started, I have lost and kept off ninety-six pounds. A lot changes
in your body with that sort of dramatic weight loss.
While I was proud of my
success and the lifestyle changes I made over the seven year journey, my years
of carelessness had left me with a body I could not embrace. Dramatic weight
loss leaves you with fun stuff like stretch marks and loose skin. It was
something I knew I did to myself but knowing that did not help my inhibitions
go away. In speaking with a fellow Virgo tattoo companion and close friend, Tim
Creed, I received some great advice. He told me he had personally had great
success effectively covering his own stretch marks and skin damage with ink.
Tattooing can seemingly turn over the skin and retighten some of the dimpling
in it as well.
About two months ago, I
decided it was time to reward myself for the seven years of hard work and
endless treadmill miles.I
contacted Nathan Kostechko through his website about my idea of covering myself in desert
plant life & scenery. Since living in Las Vegas, I have fallen in love with
the desert terrain. To provide Nate with some inspiration, I started taking
photographs of the desert land's cactus life, trees and flowers while hiking
out at Red Rock Canyon. I knew I had found the right artist when Nate told me "he could make my body look however I wanted it look." We worked out the loose
concept and set the appointment date.
Exercising my right to bare arms in Greece last month.
Last month, I wrote about tattoos in Greece, noting my favorite shops and even offering a meze platter of personal experience about being a heavily tattooed women who understands what people are saying about me as I walk the streets, from Athens to the islands.
A reporter from Athens News, Erinn Unger, saw the blog post and contacted me for a story she was working on focused on tattoo culture in Greece. That article is now online here. Erinn did a great job of talking to tattoo artists and including my experience to show how attitudes towards tattoos in the country are changing, albeit very slowly. And in my case, sometimes not fast enough. Here's a taste from the article:
While on Mykonos a few years ago, one
night she went for a stroll in a strapless dress around the centre.
Walking a few steps ahead of Kakoulas and her boyfriend, there was a
statuesque transvestite in a shimmery dress, topped off with a feather
boa. An old woman sweeping a stoop didn't give the transvestite a
second look, but Kakoulas and her tattooed arms got three crosses and
an exclaimed Christe kai Panayia!
"All I could do was giggle," Kakoulas said. "Not even a drag queen could pave the way for my acceptance as a tattooed woman."
There's also a great sidebar on the history of tattoos in ancient Greece, including those found on Thracian and Spartan women. I believe it. Those Spartans were tough bitches.
In 1973, learning to tattoo at The Pike in Long Beach, CA was trial by fire. Also known as the "Coney Island of the West," tens of thousands were drawn there for the surf, sideshows, and shooting galleries -- and many came to get tattooed by greats like Bert Grimm, Bob Shaw, Zeke Owens, Col. Todd, among many others. The Pike in 1973 is where the legendary Bob Roberts also got his start, a start to a career that has not only impacted generations of tattooers but beyond to fashion, fine art and pop culture.
I mention this bit of history because, from this starting point and spanning nearly four decades, his experiences inform the collection of over 30 original paintings that Roberts will be exhibiting at his solo showAlive at Canvas Los Angeles.
The opening reception is this Thursday, August 20th, from 8pm to midnight. It will also serve as the official pre-party for the first annual Tattoo Hollywood convention, August 21-23rd at The Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Hollywood, CA.
While the opening is public, there is a large turnout expected, so organizers suggest sending an RSVP to info@canvasla.com to be added to the guest list, as those on the list will be guaranteed entry.
The latest offender: Irene Rubaum-Keller and her midlife crisis. Irene brazenly asks the Internet "Tattoos on Women, Yes or No?" in deciding how she should be "shaking things up a bit." [I personally recommend the "Delight" with 32 different vibration options.]
Of course, she doesn't take the decision to permanently mark her body lightly at all. Instead of researching tattooists, reading tattoo sites for personal reviews and artist profiles, or some inner soul searching as to her motivations, she does what one would expect from a licensed psychotherapist and author ... she posts a poll on her Facebook page. In doing so, she develops this thesis: "people have very strong feelings about tattoos in general, and tattoos on women in particular."
Indeed. I not only have strong feelings about tattoos but about people who use a widely read forum like Huff Post to opine on whether to get a tiny white tattoo or a "tramp stamp."
Here's my suggestion: if you need a Facebook poll for any life decision other than a book recommendation or which camera to buy, the choice is already made. And that is Don't Do It.
