Tattoosday in the Berkshires: Sean's Corpernican Title

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I met Sean last month at <a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/">Shakespeare & Company</a>, in Lenox, Massachusetts.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYoc9NNlKJ-y3Kk1RAwmG158Xnf7xT-ZQZjjlnNeltVS-6k9z7EdnkiGu4IEbqLAHvepSocEmquSGFMpBBIyFKX_bd52pe8jIDo6YGZn7NTCpedbnrLRRWP6GCJrPEruJkX02QY65z2E/w603-h659-no/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYoc9NNlKJ-y3Kk1RAwmG158Xnf7xT-ZQZjjlnNeltVS-6k9z7EdnkiGu4IEbqLAHvepSocEmquSGFMpBBIyFKX_bd52pe8jIDo6YGZn7NTCpedbnrLRRWP6GCJrPEruJkX02QY65z2E/w603-h659-no/IMG_1198.JPG" width="584" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sean was working at the snack bar at the Tina Packer Playhouse, but I had seen him earlier in the week in an amazing performance as Trufaldin in an adaptation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moli%C3%A8re">Molière's</a> <i><a href="http://www.shakespeare.org/ai1ec_event/les-faux-pas-or-the-counterplots-2/?instance_id=">Les Faux Pas</a></i>.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://ads.harvard.edu/books/1543droc.book/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">De revolutionibus orbium coelestium</a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"> is the title of a book published in 1543 by the Renaissance astronomer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus">Copernicus</a>. The title, translated from the Latin, is <i>On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">Sean elaborated about the origins of this tattoo, which he had done at a shop in Seattle:</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">"I was looking at the root of the word <i>revolt</i> or <i>revolution</i> and it comes from Copernicus ... so I was wanting something that had ... the idea of revolt and revolution ... I became curious as to where the word came from ... [and] I started reading about his theory."</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">As regular readers of this site can tell you, I love textual tattoos, and the idea of inscribing the title of a book almost 500 years old is fascinating, because it's not just about the title, but about the ideas espoused therein.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.15;">Thanks to Sean for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</span></span><br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-29ec20c0-db1d-2279-5c20-0c27bc975233"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span> <br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Tattoosday in the Berkshires: Sean's Corpernican Title

I met Sean last month at Shakespeare & Company , in Lenox, Massachusetts. Sean was working at the snack bar at the Tina Packer Playhouse...

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Mommy Has a Tattoo! Happy Mother's Day Giveaway!!!

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day here on Tattoosday than by talking about a great book for kids who have tattooed moms?<br /><div><br /></div><div>Check out: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977023273/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0977023273&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20">Mommy Has A Tattoo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0977023273" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Phil Padwe!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mommyhastattoos.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mhat-post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://mommyhastattoos.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mhat-post.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>I had the pleasure of meeting Phil last year and have been long overdue in talking about this great book for kids.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.wix.com/media/833dcc_c6f76f8a90591d1e77130c7def61b22a.jpg_srz_300_500_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://static.wix.com/media/833dcc_c6f76f8a90591d1e77130c7def61b22a.jpg_srz_300_500_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />It's a simple story that helps kids get understand that people with tattoos are not "scary" and that even moms have ink. For 21st century toddlers, this book is a sweet tale of acceptance and understanding that can help address the differences (and similarities) between people.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.superiortattoo.com/images%5Cproducts%5CMommy_Has_A_Tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://www.superiortattoo.com/images%5Cproducts%5CMommy_Has_A_Tattoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />You can read more about the book and author on the Mommy has a Tattoo website <a href="http://www.mommyhasatattoo.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />And although it may be too late to get this as a mother's day gift this year, the book makes a great baby shower present for your tattooed moms-to-be!<br /><br />Phil was kind enough to donate a couple of copies of <u>Mommy Has a Tattoo</u> for Tattoosday readers, and a couple of copies of his <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977023214/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0977023214&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3ETattoo%20Coloring%20Book%20#2</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0977023214" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />">Tattoo Coloring Book #2</a>, as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/08/02/tattoo%20coloring%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/08/02/tattoo%20coloring%20book.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/08/02/tattoo%20coloring%20book%20padwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/08/02/tattoo%20coloring%20book%20padwe.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You know the drill! Comment below, or on the Tattoosday Facebook page, or send an email to TattoosdayContests@gmail.com, if you want to be entered to win a copy of one of these cool books. Enter by Thursday, May 16, to win!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also visit the Mommy Has a Tattoo Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MommyHasATattoo">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Phil Padwe for creating such great books, and for helping moms and dads everywhere make tattoo acceptance and understanding a little bit easier for kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Mother's Day, all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0977023273" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0977023214" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><br /><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-9927-b39e-8bc5-034756f230dd" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-9927-b39e-8bc5-034756f230dd" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-9927-b39e-8bc5-034756f230dd" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></b>

Mommy Has a Tattoo! Happy Mother's Day Giveaway!!!

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day here on Tattoosday than by talking about a great book for kids who have tattooed moms? Check o...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Thomas Fucaloro

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's tattooed poet is Thomas Fucaloro.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I met Thomas last summer after spotting him at the <a href="http://poetrysocietyny.org/new-york-city-poetry-festival/info-for-this-year/">New York City Poetry Festival</a> on <a href="http://www.govisland.com/html/home/home.shtml">Governor's Island</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the tattoo on his leg:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCbOudGz9JID1UVhRLmHvQuWA8K8Sro2uD8MpaDVst7ScODUY1US72IZAxo_OEsuRVsmLMifnaClE4DIdR0OHKYflQvVc6vHLzD3eAb1_sj1nHYkcespPhCtoz9SQNvtZtsA5_gLW7vg/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCbOudGz9JID1UVhRLmHvQuWA8K8Sro2uD8MpaDVst7ScODUY1US72IZAxo_OEsuRVsmLMifnaClE4DIdR0OHKYflQvVc6vHLzD3eAb1_sj1nHYkcespPhCtoz9SQNvtZtsA5_gLW7vg/s640/photo.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><br />For those of you who don't know, this is an illustration from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0064430227/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0064430227&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EHarold%20and%20the%20Purple%20Crayon%2050th%20Anniversary%20Edition%20(Purple%20Crayon%20Books)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0064430227%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Harold and the Purple Crayon</a>, a children's book by <a href="https://www.ksu.edu/english/nelp/purple/index.html">Crockett Johnson</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvGchN-gE4hT-84KyIaxfiWCmF8zcWRWJ8ML8_W2xqdR7XAc7vKYJnT9sSno7WkcFj4MBixX8V6ttsT5WXZSfVPnH-Fa6tHcCohtnzIdv41p2WFMdrMyvfSQ9-fsMYz_fviUNDzXxeKQ/s1600/haroldandpurple.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvGchN-gE4hT-84KyIaxfiWCmF8zcWRWJ8ML8_W2xqdR7XAc7vKYJnT9sSno7WkcFj4MBixX8V6ttsT5WXZSfVPnH-Fa6tHcCohtnzIdv41p2WFMdrMyvfSQ9-fsMYz_fviUNDzXxeKQ/s400/haroldandpurple.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />This was one of my favorite books as a kid, so really wanted to find out what this tattoo was all about.<br /><br />Thomas told me "I don't remember who gave me the tattoo, but I know they were affiliated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Shaw_(tattooist)">Jonathan Shaw</a> and tattoos and cappuccino in the city, but this was 15 years ago."<br /><br />He sent along the following, which was "the poem that inspired the tattoo or vice versa":<br /><br /><i><u>Thomas and the Purple Crayon </u></i><br /><br />So there was no moon in the sky<br />so he drew one and then a house<br />with some windows, a door, a kitchen, a table<br />and then a mother and a father.<br /><br />The first time I told my parents I have a cocaine problem<br />they looked at me odd<br />like I just told them I want to run for the presidency<br />or<br />be an Olympic javelin thrower<br />or<br />become a poet.<br /><br />Thomas draws disappointment on their faces.<br /><br />Something is about to change in Thomas and I don’t even know it.<br /><br />I hope the need for coke becomes the need for my parents.<br /><br />The drawing of the house still, stands.<br />This time Thomas adds shutters to the windows<br />so nobody can see in or out. <br /><br />Thomas erases forks, knives and other sharp objects for <br />protection. He draws a hot air balloon in case he needs to escape.<br /><br />The 4th time I told my parents I have a cocaine problem<br />they looked at me sorrowingly, morningly set sunset vibrant<br />just for a second, gone. Ultimatums fly like high-heeled shoes thrown<br />at my head, rightfully so. Thomas draws band-aids. Don’t worry<br />he draws a hot air balloon in case he needs to escape.<br /><br />I’ve started writing poems where my father is the course through my veins<br />my mother a circulatory system of never ending branches reaching,<br />pulsating through arteries bloody blossoming through those little veins<br />in your eyeballs holding a stare of hope. Thomas draws his eyelids shut.<br /><br />The 7th time I told my parents I have a cocaine problem<br />they looked expected. Expected like the sun.<br />Expected like one day I would have to put my crayons away.<br />Expected like no hot water in my building.<br /><br />Thomas draws mountains of regret, <br />throws them off the George Washington Bridge<br />if only to draw anew.<br /><br />I’ve started drawing these poems <br />where Thomas is writing about telling my parents about the first few times<br />I had a cocaine problem but they keep coming out like this poem.<br /><br />Some people call me a drug poet.<br /><br />My parents are taking the place of drugs in all my poems.<br /><br />I think<br /><br />this is a good thing.<br /><br />I<br /><br />draw<br /><br />a smile.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thomas Fucaloro is a New York City poet who has a book out by <a href="http://threeroomspress.com/authors/thomas-fucaloro/">Three Rooms Press</a> called <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984070079/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0984070079&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EInheriting%20Craziness%20is%20LIke%20a%20Soft%20Halo%20of%20Light%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0984070079%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Inheriting Craziness</a> and is founding editor of <a href="http://greatweatherformedia.com/">great weather for MEDIA</a>. He likes rainbows.<br /><br />Thanks to Thomas for his contribution to Tattoosday!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0984070079" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.39728624955751" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoos are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Thomas Fucaloro

