12:27 PM
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I wish to warn you, Gentle Reader, that we'll be doing some server maintenance this afternoon and over the holiday weekend. I would hate to think that any of you might be driven to acts of violence or self-mutilation because Needles and Sins appears to have disappeared, but never fear... it's only temporary and we shall soon return to delivering the snarky and snooty tattoo-related news you've come to expect from us.
(And, heck, if I get ambitious, I might even implement the new site design... No promises on that one, though) |
Announcements |
11:09 AM
 Tomorrow, at Sacred Gallery in NYC, the opening for a truly exciting show kicks off at 7PM: "PROTEST VS. PROPAGANDA" On view will be works from Shepard Fairey/OBEY GIANT (known for his iconic Obama "HOPE" poster), Aidan Hughes (known most for creating artwork for the band KMFDM), Max Grundy, Adam Hays, Nik Moore, Wendy Cross, and Dan Alvarado. Gallery director, Kevin Wilson, says: "The show is based on the responses to contemporary political happenings that have impacted us all." The exhibition runs till Sept. 24th. Brian and I are looking forward to it, and hope to see y'all there. Sacred Gallery NYC 424 Broadway, 3nd Floor Rear New York, NY 10013 |
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03:40 PM
 ABC News just posted a few photos from the Hell City convention in Phoenix. Cheers to them for some thoughtful captions and not the usual point-and-laugh at the freaks.
I heard the show was once again a success. Cheers to Durb and the crew for another great event. I'm sure their own photos will go up soon, so check back on their media page or head there now to see images from past shows. |
Tattoo TAGS: ABC news. conventions Hell City Tattoo Convention Phoenix |
02:06 PM
 Adding to our features on gorgeous photography with tattoo themes, here's a taste of Brian Cummings' Bodies of Work. Brian debuted this work in April, so I'm late to the game, but the photos can be appreciated at any time. Here's what he says of the series: As a visual artist, I am drawn to contrast. Contrast of light and dark, b&w, drama and comedy, etc. I like the push and pull of two extremes. I'm intrigued by the wide gap between two points. As an art form, tattooing does that for me. On one hand, you have something that for some is rebellious and taboo. On the other, it is an art form with a long tradition with great beauty and personal meaning. I wanted to explore the idea that tattooing is a form of fine art and the body is just another canvas. Pulling lighting influence from the Baroque masters, I attempted to treat each subject as a canvas painting. What would a Reuben's painting look like if his models for tattooed? See more images here and here. Thanks to the wonderful Clare Goldilox for the links. |
Tattoo TAGS: Bodies of Work Brian Cummings photos tattoo photography |
01:52 PM
 I'll begin simply by saying that These Old Blue Arms: The Life & Work of Amund Dietzel is a bookshelf mandate for lovers of tattoo art and culture. Written by Jon Reiter of Solid State Tattoo in Milwaukee, it not only captures a legend but the richness of tattoo Americana. Last month, Patrick posted a preview of the book, and over vacation, I made it my essential reading -- although not beach reading as I didn't want to risk damaging the 200-page hardcover. While I devoured the entire book in just a few hours, its resonance is long lasting. It is in one volume a book of history, artistic reference, and tattoo lore as well as a meticulously researched biography. As Fred Stonehouse says in the Foreword, Jon Reiter has made it his mission to "clarify much of the shadowy information" surrounding Dietzel. Reiter cites the Norwegian National Archives to early US newspapers to direct quotes from Dietzel's grandson to paint a picture of a man deemed "one of the last true gentleman tattooers." The book begins with a short introduction to Dietzel's family life, illustrated by photos from the late 1800s and beyond. We learn that he went to sea at the age of 14 and got his first tattoo--an anchor on his hand--when he docked in Southern Wales in 1907. It was aboard the Augusta later that year when he started his 60+year tattoo career with "six needles bound with cotton and set in a block of wood." More than tattoo facts, the book tells stories of alleged ship wrecks, war time tattoo culture, and carny life--where Dietzel spent a good portion of his career tattooing and as a "Tattooed Man" sideshow performer. It also shows Dietzel as an artist constantly seeking to refine his craft, noting that he took art classes at Yale and elsewhere at various times in his life. His artistry is ever-present in the hand-painted flash spreads--these pages alone are worth buying the book. [Reiter also gives some background on the root of the word flash, which is fantastic.]  A cast of other characters populate the book like William Grimshaw, Thomas Riley, Cliff Raven, Phil Sparrow, Gib "Tatts" Thomas, and Kenneth "Shaky Jake" Jacobs--a villain who tries to put others out of business through badmouthing and even setting up crooked cops outside of competitors' shops to steer away would-be clients. These great stories never detract from Dietzel's work, which attracted tattoo collectors from all over the world to his Milwaukee studios even before tattoo magazines, the Internet and general acceptance of the art, as Reiter notes. Dietzel retired in 1967 when Milwaukee banned tattooing. He and Tatts, at the ages of 75 and 65, put up a fight at City Council meetings, but they were largely alone in doing so. In 1974, Dietzel died of leukemia, three weeks before his 83rd birthday. His life is illuminated and honored in this excellent book. You can order it here for $50 plus shipping. A second installment is in the works and I'll have more on that as it progresses.  |
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03:40 PM
Tattoo TAGS: Jack Rudy Mountain Dew tattoos in advertising Virgin Mobile |
01:27 PM
 My buddy Julien from Inoveryourhead.net, sent me this tattoo by Loic of Needles Side with the message, "Is this as awesome as I think it is?" I think it is. But what do you think it is?
