Grace's Tattoo: Anita Berber, in the Service of Poetry

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAIWq2iihyphenhyphen1VsktOn0YUZCRUF9Al4VDXnKvgi6wpR6LpqXLAkhJk0aRg3BculwLcN-piumLndUv2LUuydPUem75rK3YcZXhb2SIYGNl8q-m194_sbMZBefjtrBZj_nJDmrdDsIH2rdivB/s1600-h/life.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196733985866512306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAIWq2iihyphenhyphen1VsktOn0YUZCRUF9Al4VDXnKvgi6wpR6LpqXLAkhJk0aRg3BculwLcN-piumLndUv2LUuydPUem75rK3YcZXhb2SIYGNl8q-m194_sbMZBefjtrBZj_nJDmrdDsIH2rdivB/s400/life.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />On Wednesday, April 23, New York City simmered in pre-summer warmth and, while my camera was at the park with the wife and kids, I was stuck at work.<br /><br />Co-worker Cecelia (tattoo-less, as far as I know) was kind enough to lend me her <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndex1Act&fcategoryid=101">Canon</a> and, during lunch, I met a young woman named Grace who had the extremely interesting piece (above) on the back of her neck.<br /><br />Grace explained: the woman is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Berber">Anita Berber</a>, who was, in her words, "a cabaret whore lady in the '20's".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFLUH09S58jbYe1VNKBw7eCng7Ey_4K7cWsfcmpwBHsrllg0Qe66nlAVUEiOVoQFEDCCBh7UYZS_DtMwPeQdZn47FbdrA40abyFI5D2gpnc1dTpPtKSKenV-LOrCmCZKZ75sypzDGt7ql/s1600-h/berber_buchorig.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196608667310749602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFLUH09S58jbYe1VNKBw7eCng7Ey_4K7cWsfcmpwBHsrllg0Qe66nlAVUEiOVoQFEDCCBh7UYZS_DtMwPeQdZn47FbdrA40abyFI5D2gpnc1dTpPtKSKenV-LOrCmCZKZ75sypzDGt7ql/s400/berber_buchorig.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The quote, "life in the service of poetry" is an abbreviated version of the fuller quote "life in the service of poetry is a life not wasted". Grace attributed the quote to Berber, who came across it in an interview with <a href="http://www.jackterricloth.net/">Jack Terricloth</a>, lead singer of the cabaret/punk band <a href="http://www.worldinferno.com/">The World/Inferno Friendship Society.</a> My research is unable to come up with the exact quote in the context of the interview, but that's beside the point. The sentiment is dead on.<br /><br />Grace, a student at <a href="http://www.fitnyc.edu/html/dynamic.html">Fashion Institute of Technology</a>, explained further that the quote is not literally interpreted by her, but that she regards it more generally: "Living for whatever you think is beautiful," whether it be poetry, or some other form of artistic expression.<br /><br />This tattoo (one of Grace's two pieces) was inked by <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/html/nick_males.html">Nick Males</a> at <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/index.html">Silk City Tattoo</a> in <a href="http://www.hawthornenj.org/">Hawthorne, New Jersey</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Grace for sharing Ms. Berber with Tattosday!

Grace's Tattoo: Anita Berber, in the Service of Poetry

On Wednesday, April 23, New York City simmered in pre-summer warmth and, while my camera was at the park with the wife and kids, I was stuck...

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