Today's tattooed poet is Thomas Fucaloro. I met Thomas last summer after spotting him at the New York City Poetry Festival on Governor...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: David Tomas Martinez

Our next tattooed poet is David Tomas Martinez, who hails from Houston.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrbAXqMXYU4e2-dzYb1vRdpWZ-7H2fL7zjrRb9BySlpGPVZNPS_MWwImRvyKi_oisRbqno6KLoJVa-nzrTOekcyv1HOCZWHbEvz6DFL1GWiS2Hca-PxoxRalFs8HK5AWHl2kOK5Hsb0o/s615/IMG_20130109_125245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrbAXqMXYU4e2-dzYb1vRdpWZ-7H2fL7zjrRb9BySlpGPVZNPS_MWwImRvyKi_oisRbqno6KLoJVa-nzrTOekcyv1HOCZWHbEvz6DFL1GWiS2Hca-PxoxRalFs8HK5AWHl2kOK5Hsb0o/s640/IMG_20130109_125245.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David, as you can see in his photo, has a lot of tattoos. He also had a lot to say about his work:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"It was difficult to chose just one tattoo for this blog post. I like to say I have 6 tattoos: my right arm, left arm, complete back piece, a neck piece, a chest piece, and a tattoo above my right knee. (I know, the obligatory random knee tattoo.) I also like to say that they are not tattoos but fortuitous birth marks. Nobody ever seems to accept these explanations."</blockquote>Some of our featured poets don't say a lot about their work. Others, like David, are generous with their words. I always love reading the lengthier explanations of peoples' work. And, I will turn it back over to David:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"<a href="http://www.sabertoothtattoo.net/bryantattoos.html">Bryan Romero</a> has done all my work. Other artists have touched my skin, but he has either covered their work or relined their work to incorporate it better in to our designs. Our process for tattooing usually goes like this: I text Brian and let him know I'm coming by. I discuss with him what ideas I have for my next tattoo. Mostly he thinks their good but once in awhile he will say that is impossible. Then, he draws it up over the span of a week or so. I look at it, making tweaks if any are needed. I usually defer to what he thinks, he being the professional. (I'm not sure if I am professional at anything.) We have been doing this routine for about ten years, when I first came to get 'home boy' tattooed on my biceps while wearing a cowboy shirt with roses on it. We quickly became friends, and I have lived in happy tattoo monogamy ever since. (Though I let him whore himself out to others.) He currently works at <a href="http://www.sabertoothtattoo.net/">Sabertooth Tattoo</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Beach,_San_Diego">Pacific Beach</a> neighborhood of San Diego, California.<br /><br />Two identity forming states, identifying myself as a writer and Chican@, have really shaped my tattoos. For instance, I have a <i>pistolera</i>, or a lady gun fighter on my back, which is an homage to my ethnicity. But I also have a plume on my right forearm and a sword on my left forearm, a nod to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bulwer-Lytton,_1st_Baron_Lytton">Edward Bulwer-Lytton's</a> saying, 'the pen is mightier than the sword.' And sometimes these two states of identity will intersect, in the form of a candy skull with a candle burning on top of it, a kind of Chican@ Shakespeare, or 'Chakespeare' if you will.<br /><br />I picked for my featured tattoo, which is like picking a favorite child, which is always a reality but not something you go around bragging about, the last tattoo Brian chiseled on my body, my <a href="http://www.sarabandebooks.org/">Sarabande Books</a> tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo4v4ToU5z_ijQymxta6Mbhw6lHfVgx-SY0NT7ZE2gqrfa7HqUXaS329v5pJP2i8HcaBon_-BMgUrH3jfC17zrDdA80a9ytcUt6xUkYHtS6VEAC85f9ZPeBWsOrQfW47wP-ow1H3PO-0/s615/sarabande+tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVo4v4ToU5z_ijQymxta6Mbhw6lHfVgx-SY0NT7ZE2gqrfa7HqUXaS329v5pJP2i8HcaBon_-BMgUrH3jfC17zrDdA80a9ytcUt6xUkYHtS6VEAC85f9ZPeBWsOrQfW47wP-ow1H3PO-0/s400/sarabande+tattoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />My first collection of poetry, <u>Hustle</u>, will be published by Sarabande; the book is due out in May of 2014. This was quite an honor to have such a wonderful independent press putting my work in the world. My tattoo artist, Brian, has designed the book cover. As a way of solidifying this accomplishment, I can't hold the book until 2014, I got the book cover design tattooed on my leg. And for good measure I got Sarabande's logo tattooed on the side of my hand. My friend and mentor, <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/112">Tony Hoagland </a>saw the tattoo and told me, 'You're going to have a long career, you should slow down or you wont have any room for the other books.' By that I'm pretty sure he meant, 'Go work on a critical essay, then publish it.' Tony goes hard. Many of my tattoos mark some transition or accomplishment in my life. A sort of journal that everyone can read."</blockquote>David added some advice to tattoo rookies everywhere, echoing a sentiment felt by many:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"...please please please (best James Brown voice) do not just go in a tattoo shop, point at the board and drunkenly yell, "I want that one!" Because when I am waiting in line at the grocery store or, god forbid, a line for an amusement park ride that will take a month and I have to see your misspelled ex-boyfriend's name, or a heart with Budweiser on the scroll, or Rainbow Brite with blood shot eyes and a joint in her hand, I will be angry. Don't do that to us. Think about what you want and pay your tattoo artist according to their worth. I have too many friends that have too many horror stories about getting tattooed. Do not be one of these people. Do your research."</blockquote>The poem David sent us has a tattoo in it, as well. "The poem I picked, 'Coveralls' has an important 'scene' where my coworker, Lucy (and let us not forget the Latin root, luz, or light) shows me a tattoo she had." He adds, "I hope you enjoy the poem and I am glad to be apart of this wonderful jamming of two of my favorite passions! Writing! Tattoos!"<br /><br />COVERALLS<br /><br />The orange coveralls flamed around me in one-size-fits-all,<br />and no matter how I stood, they slouched and bent me.<br /><br />In the shipyard there were no mirrors<br />but in the ocean’s reflection or the pools in the dry docks<br />I could see how the leathers covered my boney clavicle<br />and my arms were only as wide as my torch.<br /><br />I interviewed in a flower-splattered rayon, <br />but was hired because my uncle was foreman.<br /><br />In training, I met Lucy. <br /><br />Straightening out the crooked cuts in my bulkheads<br />she showed me how an orange stream pours off a perfect bevel.<br /><br />Once in the bilges, I asked what brought her<br />to the bottom of this boat, measuring and cutting walls.<br /><br />Pulling off her suede glove,<br /><br />wiping sweat and ash away,<br />on her hand shone a green 13.<br /><br />Secretaries don’t have tattoos,<br />muffled through her respirator.<br /><br />And by lunch,<br />we were burnt by sparks,<br />by three we sneezed black,<br />but the foreman flirted with her<br />using the last banging mallets<br />to get close and whisper.<br /><br />Wrenching hoses <br />from our torches,<br />on our neck, metallic dust <br />ignited in the sun. <br /><br />The top half <br />of her coveralls,<br />unbuttoned and wrapped,<br />slowly melted down<br />as the whistles blew.<br /><br />After training,<br />I worked on frigates,<br />she worked on tankers,<br /><br />I walked by her worksite<br />and Lucy’d be cutting<br />a tanker’s wall,<br /><br />golden ashes<br />dropping from <br />a chariot <br />of rusted pipe <br />and planks.<br /><br />Looking up<br />shaking the wind,<br />shaking a hole<br />in my coveralls,<br /><br />from ankle to knee gone,<br />the thin blue cloth gone;<br /><br />I watched Lucy rise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br />When not writing bios or sonnets in bathroom stalls, David Tomas Martinez lurks along the San Diego trolley lines giving hugs to the homegirls and daps to the homeboys, all the while remarking how the cigarette butts on the ground look like petals on a wet, black bough. His work has been published in <a href="http://www.forkliftohio.com/">Forklift Ohio</a>, <a href="http://www.sandiegowriters.org/">San Diego Writer's Ink</a> (Volumes 2 and 3), <i>Charlotte Journal</i>, <a href="http://poetryinternational.sdsu.edu/">Poetry International</a>, and he has been the featured poet for <a href="http://www.bordervoices.com/bordervoices/bordervoices/About%20Us.html">Border Voices</a>. He is a Ph.D. candidate in the <a href="http://www.uh.edu/class/english/programs/graduate/creative-writing/">University of Houston's Creative Writing </a>program, with an emphasis in Poetry. Martinez is also the Reviews and Interviews Editor for <a href="http://www.gulfcoastmag.org/">Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts</a>. His debut collection of poetry, <u>Hustle</u>, will be released in 2014 by <a href="http://www.sarabandebooks.org/">Sarabande Books</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to David for his extensive share of poetry and ink with us here on Tattoosday's Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span> <b id="internal-source-marker_0.5455466713756323" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