When you don't care, you allow yourself freedom to do what you've always wanted like this 83-year-old grandma who just started getting tattooed last year and plans on more.
Some of the comments on the Huff Post blog said that there was no good reason to get tattooed.
How about to commemorate those you have loved and lost, like this Toronto woman who has dealt with the violence that surrounds her with tattoo tributes?
Irene, baby, if you wanna learn how to talk tattoos, check this article by Jennifer Lee for the NY Times on tattooist and graff writer Teddy Ferrer (shown above). Lee interviews the artist about street & skin art and how it has evolved in NYC. There's substance, and there's personal history of the artist, not the personal crisis of the writer. [You can check Teddy's work at Tuff City in the Bronx.]
...
Ok, the tattoo news does sound like a rant today. Forgive me. Or rather, blame Brian Grosz.
Brian has taken his anger against stupidity and narrowly targets health care reform nuts in this delicious video. I'm not as good on camera -- less like Henry Rollins and more like Kathy Griffin -- so I'll spew my own NY-humidity-induced vitriol against people who bastardize our beloved tattoo culture.
But I don't like being an angry redhead, so tomorrow, I'm heading to my usual yoga retreat, American Yogini, for a few days. The rest of the week, the guys will take over here and I also have pre-written posts scheduled; however, I won't be answering messages until next week.
Just found this while pulling together the news review for ya and wanted to highlight because it looks like a cool way to brighten up ugly casts if you're like me and can only master stick figure drawing yourself: Casttoo.
The cast tattoos are waterproof, orthopedic decals that add some badass to bone breaks. The idea of easy-to-apply cast decoration comes from Jessica Smith, a University of Colorado art grad, who developed her Boulder-based company (with partner David Cowell) after a bike accident that left her with a broken wrist and an unfashionable brace, which she quickly handpainted for "happy healing."
Designs span the range of tattoo styles including Americana, Japanese, Tribal, and Graffiti. Check 'em here. And sizes run from children to extra large adult with prices from $20 up to $40, plus shipping.
Tonight, The Shooting Gallery in San Francisco presents Shawn Barber's Tattooed Portraits: Snapshot,18 new works capturing the spirit and soul of tattoo artists and collectors.
I've been a fan of Shawn's Tattooed Portrait series since he began it in 2004, particularly for the seductive, fluid renderings of tattooists, whether it be full portraiture or intense focus on their hands. Tattoo artists can be hard people to crack, to convey their soulfulness beyond tough exteriors, but Shawn's open, friendly nature brings down those barriers and the results are very personal and engaging.
One of my favorites is actually not of a tattooist but of actress/activist/hottie Margaret Cho, who is shown (below) getting tattooed by Mike Davis and sucking on a loli (the minx!).
Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand is pissed. But that's exactly one of the reasons I admire her so much. Regardless of your opinion (and do the opinions vary), you can't discount Kate's impact on modern tattooing. She busted her way into the tight-knit, dudes only tattoo circles when it was virtually unthinkable to apprentice a woman. And not only did she hang tough, she's made a lifelong career of it, posting little flags along her trail so other women tattooers would know where to pave.
This brings us to Old Ironsides, Sailor Jerry, the man himself who apprenticed Kate. A lot of mud's been slung her way since Jerry's passing and it's only been made worse with the Sailor Jerry brand. Now, Kate's ready to sling some herself. On Sunday she posted to her myspace a long explanation about Jerry, his stencils, the brand and Louise Collins, Jerry's widow who's never seen a penny from the Sailor Jerry folks and lives off her social security.
I also want to take a quick second to thank Kate for allowing us to publish this. I finally met Kate this past spring at Roseland and not only is she hilarious, whip-smart and tough, but she's unbelievably nice. (Hey, nobody ever said blogs were supposed to be unbiased.) I wanted to pick her brain about anything and everything, but figured there was enough craziness happening at the booth without someone pestering her with nerdy questions. That, and she was tattooing my girlfriend and still getting interrupted every ten minutes. Anyway, thanks a ton, Kate. Hope to run into you again somewhere down the line.
Perhaps the only thing freakier than watching The Lizardman perform is going out to a nice dinner with him. He manages the stares, photo-shoots, and salutations with the same easy flair as he does when sticking things up his nose or wiggling outta a straight jacket.
