Nina's Ink, Part Deux

I'm following up from this post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/introducing-ninas-ink-part-1.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Nina had offered up so many tattoos I had to split up the post, and then, well, she sort of got lost in the inkshuffle. Best to reacquaint yourself with her through the post above and then resume here.<br /><br />Nina told me she was the product of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends">Quaker</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism">Jewish</a> parents, and was raised in the Quaker tradition. The core values instilled in her upbringing were virtue and the importance of leading a simple life, known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimony_of_Simplicity">the Testimony of Simplicity</a>. She recalls the silence that is so prevalent in Quaker meetings. These values translated to the tattoo on her right forearm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQD6E6cONVTNUePloVtYNCj43S_G4QBLZGLwD1peIh1NkjWkURmCRgkVbBlhtP224f5dLlbQtjrAvk9jqhw7-j1xAg6-sCFNOJI5VqAVVCrcFz9xkATNjXI5KtnQUqV6dTSsC7hkAApV1/s1600-h/PICT0604.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267344972896614674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQD6E6cONVTNUePloVtYNCj43S_G4QBLZGLwD1peIh1NkjWkURmCRgkVbBlhtP224f5dLlbQtjrAvk9jqhw7-j1xAg6-sCFNOJI5VqAVVCrcFz9xkATNjXI5KtnQUqV6dTSsC7hkAApV1/s400/PICT0604.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a><br />She says this is a reminder, based on her upbringing, that she can "find simplicity through silence".<br /><br />The saying is punctuated by the recognizable symbol of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur_de_lis" style="font-style: italic;">fleur de lis</a>, which has been recognized as a royal French symbol for purity.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">fleur de lis</span> is also a significant element in this tattoo, which is on the back of Nina's neck:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AtQHqRL2UE33QeYqYYZTyvmneiL8PEW2GTNjIRfKgnQa_9hLwNVMeoUbiajqyxmqrXCBA-Ldc4qv5s-5OR1_gYbNxLsXESeiF3jQ1IVPayXMAtYnQFdbsyft-NUo9BScrns8GXaJ7f6r/s1600-h/PICT0605.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267345260197793922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AtQHqRL2UE33QeYqYYZTyvmneiL8PEW2GTNjIRfKgnQa_9hLwNVMeoUbiajqyxmqrXCBA-Ldc4qv5s-5OR1_gYbNxLsXESeiF3jQ1IVPayXMAtYnQFdbsyft-NUo9BScrns8GXaJ7f6r/s400/PICT0605.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />A closer look:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2QAzaLEuCGgPqCvlN8PR3r7WBKtFfvmbv47-9-vexVrLH_37qVSv6esD9X-mBDUmWT22gx_G9PAWBzS5eRYDkw51VXkZaV_ikk-YpB1FrZw7nPT59ZWueXqX2GBtAEx8gWrgKSOUDzgl/s1600-h/nina+crown+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267353364756907314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2QAzaLEuCGgPqCvlN8PR3r7WBKtFfvmbv47-9-vexVrLH_37qVSv6esD9X-mBDUmWT22gx_G9PAWBzS5eRYDkw51VXkZaV_ikk-YpB1FrZw7nPT59ZWueXqX2GBtAEx8gWrgKSOUDzgl/s400/nina+crown+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" /></a><br />This piece has roots in her family. Along with the decorative aspects of the design, the letters N and T represent her name and the name of her brother Tom. The name Rita belongs to her mother. The crown represents her mother being the queen of her family.<br /><br />The final piece Nina showed me was only partially visible the day I met her, only because modesty and a public setting prevented her from letting me photograph the whole tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uf5RsFT639ofnSaHlevkglyGVci2Ihyu0AV0NamtXLSEKeI8TAtNtOwjitv00gHMG7eSoI640qnmgEje4nLkMHYVfQFhQmNojrVpFmRuTslcOAVopeOOuyzyYecnj4BnuzI_XquasN8h/s1600-h/noahextremegraphicsgeneva2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267354273606537842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uf5RsFT639ofnSaHlevkglyGVci2Ihyu0AV0NamtXLSEKeI8TAtNtOwjitv00gHMG7eSoI640qnmgEje4nLkMHYVfQFhQmNojrVpFmRuTslcOAVopeOOuyzyYecnj4BnuzI_XquasN8h/s400/noahextremegraphicsgeneva2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" /></a><br />The general design and the phrase "this will linger" is from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboard#Deck">skateboard deck</a>. Nina is avid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longboard_%28skateboard%29">longboarder</a> and the design appealed to her. Not to mention that "this will linger" can be interpreted in so many ways, and can even speak to the idea of tattoos themselves. This could also be a reference to the final line in the song "Beside You Now" by the band, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fold">The Fold</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>I've no regrets of yesterday, though these tears are falling<br />I will look to you, I will still remember (God help me now)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This will linger</span> on, your memory deeper than the oceans <!--ringtones and media links --> <br /></blockquote><br />Note the <span style="font-style: italic;">fleur de lis</span> just below the navel.<br /><br />Added to this design, on either side, are two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia_aethiopica">calla lilies</a>, a la <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O%27Keefe">Georgia O'Keefe</a>. They, to her, represent "the realm of possibility". Nina told me that she and the tattooer discussed adding white ink to the flowers to make them more "realistic". They decided against that, however, as the tattoo may have suffered due to what likely would have been an aesthetic issue with the ink and Nina's much darker skin tone. I would tend to agree that they made the right choice.<br /><br />Nina credits most of her work to Dan at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/amazinggracetattoo">Amazing Grace Tattoo</a> in Geneva, New York. She did however indicate that the lower abdominal piece was done by <a href="http://www.bmezine.com/tattoo/noah003.html">Noah</a> at <a href="http://www.extremetattooz.com/index.php">Extreme Graphix</a> in Geneva, NY.<br /><br />I would like to thank Nina for spending so much time talking to me about her ink. She showed me her whole catalog of tattoos, and I feel bad for neglecting "part two" of her post for these past couple of months.<br /><br />Considering that she had all this work done in her eighteenth year, I can only wonder how much more has been added to her canvas since.<br /><br />Thanks, Nina, for sharing your body art here with us on Tattoosday!