The Tattooed Poets Project: David Tomas Martinez

Our next tattooed poet is David Tomas Martinez, who hails from Houston. David, as you can see in his photo, has a lot of tattoos. He also ha...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Kristin LaTour

Our next tattooed poet is <a href="http://www.kristinlatour.com/">Kristin LaTour</a>, who sent us these photos:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmGv6miCrn_rH608pctHQS-JAT4tjS9dhKIFhvnnQKt0K49n5G5IOyJVyFEwszKEldovcuBRHhKBE-obmmAVeROjnZFbXSRXBIDCAoUMkvL_s15EeqNMwNTMV0DdD4YK715-RxYsT9N8/s774/2013-01-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmGv6miCrn_rH608pctHQS-JAT4tjS9dhKIFhvnnQKt0K49n5G5IOyJVyFEwszKEldovcuBRHhKBE-obmmAVeROjnZFbXSRXBIDCAoUMkvL_s15EeqNMwNTMV0DdD4YK715-RxYsT9N8/s640/2013-01-31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Kristin elaborated on the history of this tattoo:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I chose this design after thinking about it for a long time. It was my second tattoo, the largest I've had so far, and when I got it, it was the most visible. Because I knew it would be visible, I wanted it to be really special. The flowers are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaeralcea">globe mallows</a>, a desert flower. I grew up in Tucson and went camping all over the southwest. Mallows are my favorite flower from that area, and they range from orange to fuchsia  The book is for my love of reading and writing, and I wrote the prayer that covers the open pages. My artist, Doc, was so wonderful that he managed to keep my handwriting from the sketch that I brought for him. The feather pen draws from the color of the parakeet on the other side. The parakeet wasn't part of the original plan, but after all the black was done, Doc mentioned that I had asked about including a bird and there was a perfect spot for her. I had a parakeet who was my best friend when I finally moved out on my own and started my adult life. She was with me for almost ten years and is still my little muse. But those branches she perches on now really hurt to have inked in!</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsuQH2V7Lzk-kF8Ly4jfjtSGG5hqs5kek9JI1gMnBnbZqoQUXERmCxqHKUPPJ5yir61eZY3gq60-ktuY93SuTJtoqyoDy_kC0H9Zl9kG_LqOFxpn3MbBJeSl4l4vO4EQ8kJ87VEoN6eQ/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsuQH2V7Lzk-kF8Ly4jfjtSGG5hqs5kek9JI1gMnBnbZqoQUXERmCxqHKUPPJ5yir61eZY3gq60-ktuY93SuTJtoqyoDy_kC0H9Zl9kG_LqOFxpn3MbBJeSl4l4vO4EQ8kJ87VEoN6eQ/s640/photo.jpg" width="410" /></a></div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">I had the tattoo done in Joliet, Illinois at <a href="http://www.wolfsfineline.com/">Wolf's Fine Line Tattoo</a>. by <a href="http://www.wolfsfineline.com/docbio.htm">Doc</a>. He's the best."</blockquote><br />The poem Kristin sent us "includes references to the desert where I grew up, and the East coast, where I worked on my MFA and fell in love with the ocean.":<br /><br /><b>She Sinks</b><br /><br />Her arms and legs are buoyant, but her body<br />always sinks. It's her stone heart, you assume,<br />or the memories she encases in cement and<br />buries in her lungs. She exhales gray dust<br />and her cough echoes in corners. It's unfortunate;<br />she lives near the Atlantic, buffeted by waves<br />when she wades up to her narrow waist into the water,<br />the only element that can hold her. Unfortunate<br />she won't come to us in Sonora, become a boulder<br />of granite, sun-warmed, and crying every time it rains.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br />Kristin LaTour has a chapbook, <u>Agoraphobia</u>, forthcoming from <a href="http://www.dancinggirlpress.com/">Dancing Girl Press</a>, as well as two others: <u>Blood</u> (Naked Mannequin Press, 2009) and <u>Town Limits</u> (Pudding House Press, 2007). Her poetry has appeared in journals such as <a href="http://www.fifthwednesdayjournal.com/">Fifth Wednesday</a>, <a href="http://ciderpressreview.com/">Cider Press Review</a>, <a href="http://www.afterhourspress.com/After%20Hours/Home.html">After Hours</a>, <a href="http://dirtcakes.org/">dirtcakes</a>, <a href="http://qarrtsiluni.com/">qarrstiluni</a>, and <a href="http://www.adroit.co.nr/">The Adroit Journal</a>. She teaches at <a href="http://www.jjc.edu/Pages/default.aspx">Joliet Jr. College</a> and lives in Aurora, IL with her writer husband and two dogitos. You can find more information at <a href="http://www.kristinlatour.com/">www.kristinlatour.com</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Kristin for her contribution to Tattoosday and the Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9407541751861572" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoos are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Kristin LaTour

Our next tattooed poet is Kristin LaTour , who sent us these photos: Kristin elaborated on the history of this tattoo: "I chose this de...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Meghan Privitello