For more on Loic, see our previous post. |
Tattoo TAGS: hand tattoo Loic |
03:56 AM
 Our homie Nate Igor Smith, of the infamous Driven By Boredom, was at the Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-in_Rock, IL, and captured the madness (much NSFW madness) of Insane Clown Posse fans. What we've learned from these photo sets is the following: Juggalos are generally not skillful drinkers; wrestle-mania is popular (and mania in general); and their tattoo tributes are ...
... well, see for yourself. Here's a taste of Nate's take on Juggalo tattoos: Other than maybe Black Flag bars you don't really see a lot of people getting the same band tattoo, but fucking EVERYONE at the Gathering has the Psychopathic Records hatchet man logo. It's fucking crazy. I started out with the idea of shooting all these ICP tattoos but seriously 75% of the people there had them so I had to concentrate on the more outrageous tattoos, but even then I was sort of ignoring half of them. It just went on and on. I guess if you are the type of person to travel to the middle of nowhere for an Insane Clown Posse show you are probably the type of person to get their logo tattooed to you. [...] But yeah, this gallery is full of hatchet men and ICP tattoos but there are also Dark Lotus tattoos, Twiztid tattoos, Kottonmouth Kings tattoos and pretty much any of that wicked shit. Even Coolio has an ICP tattoo. These kids are seriously down with the clown. Read more here. What's a Juggalo? According to Wikipedia, "Juggalo or Juggalette (the latter being feminine) is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics." Evidently, there is "Juggalo related crime" -- crime that does not include Vanilla Ice performing at the Gathering. If you're seeking something more palatable than "inartful" tattoos and men with (non-ironic) mullets vomiting, check the other DBD galleries. |
Tattoo TAGS: Driven By Boredom ICP Juggalo tattoo Juggalos Nate Igor Smith |
11:33 PM
 Clips from unbelievably terrible movies mixed with standup comedy mixed with tattooed hosts mixed with booze means it's time for Team Jim's weird comedy baby, the Crappy Cinema Council (CCC). Started by Jim VanBlaricum and Jim Crocamo (calling themselves Team Jim) this is the fifth CCC event. Jim Veebs explains:
The dudes and movies are super funny and the last time I went the clips were ninja-themed. NINJA-THEMED. Jim Veebs also sports a pretty serious 3/4 sleeve from tattooer Daniel Albrigo, which he describes in three words as "creepy grandpa nightmare." He has yet to agree to wear sweet cut off flannels on stage and show off the guns. Check 'em out this Sunday at 7pm at CoCo 66 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  |
Events TAGS: Crappy Cinema Council Daniel Albrigo standup comedy brooklyn |
02:15 PM
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When Evan of Cool Hunting sent this video over to me, I thought it was a parody of "vajazzling." Alas, it seems it is not. *mind boggles* |
Tattoo TAGS: vajazzling vattooing WTF |
nike dunks
Brute is amazing but Fairey is getting old and played out for his ever present ripping of images. Funny title I would have (and I think he would've in the past) considered Fairey to be a propoganda artist, especially with the hope poster.