Nina's Ink, Part Deux

I'm following up from this post here . Nina had offered up so many tattoos I had to split up the post, and then, well, she sort of got l...

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Ellen Lives on in Kate's Ink

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XLp-X12U07FAZWlnDnewRcxWS4D84AP2ArNUn7JJGJFdKDCiy5WC_L-B9KoRnlrcIbECW0fA8muIMQBRToDJuvut2IaQTpEnWkHemvg62y1AfxNqLXVxHrC0iqEt_ytA7s-rzeIj_gys/s1600-h/100_7585.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211878199410478818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XLp-X12U07FAZWlnDnewRcxWS4D84AP2ArNUn7JJGJFdKDCiy5WC_L-B9KoRnlrcIbECW0fA8muIMQBRToDJuvut2IaQTpEnWkHemvg62y1AfxNqLXVxHrC0iqEt_ytA7s-rzeIj_gys/s400/100_7585.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Last week I saw this tattoo walking down 7th Avenue. I handed a flier to Kate, to whom this tattoo belongs. She e-mailed me later that day to say she liked the blog and expressed a willingness to share her tattoos here. We met the next day to talk about her ink.<br /><br />Her first and second tattoos were actually inked on the same day last June. First was this piece on her left wrist:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOoe0nnQxaRWc-t6uyEmBsjO1tFUbg60rlgG49l2EUGXElGUQsRYCelgpBs0zeucQHRmbyerABkeQChxQEaQ3jOBW5hG9flHZD1SLmVr4jHRTxyo7H5sIyiguU5_x8HrbxU9yjoS7HtY6/s1600-h/100_7586.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211877485053835106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOoe0nnQxaRWc-t6uyEmBsjO1tFUbg60rlgG49l2EUGXElGUQsRYCelgpBs0zeucQHRmbyerABkeQChxQEaQ3jOBW5hG9flHZD1SLmVr4jHRTxyo7H5sIyiguU5_x8HrbxU9yjoS7HtY6/s400/100_7586.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />"So," I asked Kate, "who's Ellen?"<br /><br />"That's my sister Ellen's actual signature," Kate replied, "I got this a couple of days before her funeral."<br /><br />Hold on a second.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">What</span>?" I was shocked.<br /><br />And then she told me what happened.<br /><br />A year ago today (June 16, 2007), Ellen Aquino died tragically in North Carolina, from injuries sustained in a car accident. She was killed by another motorist who fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the center divider, and hit her head-on.<br /><br />Two days before the funeral, Kate and two other friends went into <a href="http://www.physicalgraffiti.com/home.html">Physical Graffiti Tattoo Studio</a> in Rochester, New York, and each had the tattoo inked. Kate got it on her left wrist, one of her friends got it on the ankle, and the other got it on her foot.<br /><br />The piece replicated Ellen's signature, along with a heart, and is a poignant memorial to Kate's sister.<br /><br />But she did not stop there. At the same time that the signature was inked, Kate had four lines from "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Day_of_My_Life_%28Bright_Eyes_song%29">First Day of My Life</a>" by <a href="http://www.thisisbrighteyes.com/content/?cat=2?reload">Bright Eyes</a> inscribed above her outer right ankle:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_ttUyoVd4aYY05ZcdiJOMltHSkz1WXHR-3ORZskWZwPj8rfTd67bLEk1oZBt1X-tzWkUbD2XmByBmwf61istrqG51JhIeyKiZYXl2ZRuToFOU0R-NkFCASxA-cWTGnL65xgZesj3UmU0/s1600-h/100_7587.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211877359474868914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_ttUyoVd4aYY05ZcdiJOMltHSkz1WXHR-3ORZskWZwPj8rfTd67bLEk1oZBt1X-tzWkUbD2XmByBmwf61istrqG51JhIeyKiZYXl2ZRuToFOU0R-NkFCASxA-cWTGnL65xgZesj3UmU0/s400/100_7587.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I've embedded the video here so one can hear the song:<br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o5rhhQbyYV0&hl=en&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o5rhhQbyYV0&hl=en&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />"It's typically a love song," Kate says, but the lyrics are particularly resonant:<br /><blockquote>Yours is the first face that I saw<br />I think I was blind before I met you...</blockquote> as Ellen's face would have been the first one she saw in this world. Because, Kate explained, Ellen was her identical twin, born ten minutes before her.<br /><br />If I was stunned when this young woman of twenty-six told me she had just buried her sister last year, I was even more shocked when she told me it was her twin. I can barely imagine the grief of losing a sibling, but an identical twin? It was unfathomable to me.