Our next tattooed poet is <a href="http://meghanprivitello.blogspot.com/">Meghan Privitello</a>.<br /><br />She told us that<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I've always designed my tattoos myself. I usually have a very clear idea of what I want and where I want it, and don’t allow for much reinterpretation by the tattoo artist, unless, of course, the design will not translate well to skin. In that case, I have the utmost trust and faith in my tattoo artist to adjust the design as needed. I've had all of my work done at <a href="http://www.rebelimagetattoo.com/">Rebel Image Tattoo</a> in Rio Grande, NJ by <a href="http://www.rebelimagetattoo.tk/person/mike-siderio/#tabs-2">Mike Siderio</a>. He is probably the nicest guy in the world and does consistently beautiful work."</blockquote>She sent us two tattoos, the first of which is this anatomic heart in a jar:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiASe_HSRX53yrVoqaeYpHCVxyEfUFwzeuNgbhK2tE2F-o1MSUZGWTphWowwNk8vl8tO11h-kQ4dyY0b7onm3oB7gUhA_C5SXmjYnGsic8nbecBUR_fH4r7xZGg-74W3IgCR-FVjs-Pe0/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiASe_HSRX53yrVoqaeYpHCVxyEfUFwzeuNgbhK2tE2F-o1MSUZGWTphWowwNk8vl8tO11h-kQ4dyY0b7onm3oB7gUhA_C5SXmjYnGsic8nbecBUR_fH4r7xZGg-74W3IgCR-FVjs-Pe0/s640/photo.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />In explaining this piece, Meghan referred to it as her <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/11">Sylvia Plath</a> tattoo:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"My 7th grade English teacher told me about Sylvia Plath, and I read <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061148512/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061148512&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EThe%20Bell%20Jar%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061148512%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">The Bell Jar</a>, which undoubtedly made me an even stranger child than I already was. Plath was the first poet that I fell head over heels in love with, and who made me realize that being a poet was something that real people in the real world can do. It seemed obvious that I needed a Plath dedication tattoo. I wanted a bell jar since it was the first piece of hers I read, and I wanted an anatomical heart inside the jar because, as cliché as it sounds, she had captured mine. And since I also have an obsession with anatomy and diagrams, I had lines coming out from the heart as in an anatomical drawing with a letter at the end of each line, those letters being P-L-A-T-H."</blockquote>The other tattoo she sent us was her "V Tattoo":<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCON-9oeSpwWcoU8_05F8PY71OFBOhawqTPWJfdWVcfY7pO65aWORINEj7f6sX34bl_uPTzLa3yb6V1kvSpI3_7xwfGGdscqUMdnsCcKRA6GN8ER3rVN7Ws9JMaRuf2uMLNkmY_kAk_Y/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCON-9oeSpwWcoU8_05F8PY71OFBOhawqTPWJfdWVcfY7pO65aWORINEj7f6sX34bl_uPTzLa3yb6V1kvSpI3_7xwfGGdscqUMdnsCcKRA6GN8ER3rVN7Ws9JMaRuf2uMLNkmY_kAk_Y/s640/photo.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />Again, Meghan gave us a thorough back story:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I’ve always been fascinated and entranced by illuminated manuscripts. Pair that with an obsession with the alphabet, particularly with the letter 'V', and this tattoo is born. V is my favorite letter for a few reasons. 1) Whenever I try to think of words that start with V, they always seem to be words that hang on the fringe of decency and/or are embedded with violence (vagina, venom, venereal, vibrator, vulture, victim, etc.) I love that a letter can carry with it these associations before a word is even made from it. It is a powerful letter, and I can’t help but love it for that. 2) On the other end of the spectrum, or at least a good distance away from the first reason, is the meditative quality of the sound V makes. I love the vibration it makes on the lips, that it is another (somewhat darker) variation of an 'om'. 3) I love that V can be a child’s way of drawing birds, that it becomes a symbol of flight. </blockquote>By way of a poem, Meghan provided us with the following:<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Garamond;">                       <span style="font-size: large;">     <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6058251288236499429" name="_GoBack"></a>Crossing the Borders<br />                            <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.1in; margin-right: 1.1in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 1.1in; margin-right: 1.1in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today it is yesterday in California.  I will not dress up as a wildfire or a tame woman.  I will not compare your memory to a palm tree.  I heard that eighteen starlings have died in eighteen weeks, which is something I associate with love.  The last time love undressed in front of me, I blushed I itched I regretted my name.  This means everything I want is getting closer.  Call me a fool, but I believe it when a man says he would rather die than sleep another night alone.  Every time I try to get where I belong, there is a detour.  Orange cones.  Dirty signs.  I have started confusing fate with duty.  I confused myself with an evergreen and finally considered myself beautiful.  In front of my home a man proposes to a truck and waits for an answer.  I bring him a soda hoping he’ll explode into some kind of destiny.  I’ve counted the toes of everyone I’ve known.  I’ve had dreams where having a child meant never catching my breath.  What does it take for a narrow passage to become a field?  How much longer until we open up to each other and cover ourselves with birds?  In California, I haven’t happened yet.  The thing I told you underneath the covers that sparked your interest is still afraid to die. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">                               </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">                               <span style="font-family: Garamond; line-height: 115%;">originally published in</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Sixth Finch</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meghan Privitello is a poet living in New Jersey. Her first manuscript, <i>A New Language for Falling out of Love</i>, has recently been a finalist for <a href="http://alicejamesbooks.org/pages/kinereth_gensler_award.php">Alice James’ Kinereth Gensler Award</a> and <a href="http://www.perseabooks.com/poetryprize.php">Persea’s Lexi Rudnitsky Prize</a>. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in <a href="http://www.noojournal.com/">NOÖ Journal</a>, <a href="http://sixth%20finch/">Sixth Finch</a>, <a href="http://www.redividerjournal.org/">Redivider</a>, <a href="http://www.barnowlreview.com/">Barn Owl Review</a>, <a href="http://www.batcityreview.la.utexas.edu/">Bat City Review</a>, <a href="http://www.salthilljournal.net/">Salt Hill Journal</a>, <a href="http://www.colum.edu/columbiapoetryreview/">Columbia Poetry Review</a>, <a href="http://linebreak.org/">Linebreak</a>, <a href="http://www.quarterlywest.utah.edu/">Quarterly West</a>, <a href="http://www.bestnewpoets.org/">Best New Poets 2012</a> & elsewhere. You can follow her on twitter @meghanpriv or visit her website: <a href="http://meghanprivitello.blogspot.com/">meghanprivitello.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Meghan for contributing to the Tattooed Poets Project on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9407541751861572" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoos are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Meghan Privitello

Our next tattooed poet is Meghan Privitello . She told us that "I've always designed my tattoos myself. I usually have a very clear...

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Nick's Tattoo Combines Sociology and Astrology

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW_bm8SkKPlm2ZjsUOreYmUpP7xkAgHMETv3_Dal1a4Z2vZm6MC_95zxBmy14r9SEEThKqZqNrcSqHUwQLEKXbAVLrKbcjkAvg23_jThGOiCGJVfjNvsHdu_BY_qK5gwNM_wmlza4r2I/s614/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW_bm8SkKPlm2ZjsUOreYmUpP7xkAgHMETv3_Dal1a4Z2vZm6MC_95zxBmy14r9SEEThKqZqNrcSqHUwQLEKXbAVLrKbcjkAvg23_jThGOiCGJVfjNvsHdu_BY_qK5gwNM_wmlza4r2I/s640/IMG_0313.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><br />Today's tattoo comes to us courtesy of Nick, who I met in Penn Station back in May.<br /><br />He explained that this piece on the inside of his arm was done by two artists.<br /><br />The first part of it was done by "a friend of a friend in his apartment."<br /><br />Nick elaborated:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"...I had just turned eighteen and I haven't seen him since then and I had it touched up by another artist's shop in Syracuse, New York [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/biographixtattoo">Mike Haines</a> at <a href="http://www.scarabbodyarts.com/">Scarab Body Arts</a>]. He was a tattoo artist there for a very short time.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...I'm a sociology major and I'm a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libra_(astrology)">Libra</a> so I have the scales for the Libra and justice and balance....[the] brain outline is taken from a book, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Rising">Prometheus Rising</a>,  out of one of the chapter beginnings ... [the] image of three women holding it up is actually from the artist's stamp collection of almost like a three graces depiction of them doing various things ... I kinda view it as these three women are Society to me, and they hold up ... my brain and how I think ... and it's all masked by my interpretation as a Libra in this world."</blockquote>As to how he originally got the piece, Nick said "it originally looked like a prison tattoo, I'm not gonna lie. The guy who did it, I didn't look at his portfolio, really. So, the guy who touched it up [Mike Haines], he actually did a great job of filling in the shadow to kind of smooth out the rougher edges that were originally made into it...".<br /><br />Thanks to Nick for sharing this cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><b>UPDATE</b>: Nick followed up with me and wrote, "Mike Haines ... left Scarab Body Arts shortly after my tattoo and started his own business called <a href="https://plus.google.com/110477341343786099870/about?gl=us&hl=en">BioGraphix Tattoo</a> in Syracuse."<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9739615528378636" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

Nick's Tattoo Combines Sociology and Astrology

Today's tattoo comes to us courtesy of Nick, who I met in Penn Station back in May. He explained that this piece on the inside of his ar...

