Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog): Places

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmspXDYq3NTyZhBbMT-EAvpF7AANQIihpZi1xaTOCvyGsH7LwrKtzAKg-4-eno1A61BMpICBP3zDp1H8FcyVp_VzU3y3cfcAvbGrjay3yZWfNZizvDCCS_tAOTd-umi6gXQ9CMBbdCxAXQ/s1600-h/PICT0892.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258485421168964514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmspXDYq3NTyZhBbMT-EAvpF7AANQIihpZi1xaTOCvyGsH7LwrKtzAKg-4-eno1A61BMpICBP3zDp1H8FcyVp_VzU3y3cfcAvbGrjay3yZWfNZizvDCCS_tAOTd-umi6gXQ9CMBbdCxAXQ/s400/PICT0892.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> This isn't the first Long Island tattoo here on this blog (see Ian Jones' post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/05/ian-jones-has-thirteen-tattoos-here-are.html">here</a>), but it is the first specifically marking one place on Long Island. This tattoo belongs to Dave, who told me that he and about 8 or 9 friends share the exact same piece, "geographically correct". There's not much to this piece other than that it is an homage to his home in <a href="http://www.levittownhistoricalsociety.org/">Levittown</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_New_York#Hamlet" title="Administrative divisions of New York">hamlet</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_of_Hempstead" title="Town of Hempstead">Town of Hempstead</a> located on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island" title="Long Island">Long Island</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau_County,_New_York" title="Nassau County, New York">Nassau County, New York</a>. If one is not familiar with the place, it's worth a perusal of their wikipedia page <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levittown,_New_York">here</a>. The historical significance of Levittown as one of the first planned suburbs is generally undisputed. Dave's friends had their hometown tribute inked at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/skindeepny">Skin Deep Tattoo</a> in Levittown itself. Dave's piece was done at <a href="http://local.yahoo.com/info-29469183-east-coast-tattoo-body-piercing-bethpage">East Coast Tattoo & Body Piercing</a> in Bethpage which, he informed me, has relocated to Reno, Nevada. I have a deep respect for geographic tattoos, as they say much about a person, and their permanent presence on the body means that the place journeys with the individual, even after that person has moved on to other locales. Thanks to Dave for sharing his Levittown tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Representing Levittown

This isn't the first Long Island tattoo here on this blog (see Ian Jones' post here ), but it is the first specifically marking one ...