<br /><br />Yet here was a vibrant young woman, talking to me in <a href="http://nyc2dailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/01/greeley-square.html">Greeley Square</a>, showing me these tattoos based in tragedy, yet I could sense the strength that they gave her.<br /><br />Her third tattoo was the heart with wings (pictured at the top of the post). It was tattooed at <a href="http://www.extremetattooz.com/index.php">Extreme Graphix Tattoo Ink</a> in Rochester. People always told her that Ellen was her guardian angel, and this piece represents the manifestation of that ongoing relationship.<br /><br />Kate had shown me three tattoos, but she had told me she had four. I was thinking it might be one that I couldn't photograph, as I didn't see any other visible ink. Then, another Tattoosday first, she unveiled her fourth tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFeOJ-170HMmOL4M-xvt7_4Rxo9ssUPySyH8qdEIc4bX7hm5ENoMhkEomwXBnkcUZ-mNs8osLrxqGVHsS8f4E0d4U7LOkz51QxpZ5BtJEGv3_iOrTKLBYbHJdkeFuuw6STZOXW0iQdLRf/s1600-h/100_7588.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211877107543220562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFeOJ-170HMmOL4M-xvt7_4Rxo9ssUPySyH8qdEIc4bX7hm5ENoMhkEomwXBnkcUZ-mNs8osLrxqGVHsS8f4E0d4U7LOkz51QxpZ5BtJEGv3_iOrTKLBYbHJdkeFuuw6STZOXW0iQdLRf/s400/100_7588.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>I was certainly not expecting an inner-lip tattoo. Kate joked, "Yeah, it's pretty hard-core". Wow. "Did it hurt?" I asked. She shook her head, "Not at all". So what's the deal with the word "LIVE" tattooed inside her lower lip?<br /><br />As if she hadn't made me think enough, she continued to give me chills. "I got this on my last birthday," and I knew immediately why it was significant. Kate and Ellen had celebrated twenty-five consecutive birthdays together. And this one was the first that she would spend without her twin, for the rest of her life. Again, I cannot begin to imagine the emotions she was experiencing on what is supposed to be a happy day.<br /><br />This was done at <a href="http://www.lovehatetattoo.com/">Love Hate Tattoo</a>, also in Rochester. "It's a reminder to myself that I'm still here," Kate explained.<br /><br />Via a series of e-mails I gleaned some additional details.<br /><br />First, Kate offered up a link to Ellen's online obituary <a href="http://www.legacy.com/DemocratAndChronicle/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=89343006">here</a>. I also came across <a href="http://www.hikeforhaccamo.org/About%20Ellen%20Aquino%20Page.htm">this tribute</a> at <a href="http://www.camphaccamo.org/">a camp</a> for handicapped children where Ellen worked for many summers. Her short life showed an amazing commitment to kids with special needs and a selfless commitment to helping educate others.<br /><br />I was curious to know what Kate's parents thought of her tattoos and she replied:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote> My parents like my tattoos, they think they're nice, but would never want any for themselves. The only thing they told me in the beginning, in the midst of their grief was "don't get anything on your face." My grandmother however (she's in her 70's) *loves* my tattoos, and cried the first time she read the one on my ankle. I actually took her to get her own memorial tattoo (her first & probably last tattoo) in October, and she's quite proud of it. </blockquote></div>I must say that Kate was amazingly resilient a few days shy of such a tragic anniversary. I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulty she and her family have undergone over the past year.<br /><br />I thank Kate for sharing her and Ellen's story here. Tattoos are transforming, therapeutic emblems that not only help one heal, but also help one live beyond the healing.<br /><br />I hope that Kate continues to find strength in her ink, and I look forward to her checking back in with us here at Tattoosday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Please know that it is and will continue to be an honor to host Kate's tattoos (end Ellen's memory) here.

Ellen Lives on in Kate's Ink

Last week I saw this tattoo walking down 7th Avenue. I handed a flier to Kate, to whom this tattoo belongs. She e-mailed me later that day t...

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