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Matt's Black Flag Tribute

I met Matt on the 59th Street subway platform in Brooklyn back in October 2011 and he shared one of his tattoos with me.<br /><br />Before I proceed though, I should point out that this is my last photo from 2011. I was holding out to make this an elaborate post, combined with a book review, but it just never evolved that way.<br /><br />And, as Tattoosday recently reached its five year milestone (more on that later), we're going to try things a little differently around here. Of course, that has nothing to do with this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMh7hYgmmKPmcMhUyFe9p_ZNpOWozegKksGtw-KWS3zGQfZOWwSkP9CExTHe0nCk1YxfIyy6KJmHSSTzhf5m_kjtGR52ttFZdyitjcirvZbuSuBNdUo_OimTz9JH7iq5ljB_LE8pxfAo/s774/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMh7hYgmmKPmcMhUyFe9p_ZNpOWozegKksGtw-KWS3zGQfZOWwSkP9CExTHe0nCk1YxfIyy6KJmHSSTzhf5m_kjtGR52ttFZdyitjcirvZbuSuBNdUo_OimTz9JH7iq5ljB_LE8pxfAo/s400/photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This tattoo is based on the album cover for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Flag_(band)">Black Flag's</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_War">My War</a></i>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw-suCO7jmzcYs4BSVN4J85Z08O8YXcfOqW5yhgZ7D3yptwcNL" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw-suCO7jmzcYs4BSVN4J85Z08O8YXcfOqW5yhgZ7D3yptwcNL" width="200" /></a></div><br />Note the slight artistic differences:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQfVu2t_Jl0yzjO-C7BW1r_Y5EIeTzL-YDDz2yHkITABeinQ4f-5HXv0FW6jQ7R9fZlH5bpYbfXEewgFrOtO5CkRfWnzBG2Rc7tZ2g_mL2Xkm6sWSTh4dQkD8SqPbNV3JllK6A3xcqJI/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQfVu2t_Jl0yzjO-C7BW1r_Y5EIeTzL-YDDz2yHkITABeinQ4f-5HXv0FW6jQ7R9fZlH5bpYbfXEewgFrOtO5CkRfWnzBG2Rc7tZ2g_mL2Xkm6sWSTh4dQkD8SqPbNV3JllK6A3xcqJI/s400/photo.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />Matt credited this work to <a href="http://www.nyhctattoo.com/oscar/index.html">Oscar Varela</a>, a visiting artist at <a href="http://www.nyhctattoo.com/index.html">New York Hardcore Tattoo</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />When I asked Matt why he chose to pay tribute to this album with a tattoo, he explained, "That's been one of my favorite hardcore albums of all time ... I grew up in Anaheim, California, so, you know, the So Cal scene and everything like that ... gotta keep it real."<br /><br />I had originally wanted to tie this piece in with a review of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rollins">Henry Rollins'</a> book <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Occupants.html?id=-oopTCvTWpYC">Occupants</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFOfei2lQVqOMoXw2fQKq04mZ55vnc-QQ9joMXyopHXKmmJlr3Og" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFOfei2lQVqOMoXw2fQKq04mZ55vnc-QQ9joMXyopHXKmmJlr3Og" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With Rollins the lead singer of Black Flag, it seemed like a cool tie-in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem is, I really couldn't wrap my head around a book review for the site, but I can give it a rousing endorsement. The volume consists of Rollins' photos as he has traveled the world, and essays he has written to accompany the images. The words are profound and the linked photos are stark and moving. I strongly suggest that people check out the book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1569768153" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to Matt for sharing his Black Flag tattoo with us here on Tattoosday, and for waiting patiently these past months for me to post it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.26662319526076317" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another website other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b></div>

Matt's Black Flag Tribute

I met Matt on the 59th Street subway platform in Brooklyn back in October 2011 and he shared one of his tattoos with me. Before I proceed th...