But the freak ain't crazy. Born Eric Sprague, a doctoral candidate in philosophy, The Lizardman travels the world performing, with a repertoire of over 36 acts, and a humor that makes him a rockin MC for metal shows and tattoo conventions.
Tonight, he takes the stage solo at my beloved Coney Island Sideshow at 9pm ($10 admission). He'll also be performing with the sideshow cast until the 16th.
When I decided to dedicate my right sleeve to the history of Israel and the Jewish people, I chose my artist based upon unusual criteria. Not only was Yoni Zilber a talented tattooist with a detailed style, capable of a variety of different looks, but, also, he was born in the Motherland. He was a Jew! And, an Israeli Jew at that!
I considered that my sittings would be a religious experience of sorts, but Yoni is quiet and reflective. He doesn't bustle with the energy of the Tel Aviv nightlife and, while he has the sarcasm and dry wit of most Israelis, he is far more serene and measured in his approach.
Sitting with Yoni was a contemplative experience, a meditation in mind-body connection more reminiscent of the Tibetan influences coloring Yoni's work than of any specific time or place.
At Brooklyn Adorned where he works, he attempts to describe the world of tattoo to my very narrow mind, specifically exploring the what life is like for a Jew who tattoos.
You are one of the more well known Israeli tattoo artists -- do you think that people seek you out for that reason sometimes? I think so. I do get to work a lot when I'm going to Israel.
Do you ever get asked to do Jewish or Israeli themed tattoos? Yes, I work in New York, and it happens more here than in Israel. [laughs]
Do you ever get asked to do racist or other stuff? How do you handle that? If it is for racist reasons, I'll refuse. But, if you want a swastika on your Buddha cloth, I'll do it.
Is Israeli stuff your style or do you tattoo other themes? Tibetan art is my main focus and the style I want to tattoo as well.
What is tattoo culture like in Israel? Israel is a hot
country and it's more of a beach culture so, mostly black & gray
tattoos, but no specific style. Its influence comes from both from
Europe and the States.
You have traveled the world. Where is the tattoo culture most prevalent? The weakest? I think here in America it is strongest. There is no place in the world that you walk on the streets and, in some neighborhoods, there are more tattooed people walking on the streets than un-tattooed people. Not sure where it is the weakest, maybe Antarctica?
How do you increase your skill sets? What do you study? Who do you study with? Traveling and working with different artists help. Tattoo conventions and just hanging out with other tattooers helps too. I'm studying Tibetan art now with master painter Pema Rinzing.
Is any of your own ink Jewish or Israeli? I am not sure but my black ink turns white on Shabbat. [laughs]
I mean, do you have any Jewish related themes in your tattoos? My right arm was done in Israel, but there is no Jewish meaning behind it.
Does your ink represent your tattoo style? I do have lot of Tibetan art tattooed on me and some styles from the Far East.
If you weren't doing ink, what would you be doing? A rabbi. Definitely a rabbi.
You can book an appointment with Yoni Zilber at Brooklyn Adorned.
Ink Armor basically looks like nude stockings for your arms, just thicker, although the company says that the material is "lightweight and breathable."
The full sleeve fits from the upper arm to the wrist while the half sleeve goes to the elbow. They sell for around twenty to fifteen bucks respectively and come in four sizes for men and women.
Only two colors are available, however, "light" and "suntan."
The tattoo cover ups are largely marketed to those who work for companies with "no visible tattoos" policies -- and in fact, they offer a list of such companies and public departments on their blog -- but Ink Armor also targets people with "extensive scarring or disfiguring skin conditions."
I'm tempted to place an order, although not for work where I wear long sleeve suits as a rule, but more for my trips to the motherland, where heavily tattooed women are considered the greatest Greek tragedy.
Also in the news today ...
Kat Von D's tattoo concealer for Sephora, also only available for light skinned people. I tried it myself. It didn't work. I had a make-up artist at Sephora apply it for me and after brushing on numerous layers, the small tattoo on my hand -- the one that gives me the most trouble because it's hard to conceal -- was still very visible. So we wiped it off and I asked to see other tattoo cover-ups. None that she used on me worked, so I'm not just hatin on the Von D product.
The one that came the closest to covering my tattoo was Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer, which is thicker, waterproof, and comes in a variety of skin tone shades. The price tag is $25. The problem was that it was really cakey and actually drew attention to my hand.
I haven't tried Dermablend or Colortration, but some swear by those tattoo concealers. I plan on odering and will let you know how they work.