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopY_V9DiXBsgCGFsN3LUXpDTO-fwkcfIq6vYrXbDVBhCV0wEYjGyl0h-ahmDbQxYSQPcI_22JpXQWpp-6gy9sMmxq0H78SU7oKSsH1DnBDKty-O22lUgKrcQLWDEVr161eohAV6sBXCwL/s1600-h/100_7218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202688628715262034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopY_V9DiXBsgCGFsN3LUXpDTO-fwkcfIq6vYrXbDVBhCV0wEYjGyl0h-ahmDbQxYSQPcI_22JpXQWpp-6gy9sMmxq0H78SU7oKSsH1DnBDKty-O22lUgKrcQLWDEVr161eohAV6sBXCwL/s400/100_7218.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I saw this <a href="http://www.tattoosymbol.com/articles/hannya.html">hannya mask</a> outside of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_%28New_York_City%29">Penn Station</a> and went up to talk to its host, Ian Jones, a Long Islander waiting for a train. Despite a light rainfall, we chatted for ten minutes or so about his tattoos and the stories behind them. Since the advent of Tattoosday, participants' reactions to the project range from total disinterestedness to moderate amusement. Ian, however, took it a notch higher, to the point of downright enthusiasm. He sounded sincere in his appreciation for the blog (and the idea behind it), and I got the impression that he would have let me take pictures of each tattoo, had time and weather permitted. The big piece that first drew my attention was the colorful half-sleeve on his left bicep. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannya">hanyya masks</a> are traditional elements in Japanese tattooing styles, and he has two masks representing good and evil. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibWupuFFHCIg4lgANDhw0it_uPpJ83XSjUkjgj6vcWcp6KakNRsR-my5vCDp3ztK-nZPKwK3r8TsD7dwL5avNz9kyCFa8FhJSWIgcUDXqJW1perb7WuSehV2c4yWiW2YM3PWc6S72HM_/s1600-h/100_7215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202690226443096210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibWupuFFHCIg4lgANDhw0it_uPpJ83XSjUkjgj6vcWcp6KakNRsR-my5vCDp3ztK-nZPKwK3r8TsD7dwL5avNz9kyCFa8FhJSWIgcUDXqJW1perb7WuSehV2c4yWiW2YM3PWc6S72HM_/s400/100_7215.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOAixldMhn0hIaZzhKG742EPGsroyu_tEeVausE5gNGrUKtEjWCVouv1iZ0mMZ_40NlGfoldHfQg1F6UPTowf2WfREMf1SyYkFsARnZm3vhfSFFzG6caVZF_mP8sCprfpQ1YqURQxrLr/s1600-h/100_7214.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689857075908738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DOAixldMhn0hIaZzhKG742EPGsroyu_tEeVausE5gNGrUKtEjWCVouv1iZ0mMZ_40NlGfoldHfQg1F6UPTowf2WfREMf1SyYkFsARnZm3vhfSFFzG6caVZF_mP8sCprfpQ1YqURQxrLr/s400/100_7214.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> This tattoo, about ten hours worth of work so far, was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tattoosbykristen">Kristen</a> at <a href="http://www.artfulinktattoo.com/">Artful Ink Tattoo Studio</a>, in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemia%2C_New_York">Bohemia</a>, on Long Island. He noted that it was also a cover-up of a "bad sparrow and flower". Ian says he gets the most questions about his <a href="http://www.vw.com/">Volkswagen</a> logo on the inside of his right wrist. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uoULOAfeB55AUM46DD56QMrtZUDOnN7iZ18SexTLwtr05YuDhTtpmGdKRu6P2kd6sq9E7Cchwwr67OMfkYZEvsg9_WBV0mfumeIkDD0ZHPgR2xBHYwunDgckKsW8ogeFYyNgtHThNk_w/s1600-h/100_7216.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689466233884786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uoULOAfeB55AUM46DD56QMrtZUDOnN7iZ18SexTLwtr05YuDhTtpmGdKRu6P2kd6sq9E7Cchwwr67OMfkYZEvsg9_WBV0mfumeIkDD0ZHPgR2xBHYwunDgckKsW8ogeFYyNgtHThNk_w/s400/100_7216.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> He explains why he got an automotive emblem on such a prominent spot: he's always loved German engineering and has always had VW vehicles. His first car was a VW Eurovan, but his second car, a VW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk5">GTI</a> 2-door hatchback, was what cemented his love of Volkswagens for life. Ian told me how he was in his GTI when he was in a horrible crash. The other vehicle was purportedly going 100 MPH and Ian is convinced that the VW's structural shell protected him from critical injuries. As a tribute to the GTI, and as an expression of his love of Volkswagen, he had the VW logo inked on his shifting arm (he now drives a VW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Jetta">Jetta</a>) as a reminder of his survival from such a harrowing experience. His left arm sports two tattoos: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK4hp6GKuQ1RBqXJZMib0uPC4LX0G17UFRdksZy7AMiaeDraVVjXDgOxQaiqv12Rpp1N1D7imy5VO9YUnErr0UAvaJd0LpnN2prXz9bM0oZkSgASt0QHZA5Mr7CtxOK3ceDbpCI3ltXje/s1600-h/100_7217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202689109751599202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK4hp6GKuQ1RBqXJZMib0uPC4LX0G17UFRdksZy7AMiaeDraVVjXDgOxQaiqv12Rpp1N1D7imy5VO9YUnErr0UAvaJd0LpnN2prXz9bM0oZkSgASt0QHZA5Mr7CtxOK3ceDbpCI3ltXje/s400/100_7217.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>There is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island">Long Island</a> on the forearm and a star on his inner wrist. The star was inked the same time as the VW logo to provide balance, but it grew to take on a more important meaning. It's a reminder symbol about a friend of his who is in the <a href="http://www.marines.com/page/usmc.jsp?flashRedirect=true">Marines</a>. The VW and star were inked by his friend and bandmate <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tat2coffins">Tony Coffins</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/resonancetattoo">Resonance Tattoo</a>, also on Long Island (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_Moriches,_New_York">Center Moriches</a>). Ian and Tony are in a band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/phoenixriseny">Phoenix Rise</a>, together. See their MySpace page <a href="http://www.myspace.com/phoenixriseny">here</a> and listen to them play. The tattoo of Long Island, which Ian admits is not done that well (although I would say at least looks like Long Island), is nonetheless, still near and dear to his heart. Ian was adopted when he was a baby, and he feels that he could have ended up anywhere, and Long Island was his home. He is proud to be a Long Islander, and thus wears this as a badge of honor. Thanks to Ian for his enthusiasm for Tattoosday, and let's hope we see more of his ink here in the future!

Ian Jones Has Thirteen Tattoos. Here Are Four.

I saw this hannya mask outside of Penn Station and went up to talk to its host, Ian Jones, a Long Islander waiting for a train. Despite a...

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Ian Jones Has Thirteen Tattoos. Here Are Four.

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