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2012 NYC Tattoo Convention

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrzA_Ck7Y15IUX6SPXyziMwshqwngf8po8TlVSPi_IagD_qTW7d2zCltqU0ylM06V-C3H7tvkSNa8KY7jDx5Ym7oJJzXevk5ZKm0-1anW-1zYBZceUHPXr6S4-WjG47_XSUY-Nlkn0JI/s1600/15th-Annual-New-York-City-Tattoo-Convention-May-1819-and-20-2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrzA_Ck7Y15IUX6SPXyziMwshqwngf8po8TlVSPi_IagD_qTW7d2zCltqU0ylM06V-C3H7tvkSNa8KY7jDx5Ym7oJJzXevk5ZKm0-1anW-1zYBZceUHPXr6S4-WjG47_XSUY-Nlkn0JI/s640/15th-Annual-New-York-City-Tattoo-Convention-May-1819-and-20-2012-2.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br />This past Saturday, May 19, I attended the <a href="http://www.nyctattooconvention.com/">New York City Tattoo Convention</a> at <a href="http://www.roselandballroom.com/">Roseland Ballroom</a> near Times Square.<br /><br />This was the fourth year in a row that I have gone and I have to say, it finally feels like home. I’ve always felt out of place and have always been overwhelmed by the sheer sensory overload. What follows is a loose recap of the event with some photos I took with both the camera and the Droid. I plan on expanding a few of these encounters in separate posts.<br /><br />First of all, I must give a shout-out to Marisa and Brian from <a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/">Needles & Sins</a>. They’ve always been friendly faces that I can gab with to no end, and every year I spend more and more time in their company. They were the first people I saw and, much to my delight, I ran into them on the subway platform on my way back to Brooklyn. A hearty thanks to Marisa and Brian for their hospitality. If you haven’t checked out <a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/">Needles & Sins</a>, I encourage you to do so.<br /><br />So obviously I saw a lot of tattoos in the five or so hours that I was ensconced in Roseland. But remember, we’re not just about gawking at amazing body art, but meeting and appreciating, as well. So we are very particular about who we photograph.<br /><br />There are a few artists I want to acknowledge. I had a nice chat with <a href="http://mattvancuratattoos.com/">Matt Van Cura</a>, who is over at <a href="http://invisiblenyc.com/">Invisible NYC</a> on Orchard Street. Matt was familiar with Tattoosday from a post that featured his work <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/09/joe-is-armed-with-words-of-strength.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I also spent some time by the <a href="http://www.sacredtattoo.com/">Sacred Tattoo</a> booth, talking to shop manager Kevin Wilson. <a href="http://www.sacredtattoo.com/artists/jon-mesa">Jon Mesa</a> was hard at work and I got to chat with him and tell him how well I thought he had done on Oxygen’s <a href="http://best-ink.oxygen.com/">Best Ink</a> competition (he was the runner-up). A general discussion of tattoo reality shows broke out which many of you already know is a topic of great interest to me.<br /><br />I also had the honor of meeting an artist whose work I have admired for quite some time. When I snapped a photo of this phenomenal back piece, I also captured its creator (in the green shirt) <a href="http://senaspace.com/">David Sena</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEbM5ArdUyV2SBPfgL-veytYjqxZllUI0TThMMoo2xHFweA-yuCWGdUMOJiNULLaJJJmsAYnJ5Oa6CpDuQyF6CoCJyUMRqEz7KEyfBtzZ2G9Y7A79XytXtFeYVAFWBNt_QiwAr4t51sA/s490/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEbM5ArdUyV2SBPfgL-veytYjqxZllUI0TThMMoo2xHFweA-yuCWGdUMOJiNULLaJJJmsAYnJ5Oa6CpDuQyF6CoCJyUMRqEz7KEyfBtzZ2G9Y7A79XytXtFeYVAFWBNt_QiwAr4t51sA/s640/photo.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />Based out of <a href="http://www.northstartattoo.com/">North Star Tattoo</a>, Sena is opening a new art space soon, with a private studio for tattooing, and was excited to be showing off his handiwork.<br /><br />It’s also fun to run into people I’ve interviewed at previous shows. For example, I featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/05/nyc-tattoo-convention-spotlight.html">this back piece</a> from Jessica last year and I ran into Steve who shared a really cool Celtic tattoo last year <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/05/nyc-tattoo-convention-spotlight-steves.html">here</a>. He had new work, also by Agent at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/screaminink">Screamin’ Ink</a> in Fair Lawn, which again emphasized his Irish heritage:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtWuFSnLm8czojdg0Ti-TEUu3DmDuOm35RK_phCrlrgIoxK9XnWSqHIaQ6orkuoO04T0ftvhAOEsKd27UtwQqozlsH_8Hru4Ng1FTqWboHpkpHBT70dOI0u_6WyB7aeIKe5YT2mhoAWc/s533/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtWuFSnLm8czojdg0Ti-TEUu3DmDuOm35RK_phCrlrgIoxK9XnWSqHIaQ6orkuoO04T0ftvhAOEsKd27UtwQqozlsH_8Hru4Ng1FTqWboHpkpHBT70dOI0u_6WyB7aeIKe5YT2mhoAWc/s640/photo.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />What also is really neat is seeing work that I had spotted outside of the convention, on the streets of New York, like when I recognized <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/07/nikis-memorial-for-elizabeth.html">a memorial cat tattoo</a> on the arm of Niki, who I met in July 2010.<br /><br />And then there’s the new tattoos I see, like this awesome Coney Island-themed back piece on Tiffany, who sells art jewelery <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FreaksGeeksBeauties">here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3WzrWVXkgiiyouDLDB-0Mm0eRVnruGtooe-AvYzXpjucuNC6__yg1n1tSmkyPFXxnQc9rqipxyPGnRxPoSaiKLwkO37oq5tb8SreazU5cWRhRnS3vBw5kC89u4DrGfhSz9IVVJzn-7Q/s600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3WzrWVXkgiiyouDLDB-0Mm0eRVnruGtooe-AvYzXpjucuNC6__yg1n1tSmkyPFXxnQc9rqipxyPGnRxPoSaiKLwkO37oq5tb8SreazU5cWRhRnS3vBw5kC89u4DrGfhSz9IVVJzn-7Q/s640/photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is a collaborative effort, Tiffany told me, of two incredible tattooists, <a href="http://savedtattoo.com/#michelletarantelli">Michelle Tarantelli</a> and <a href="http://www.chrisodonnelltattoo.com/">Chris O’Donnell</a>, both of <a href="http://savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. <br /><br />Then there was Kate, who shared a tattoo that will appear on Tattoosday in a future post. She was a client of <a href="http://www.northstartattoo.com/">North Star’s</a> <a href="http://beccaroach.com/home.html">Becca Roach</a>, who was receiving a lot of attention first due to her phenomenal sleeves, and then when she stripped down to allow Becca to add a revolver to her side, which I captured here. Note the amazing work on her arms as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HDd2D-XEW2o2ORphtCTA0aHYKQlLTXc_3evYK1onHM0RuFj5S0TZWeNFsF1cThvR_fNcFm0L9Nt0Ay3K7kgl27z5aau3UVpnjyhA2WVp3eiYhYXy1xeaDYnKoJEE9JGE42wVpyUBREc/s533/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HDd2D-XEW2o2ORphtCTA0aHYKQlLTXc_3evYK1onHM0RuFj5S0TZWeNFsF1cThvR_fNcFm0L9Nt0Ay3K7kgl27z5aau3UVpnjyhA2WVp3eiYhYXy1xeaDYnKoJEE9JGE42wVpyUBREc/s640/photo.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Speaking of gun tattoos, on the day before I attended the convention, I ran into a model named Melissa on Broadway in the mid-30s. She was heavily-inked but running late, and as she had plans to go to the convention, we agreed to meet up at the show. During one of the contests, she took the stage to display her left leg, sleeved by <a href="http://tattooculture.net/gene.html">Gene Coffey</a> at <a href="http://tattooculture.net/">Tattoo Culture</a> in Brooklyn.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiacx5D8BNXVg87sl1dcLLlAx6Sa7owbu-NEH2pSZUJEuajJykbiWS2MQcyC3cbnHeZmAXoW46bkyugWbki5JQc3Td76obFw1ISwmRRXa50L_6eBGgBw6jLQKx8J4Pjs7FcMaT81yqI4/s533/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiacx5D8BNXVg87sl1dcLLlAx6Sa7owbu-NEH2pSZUJEuajJykbiWS2MQcyC3cbnHeZmAXoW46bkyugWbki5JQc3Td76obFw1ISwmRRXa50L_6eBGgBw6jLQKx8J4Pjs7FcMaT81yqI4/s640/photo.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />You can see her right leg is tattooed with a gun in a thigh holster. Earlier in the day, I sat down with Melissa and interviewed her about the gun and its back story. Stay tuned for that in a future post.<br /><br />In years past, the biggest crowd seems to draw around the artists from Japan, using traditional tattoo techniques in a booth up on the Roseland balcony. I didn’t really watch them this year, but did admire the work of <a href="http://www.tattootatau.at/">Brent McCown</a>, who was using traditional Maori techniques down on the main floor.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVN0i3YHPuctNNS2BSsMpqoOPM0JiJYhQ6MEEGmFRzUIT21sml8qyWYARl7IvgzBOlcLTjYLuPfMdHl5sUkswHAwp0d4B7Ueuz_-KZPZaoMXKcbmBAQnQ6LJICALhT59ZIZ2C8pMBSIk/s533/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVN0i3YHPuctNNS2BSsMpqoOPM0JiJYhQ6MEEGmFRzUIT21sml8qyWYARl7IvgzBOlcLTjYLuPfMdHl5sUkswHAwp0d4B7Ueuz_-KZPZaoMXKcbmBAQnQ6LJICALhT59ZIZ2C8pMBSIk/s640/photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />While hanging in the bar with Marisa and Brian, I also got to meet Phil Padwe, whose childrens' book <a href="http://mommyhastattoos.com/">Mommy Has A Tattoo</a> is a must have for kids with inked moms.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://mommyhastattoos.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mhat-post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://mommyhastattoos.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mhat-post.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>He has a series of coloring books as well, which will get some more attention from me in a future post.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTqToFTrG2T3U-zK8dkroVVlg1oMA2y0avNGG1aURidg4N6GUefog" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTqToFTrG2T3U-zK8dkroVVlg1oMA2y0avNGG1aURidg4N6GUefog" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br />You can check out some additional photos over on Needles & Sins <a href="http://www.needlesandsins.com/2012/05/nyc-tattoo-convention-2012-photos.html">here</a>, which includes a shot of me sharing my<a href="http://www.theartofheathersinn.com/heathersinn/Welcome.html"> Heather Sinn</a> tribal piece from <a href="http://www.spike.com/shows/ink-master">Ink Master</a>. You'll also see <a href="http://www.wm3.org/">Damion Echols</a>, one of the recently-released West Memphis Three, who I had the distinct honor of meeting. This was a tremendous surprise to see him at the show and I had the pleasure of talking to him briefly at the Sacred booth. Despite it not being tattoo-related, it was one of the highlights of the afternoon for me.<br /><br />Thanks to to all of the artists, subjects, and other assorted folks who yet again made my trip to the New York City Tattoo Convention a wonderful time!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.0525138471275568"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit</span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b>

2012 NYC Tattoo Convention

This past Saturday, May 19, I attended the New York City Tattoo Convention at Roseland Ballroom near Times Square. This was the fourth yea...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Eric Morago