Right now, my regular solution for my hand tattoo: fabric waterproof Bandaids.
I'm gonna geek out on you a bit for today's tattoo news review. As a heavily tattooed lawyer, any time I see a news item that deals with issues like First Amendment or tattoo bans, I get giddy, as if Bradgelina came to my very own McDonald's drive thru. Well, this past week, there was plenty to squeal about.
In 2006, the Second Circuit Federal Court of Appeals in Inturri v. City of Hartford, upheld a similar ban forHartford, CT cops,
setting precedent that such dress codes do not violate the First
Amendment. It said, "A police department has a reasonable interest in
not offending or appearing unprofessional before the public it serves."
Further, in a federal case in Texas, Riggs v. City of Fort Worth,
the District Court said that "A police officer's uniform is not a forum
for fostering public discourse or expressing one's personal beliefs."
The
bottom line is that tattoo stereotypes still exist and if the public
cannot trust the police, the bans fulfill a
"legitimate purpose" as long as they are not applied in a
discriminatory way. The best way to combat the bans is to fight the
stereotypes.
Alas, after the weekend I had, I fulfilled
every negative tattooed chick stereotype in the book. Do as I say, not
as I do, my friends.
As I wrote in my 2005 Legal Link column entitled "Fighting Oppressive School Dress Codes," the 1969 landmark Supreme Court case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District gave students the right to freedom of speech. Read my article for points on how parents and students can exercise this right and fight against school body art bans.
"What we see now is a complete reflection of society in general. There is no tattoo subculture. The lines have been blurred. If
you have a love of the art, you're going to get a tattoo."
Call your stock broker! Tattoo removal company, Dr Tattoff is expanding and wants to go public next year. John Keefe, Dr. Tattoff's chief executive, estimates that tattoo removal could be a $10-billion-a-year industry. He wouldn't give figures for his own profits but did say that Tattoff is a multimillion-dollar business.
KansasCity.com explores
how tattoo art has made its way onto gift registries but in the form
of tableware, home decor, and bedding. At the end of the article, they
list tattoo-inspired goods along with websites and prices (like the
$65,000 price tag on Kiki Smith's "Tattoo Vase" for Steuben Glass).
If there was a "Henry Lewis is My Homeboy" tee, I'd drape it over my D's with pride. The SF tattooist and painter is featured in this month's Juxtapoz magazine and it's a must read. In fact, the whole issue is cover-to-cover good this month.
We all have a librarian fantasy somewhere in the recesses of our dirty minds. Knowing this -- and banking on it -- are the the Tattooed Ladies of the Texas Library Association and their 18 month calendar to benefit TLA's Library Disaster Relief Fund.
The calendar, featuring "21 well-read and well-illustrated Texas librarians show their ink," has garnered blaring headlines worldwide. I suppose the idea of smart women with tattoos is still new for some?
I did like the OregonLive.com quote though: "I am thinking Tina Fey meets Suicide Girls...It seems too good to be true." It is! Check these samples pages.
The Needles and Sins mantra of "keep your low-brow coverage held high" has been drilled into my earhole enough times that I think I've started chanting it in my sleep. It also would explain the pangs of guilt I experienced when I somehow found myself not only looking at cracked.com, but actually laughing at it, to boot.
And while I was ready to see the run-of-the-mill "tattoos are for idiots" sentiment on their tattoo topic page, I mustered quite a few giggles at their "insights," especially this butcher's-chart for the tattooed human form.
[photo courtesy of Cracked.com]
After all, can I make judgements about a website that sounds just as misanthropic as my general view of humanity? Case in point:
Tattoos theoretically could be thoughtful additions to your appearance. Unfortunately there are thousands of tattoo parlors (many open 24 hours) and people just don't have that many thoughts. So most [tattoos] are stupid.
Some people love their stupid tattoos, in fact some people claim that everyone should have at least one. I can't argue with that sentiment, but I would like to point out that for a lot of people, its often its the first and final tattoo.
Cracked's stance on band logo tattoos ("I have no independent personality or understanding of the passage of time"), revolves around something which I've milled over and mulched in my brain for far longer than I probably should have.
While it's a pretty safe bet that your affinity for the bands you loved during puberty will never wane (in my case, groups like Pixies, Sonic Youth, Operation Ivy), I can safely assert that I don't personally need to immortalize that lifelong allegiance with a dermal decoration. Secondly, it's also almost entirely a safe bet that the band you love RIGHT NOW will either break-up or, worse, totally shift stylistic directions leaving you pining for their "first few albums" and a laser removal center.