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This morning's tattooed poet is <a href="http://www.ericmorago.com/">Eric Morago</a>, who shares these lines of verse from his forearm:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuEq_5-X8nc6CdoGg9oWWANxi7fcqfSzbF7TSlqGbsQRMXszV0byFxRCG2ZJ5ftOHLC9vBnYn2p0EOJNy-xU1-_uFj-xCIdfbs6UCZXodZHui0rTyvDHJw5kB7dNZ8pxWNl31W-XmOkE/s1600/MoragoTattoo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuEq_5-X8nc6CdoGg9oWWANxi7fcqfSzbF7TSlqGbsQRMXszV0byFxRCG2ZJ5ftOHLC9vBnYn2p0EOJNy-xU1-_uFj-xCIdfbs6UCZXodZHui0rTyvDHJw5kB7dNZ8pxWNl31W-XmOkE/s640/MoragoTattoo1.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am a BIG <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/394">Charles Bukowski</a> fan, so I immediately recognized these lines ("what matters most / is how you / walk through the / fire") when I saw the photo. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eric explains:</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"The tattoo is taken from a the title of a collection of </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">poems </span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">by Charles Bukowski.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZm8xNT5l42rKz2000kfKLBKoDyBn82E7Jr1HocdKu1_nUqhsVxiftCW48s_I7Rr4zUQE64GXkZr8upyNl6KXNUeZs56KQFqLyHQpagEalPm6At5TSVz7iz-8g7f0zEbMMyPhQq54PxM/s1600/buk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZm8xNT5l42rKz2000kfKLBKoDyBn82E7Jr1HocdKu1_nUqhsVxiftCW48s_I7Rr4zUQE64GXkZr8upyNl6KXNUeZs56KQFqLyHQpagEalPm6At5TSVz7iz-8g7f0zEbMMyPhQq54PxM/s400/buk.jpg" width="236" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I got [the tattoo] over Thanksgiving break at a local tattoo shop (Body Art Tattoo) in my hometown of Whittier, CA during my first semester of grad school.  I had just finished grading a bunch of papers as well as writing my own for a class and was just overwhelmed by what the next two years had in store for me that I wanted to do something commemorate the struggle ahead.  So that when all was said and done, M.F.A in hand, there was also tangible proof (besides a piece of paper) for what I had I succeeded in obtaining.  And the words would be a damn good reminder on those occasions where papers and grading and thesis deadlines loomed in the distance." </span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">By way of poetry, Eric offers up this tattoo-related gem:</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">ENTANGLED</span></blockquote><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A beautiful portrait of destruction,<br />her back is tattooed from shoulder<br />to shoulder—a giant octopus tears<br />boats apart with unworldly tendrils.<br />This turns me on.  I am a prepubescent<br />again thinking I’ve found ambrosia<br />between the pages of Victoria’s Secret<br />catalogues.  I get dizzy, lost in fantasy.<br />How though its body is submerged<br />in murky water, hidden by shading,<br />I believe the monster is winking at me.<br />I sit, imagine freckles into tiny frenzied<br />sailors jumping ship into the dark of her<br />skin, sinking down spine’s curve,<br />drowning, or falling into the creature’s<br />waiting, open-beaked mouth.  I would<br />never tell her any of this, of course.<br />Better she stay in the peep, a shadowy<br />figure of myth.  And like a yarn-spinning<br />seadog swearing by fantastical beasts—<br />all tentacles, sharp snouted and snarl<br />toothed—I too am ensnared, imagination<br />entangled in the suction-cupped arms<br />of wanting.  It is all I can do to fight,<br />struggle being pulled under an inky<br />veil where our eyes can clearly meet,<br />where any and all mystique is gone.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">~ ~ ~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eric Morago is a <a href="http://www.pushcartprize.com/">Pushcart Prize</a>-nominated poet who believes performance carries as much importance on the page, as it does off. Currently Eric is an an associate reviewer for <a href="http://poetix.net/">Poetix.net</a>, poet-in-residence with <a href="http://calworkforce.org/">California WorkforceAssociation</a>, and teaches workshops for <a href="http://redhen.org/">Red Hen Press’</a> <a href="http://redhen.org/about-us-2/writing-in-the-schools/">Writing in the Schools</a> program. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moontidepress.com/publishing/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/image/What-We-Ache-For-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.moontidepress.com/publishing/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/image/What-We-Ache-For-cover.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">His first full length collection of poetry and prose entitled, <a href="http://www.moontidepress.com/our-books/what-we-ache-for/what-we-ache-for/">What We Ache For</a>, is available from <a href="http://www.moontidepress.com/">Moon Tide Press</a>. Eric holds an <st1:stockticker>MFA</st1:stockticker> in Creative Writing from <a href="http://www.csulb.edu/">California State University, Long Beach</a> and lives to write in Whittier, CA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Eric for sharing his poem and tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Eric Morago

This morning's tattooed poet is Eric Morago , who shares these lines of verse from his forearm: I am a BIG Charles Bukowski fan, so I i...

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Emily's Typewriter

Last week, on Eighth Avenue, I spotted an incredible tattoo on the back of a woman's calf and knew that I had to speak to her about it. Check it out:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SQt_6ZCOMlHlKC02D1qLGrTgk0DFo6L0fh-aiDD7VpcbD-Tr7IMDimzjjLMzjwdZEu1ctasAq0-2TRRQEEXDmaWVhxFYJiOiqdRshmXnPfS50dWy4KIa0OO6YpPb2bbjs77oFmE2_7Q/s1600/emily+types.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SQt_6ZCOMlHlKC02D1qLGrTgk0DFo6L0fh-aiDD7VpcbD-Tr7IMDimzjjLMzjwdZEu1ctasAq0-2TRRQEEXDmaWVhxFYJiOiqdRshmXnPfS50dWy4KIa0OO6YpPb2bbjs77oFmE2_7Q/s640/emily+types.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br />This vintage typewriter belongs to Emily, and was tattooed by one of my favorite artists in New York, <a href="http://virginiaelwood.wordpress.com/">Virginia Elwood</a> at <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/home.htm">New York Adorned</a>. You can click the tag at the bottom of the post to see other work of Virginia's that I have been fortunate enough to spot in my Tattoosday travels.<br /><br />Emily explained that she is a writer, and wanted a vintage typewriter inked to represent her vocation. My guess she had decided on one of these <a href="http://www.machinesoflovinggrace.com/royals.htm">Royal</a> typewriters, and then Virginia worked her magic. Emily elaborates:<br /><blockquote><br />"I asked her originally to give me a little typewriter on top of the books here:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpErb9EJAMMi4f0dQbDCjy3OPDDvN-ayyqJex8XpiKdx927_2wyj0p5cm8vsqKbChQSXJZN6joIWj99KZhu0sYzxHlRj0BA9xUOeYIKr5Xge-zlZE4z7PZBhRsa36PhOolZDaI_DUryM/s1600/Emilys+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpErb9EJAMMi4f0dQbDCjy3OPDDvN-ayyqJex8XpiKdx927_2wyj0p5cm8vsqKbChQSXJZN6joIWj99KZhu0sYzxHlRj0BA9xUOeYIKr5Xge-zlZE4z7PZBhRsa36PhOolZDaI_DUryM/s400/Emilys+books.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />but there wasn't enough room ... [Virginia] was like <i>It'll be too small if I put it on your arm, we'll have to do a big one to get the best detail</i>."</blockquote>The rest, as they say, is history.<br /><br />Emily has nine tattoos in all, counting a half-sleeve as one large piece, and all of her work has been done by Virginia.<br /><br />Emily is managing editor for a website called <a href="http://www.xojane.com/">xoJane</a>, and has even written about her tattoos. She directed me to <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2ABM4y/www.xojane.com/sex/my-tattoos-make-guys-think-im-easy">this article</a> she recently wrote, called "<a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2ABM4y/www.xojane.com/sex/my-tattoos-make-guys-think-im-easy">My Tattoos Make Guys Think I'm Easy</a>." She's got a smart style that really taps into the heart and soul of the subject. I'm sure many tattooed women can relate to the sentiment in that piece. She also pointed to a <a href="http://www.xojane.com/entertainment/ny-ink-megan-massacre-sexism">more current article</a> she wrote, with some input from Virginia, as well, about <a href="http://www.xojane.com/entertainment/ny-ink-megan-massacre-sexism">sexism in tattoo shops</a>, specifically with the drama in the premiere (and subsequent episodes) of the latest tattoo reality series, <a href="http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/ny-ink"><i>New York Ink</i></a>.<br /><br />I, for one, certainly recommend checking out Emily's site, <a href="http://www.xojane.com/">xoJane</a>, and exploring not only her contributions, but those of the other writers, as well.<br /><br />Thanks to Emily for sharing her incredible work with us here on Tattoosday, and for talking with me, even though she was running late. I do appreciate it and hope we'll see more of her tattoos here in the future!<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Emily's Typewriter

Last week, on Eighth Avenue, I spotted an incredible tattoo on the back of a woman's calf and knew that I had to speak to her about it. ...

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Tattoosday Weekend Recap

I just wanted to share some interesting tidbits that have come my way over the last few weeks:<br /><br />First, someone has been sharing links in the comments section anonymously on several recent posts. As is my custom, I only approve comments if they are related to the post in question. Nonetheless, the links point to a YouTube channel for Sullen TV. I thought I'd share one here, which features the artist <a href="http://www.nikkohurtado.com/index.php">Nikko Hurtado</a>, and interested parties can explore their YouTube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SullenTv">here</a>.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HQUb1BbyKbU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The other day I came across a cool site called <a href="http://freshtrends.com/">FreshTrends.com</a> that has a really nice collection of <a href="http://www.freshtrends.com/">body jewelry</a>, a lot of which would look great with a new tattoo. It's definitely worth a look!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last June, I featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/lisas-guardian-angel.html">this tattoo</a> by artist <a href="http://www.scottcampbelltattoo.com/">Scott Campbell</a>. I was recently told about <a href="http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/2/11">this short film</a> on the site <a href="http://www.nowness.com/">Nowness</a>.Be sure to check it out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, we're about a month away from April, and our third annual installment of the <a href="http://tattooedpoets.blogspot.com/2010/03/index-of-tattooed-poets.html">Tattooed Poets Project</a>. I wanted to give a shout-out to one of last year's poets, <a href="http://www.maneaterbook.com/contact.htm">Erica Rivera</a>, whose tattoo was featured <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-erica-rivera.html">here</a>. Her new book <a href="http://www.maneaterbook.com/">Maneater</a> is available on Amazon:<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=B004N626EK" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div></div><br />Visit the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Man-Eater-Book/144775237080?ref=ts">Man Eater Facebook page</a> for a taste of Erica Rivera's writing.

Tattoosday Weekend Recap

I just wanted to share some interesting tidbits that have come my way over the last few weeks: First, someone has been sharing links in the ...

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Alyssa's Arabic Ink

It wasn't Alyssa I approached on a Friday afternoon outside of <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a>, but her friend, who had several visible tattoos.<br /><br />However, the friend was unhappy with all of her ink, so I asked if anyone else standing with her if they had work they'd like to share.<br /><br />Alyssa offered up this Arabic tattoo, behind her right ear:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVKQCsO0V2sVFlphKw1QaqaHPyBJTNsldPpYJuNtPl_Ww5YBWWLNWF6eS8uWTHi1e5XZ_l0Y3Io_UQvT7aaFk2WA-wKYiHVrtrAJ4elg29T-1o2EhCQrDlYpEAyWN3ypiRwGLZFnG/s1600-h/Alyssa+Name.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391366030416648690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVKQCsO0V2sVFlphKw1QaqaHPyBJTNsldPpYJuNtPl_Ww5YBWWLNWF6eS8uWTHi1e5XZ_l0Y3Io_UQvT7aaFk2WA-wKYiHVrtrAJ4elg29T-1o2EhCQrDlYpEAyWN3ypiRwGLZFnG/s400/Alyssa+Name.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The script is the transliteration of her name, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyssa">Alyssa</a>, which she said means "flourishing" in Greek.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15hyphenhyphenlaVzPJpctdoyi3kx53UVfNNv4IBy1ovs89QlhGd5E6GYG1H9HctBdiQ00kiNMm-A2Gb8KAip4oQJ0I34e0kXaGaP27v7KNuKfhinbpGVmtsxyzXhpDm-V1U-fWN-5FFnR5tx/s1600-h/Alyssa+Name+closeup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391365620326111890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15hyphenhyphenlaVzPJpctdoyi3kx53UVfNNv4IBy1ovs89QlhGd5E6GYG1H9HctBdiQ00kiNMm-A2Gb8KAip4oQJ0I34e0kXaGaP27v7KNuKfhinbpGVmtsxyzXhpDm-V1U-fWN-5FFnR5tx/s400/Alyssa+Name+closeup.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 211px;" /></a><br />Definitions I have found point to it meaning "rational," or "noble," rather than "flourishing". Nonetheless, it is widely regarded as a very pretty name.<br /><br />This was tattooed at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/crazy-fantasy-tattoo-new-york">Crazy Fantasy Tattoo</a> in Manhattan. Work from that shop previously posted on Tattoosday can be seen <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Crazy%20Fantasy%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />It just so happened I recently read the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Arabic-Tattoos-Jon-Udelson/dp/0977985083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255176955&sr=8-1">Arabic Tattoos</a> compiled by Jon Udelson. It's an interesting look at the phenomenon of the increase in popularity of Arabic script tattoos, and well worth a gander.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0977985083" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /></div><br />My favorite Arabic tattoo that has appeared on Tattoosday is <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/08/thea-illuminates-music.html">this one</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Alyssa for sharing her tattoo with us here on the site!

Alyssa's Arabic Ink

It wasn't Alyssa I approached on a Friday afternoon outside of Madison Square Garden , but her friend, who had several visible tattoos. ...

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Where The Wild Thing Tattoo Is

The day after I met <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/06/jared-shares-his-vegan-tattoo.html">one Jared</a>, I met another, out in front of Madison Square Garden.<br /><br />With a tattoo like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL28GVdaqNrXUb8kzy8TD5jbgJHVsEKd1nTrhm-WCioQeNatmzXgGex6xThHBFGTlbFU5lL4Jc83E5y_PKwpsRgNDeCbmbOdKUfc9jGsiumigvUmesqfo4OFGqpJHV40ufTeTeGWHuflg/s1600-h/Wild+Thing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351229010148440866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL28GVdaqNrXUb8kzy8TD5jbgJHVsEKd1nTrhm-WCioQeNatmzXgGex6xThHBFGTlbFU5lL4Jc83E5y_PKwpsRgNDeCbmbOdKUfc9jGsiumigvUmesqfo4OFGqpJHV40ufTeTeGWHuflg/s400/Wild+Thing.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />how could I not stop him?<br /><br />As one would imagine, Jared loves the book, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Things_Are">Where the Wild Things Are</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Sendak">Maurice Sendak</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VKRS4koQ1E4eQg-VPNittAveFqiK24APrFbkIqaHy6Arry6LsC4uPLyE_O4ld_xi2JdOEfFwp1rJLesO1L6szGtJo5B2qzUr3cqqq1iG2Xt_wS6PK75TfYP-mZbxu1hlI0-vpIaVbw/s1600-h/where-the-wild-things-are_476x3571.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352680582458906770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_VKRS4koQ1E4eQg-VPNittAveFqiK24APrFbkIqaHy6Arry6LsC4uPLyE_O4ld_xi2JdOEfFwp1rJLesO1L6szGtJo5B2qzUr3cqqq1iG2Xt_wS6PK75TfYP-mZbxu1hlI0-vpIaVbw/s400/where-the-wild-things-are_476x3571.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" /></a><br />The tattoo displays, on Jared's right forearm, one of the "Wild Things" that is in Max's imagination.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJysVabD3XFRGBY8hddcOtn5rbhak4gQAVxgGyoYirqBBZET01h8gaYfag1yab-0zI0W480op7VtxfSVA4ys1hCAxmkJTW4g_LGsc5yiyXisZ5UuDDewxu8FFpcvFZXsXYZF4V69g4o8M/s1600-h/PICT2177.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351231543552612194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJysVabD3XFRGBY8hddcOtn5rbhak4gQAVxgGyoYirqBBZET01h8gaYfag1yab-0zI0W480op7VtxfSVA4ys1hCAxmkJTW4g_LGsc5yiyXisZ5UuDDewxu8FFpcvFZXsXYZF4V69g4o8M/s400/PICT2177.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Jared, who was in town visiting from Boston, has ten tattoos. He had been thinking about getting a <span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Wild Things Are</span> piece for several years and finally had it done by Chris Ford in January 2009. Ford had worked in L.A. but is now in New Jersey.<br /><br />Jared said that he has had a lot of attention from people about the tattoo, in part due to the publicity from the movie adaptation coming out this Fall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rdlCXt9geBAzov_Ztfto2yMOxGGNjSx2wo3cvVSB1HPNNUVtP1tcHYDxfToiUBNkkyAHZWNlp3nmHV2fWB0Fe8J284USXYcSf6T17K9OZ2sd3NRAZv9qNjLOzVRZjcz1ir3rjQptxnc/s1600-h/wt_poster_1-large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352681630810818498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rdlCXt9geBAzov_Ztfto2yMOxGGNjSx2wo3cvVSB1HPNNUVtP1tcHYDxfToiUBNkkyAHZWNlp3nmHV2fWB0Fe8J284USXYcSf6T17K9OZ2sd3NRAZv9qNjLOzVRZjcz1ir3rjQptxnc/s400/wt_poster_1-large.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Thanks to Jared for stopping to talk and share his "wild" tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Where The Wild Thing Tattoo Is

The day after I met one Jared , I met another, out in front of Madison Square Garden. With a tattoo like this: how could I not stop him? As ...

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