I know that Slipknot piece must've looked fresh when you were going sick in the pit for them at Ozzfest, but one day they will inevitably put out a record you'll be describing as a sellout, and you'll be looking to burn that shit off with a hot hanger.
But in the words of Ryan Dowd, the (tattooed) die-hard Clutch fan from Dogs of Winter, "I love the man, but I really don't think I need Neil Fallon's face on me."
Words made all the more prescient considering that the latest offering from Clutch, Strange Cousins From The West is good... it's just not, um... great.
Even Rob Zombie (no stranger to ink, himself) told Inked Magazine: "I have seen hundreds and hundreds of tattoos of my face on people. Sometimes that is actually quite shocking - how large they are. I'm like, 'Really? You want someone else's face that's actually larger than your own face on your body?' But it is what it is, I guess. It's flattering, but it's pretty extreme."
Listen to Mr. Zombie, kids. He knows what's good for you.
The biggest news item was Chris Brown putting down his fists and picking up a tattoo machine. The singer was at East Side Ink last week, home to tattooer of his ex Rihanna, Bang Bang -- a man who consensually makes her bleed. After getting a forearm tattoo earlier in the week, Brown returned to East Side to put his own tattoo (see above) on Bang Bang.
You may remember that we blogged about Bang Bang getting in trouble for letting Rihanna tattoo him and others in the shop last month as only licensed artists can tattoo in New York, but I guess the press and subsequent biz from the celeb tattoos will pay for the fines he may face. Problem is that someone, Bang Bang or East Side's owner, could also lose their license as well. Worth it?
Patrick Conley, a 29-year-old husband and father who was dying of leukemia had one last wish: to get a tattoo. Upon his death, he reiterated this wish to his hospice nurse. He had the design all ready to go. But never made it. The nurse wanted to see his final desire fulfilled so she told another hospice nurse, the mother of tattoo artist Matt Sawdon. Sawdon, of Sunken Ship Tattoo in Everett, WA, agreed to do his first post-mortem tattoo after Conley's family agreed. The article details what Sawdon experienced in doing this tattoo, but it was the final part of the article below that broke my heart:
In the tumult of Conley's last few hours, his wife found one last gift.
When
it was clear he would die, she slipped into their bedroom and turned
over the design for the tattoo that he had planned and wanted for
months.
"I was shocked," she said. "I was amazed. It was beautiful."
Conley, fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, had chosen a Celtic cross.Inside,
outstretched hands cupped a sacred heart. Between his heart and the
cross, the names he treasured above all: Charity, Wesley, Mickella and
Morgan.
It confirmed what she had known all along."We were his everything."
I needed a laugh after that story, and this one did the trick: 22 Fan Tattoos of Comedians, including Bill Cosby as a puddin pop.
It's not the first to honor text tattoos. Ina Saltz put together a great collection in her 2006 book Body Type: Intimate Message Etched in Flesh but this new project goes beyond funky fonts to all skin lit from "a line from an e.e. cummings poem (above), an image from a picture book or maybe even a drawing of an author we love." Read more here to contribute to the project.
Cool article in SF Gate on how tattoos are replicated on wax statues of celebs at Madame Tussauds. Here's how they do it: "...If a celebrity has a tattoo, it will be photographed and duplicated
-- or the appropriate body part will be sent to the tattoo artist so it
can be done by the original."
For more cool stories, it's quick and dirty link time:
* South West Florida News Press inadvertently collects the trashiest tattoos and top melanoma candidates all in one 20-photo slideshow. It will make you feel good about your own artistic choices.
It's a good day when a hot tattooed blond -- who knows how to wield a tattoo machine -- hands you a check and says, "Sweet. I'm your first advertiser." Sweet, indeed.
The latest post was on Dare Devil and Le Roi shackin up, which I'm excited about because I'm looking for a surface piercing to cover up a scar and Le Roi is renowned for top piercers and quality jewelry [will blog on that myself when I make my appointment].
One of my fave online features of the Dare Devil sites is the videos -- especially the Tattoo Wars show where Michelle won for best Americana tattoo.
Check the tattoo goodness!
To also advertise on Needles + Sins, hit me up through the contact link.The news is up next.
