Kurt Vonnegut Remembered. So it goes.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsSa7KyFU9t5vzn-aN3a9A61mfQmV_TOwbGOTOL3YAVTTh_uVMiXvb3w212wL3xxy2R0DXqGzxwEJD1JKUrAgHe73bbnb7h_9JdKIBsp2JKwAJ8cLA1EYoAnErwckBAmF9UfhsjRaSazQ/s1600-h/100_7610.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212210132593427074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsSa7KyFU9t5vzn-aN3a9A61mfQmV_TOwbGOTOL3YAVTTh_uVMiXvb3w212wL3xxy2R0DXqGzxwEJD1JKUrAgHe73bbnb7h_9JdKIBsp2JKwAJ8cLA1EYoAnErwckBAmF9UfhsjRaSazQ/s400/100_7610.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>At the Seventh Avenue Street Fair in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Slope,_Brooklyn">Park Slope</a> on Sunday, there was plenty of ink. Amazing ink too. But I only stopped one person, Samantha.<br /><br />Samantha had this simple quote from the late <a href="http://www.vonnegut.com/">Kurt Vonnegut</a> on her back. This simple refrain (used 106 times in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five">Slaughterhouse-Five</a>, according to Wikipedia), came to be synonymous with the Vonnegut philosophy.<br /><br />Samantha had this inked on her birthday at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dru1">Hypnotic Designs in Sunset Park by Dru</a>. Her boyfriend Igor also had a Vonnegut quote inked, but on his left leg:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq8fq25MZ14z8c2iRkTftmSgUe2KriLQeWq5zqPwOZWJGIdWp3WUOblQwfZROaLzU4dP5_8-dUapbR1eiFa2cYRSSjpvJWpOikCYjq5BqWMZy-YqOAfU3BZ5MXQuqj4ZTYFMiYCbgGx8r/s1600-h/100_7611.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212209948731740610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq8fq25MZ14z8c2iRkTftmSgUe2KriLQeWq5zqPwOZWJGIdWp3WUOblQwfZROaLzU4dP5_8-dUapbR1eiFa2cYRSSjpvJWpOikCYjq5BqWMZy-YqOAfU3BZ5MXQuqj4ZTYFMiYCbgGx8r/s400/100_7611.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />or, from a different view:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSqo_nqoVUboTwA5J8qxomGI6v8rZS4De5E3YGhTVwnqPRdQEJ5CTWYn0DoIbK7dhduunpfAQ6iTdehZMywi7roS5dyPFlexVucIETxXCPnRg3ibUbJpnEJU2NcGAjZ7fE1jk8Xj7hXr/s1600-h/100_7611b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212207690744151122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqSqo_nqoVUboTwA5J8qxomGI6v8rZS4De5E3YGhTVwnqPRdQEJ5CTWYn0DoIbK7dhduunpfAQ6iTdehZMywi7roS5dyPFlexVucIETxXCPnRg3ibUbJpnEJU2NcGAjZ7fE1jk8Xj7hXr/s400/100_7611b.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This quote is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Bless-You-Dr-Kevorkian/dp/0743422007">God Bless You Dr. Kevorkian</a>...<br /><blockquote> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> My epitaph in any case? "</span><b style="font-weight: bold;">Everything was beautiful. Nothing hurt.</b><span style="font-weight: bold;">" I will have gotten off so light, whatever the heck it is that was going on.</span></blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Thanks to Samantha and Igor for sharing their Vonnegutian ink here on Tattoosday!

Kurt Vonnegut Remembered. So it goes.

At the Seventh Avenue Street Fair in Park Slope on Sunday, there was plenty of ink. Amazing ink too. But I only stopped one person, Samanth...

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Joe's Astrological Ink

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oI18iNvHlnsp5Jwmzzbj3uJjoeM1psnqjMq4H7pPHbq64-Cwbl3KmmLTfwhRK8MTcNb_VrRq076Nwb4pl_ZgFK1KCcEEG0oJDsOeSnmJyf8bg0Zr3IkyUs5LU7IjHgumgFY6DaLFxjGw/s1600-h/100_7098.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196742404002412498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oI18iNvHlnsp5Jwmzzbj3uJjoeM1psnqjMq4H7pPHbq64-Cwbl3KmmLTfwhRK8MTcNb_VrRq076Nwb4pl_ZgFK1KCcEEG0oJDsOeSnmJyf8bg0Zr3IkyUs5LU7IjHgumgFY6DaLFxjGw/s400/100_7098.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJMKsmXy3YIpr9yd0aAxx9IifUJ51DoXsKJd1dhF179xgvOo3ou0zC2IlWaxIEleZg4cGVPNAwkp2cVRQrb3HT_-FssTjw9YvQCV_U5ZPLwhyE87TnBXH6IyL9cvZ3vBW5HrBfMA8xp80/s1600-h/100_7097.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196742210728884162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJMKsmXy3YIpr9yd0aAxx9IifUJ51DoXsKJd1dhF179xgvOo3ou0zC2IlWaxIEleZg4cGVPNAwkp2cVRQrb3HT_-FssTjw9YvQCV_U5ZPLwhyE87TnBXH6IyL9cvZ3vBW5HrBfMA8xp80/s400/100_7097.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />I ran into Joe outside of <a href="http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Ninos.Pizza.718-680-0222">Nino's Pizza</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Ridge,_Brooklyn">Bay Ridge</a>, at 92nd and 3rd Avenue.<br /><br />His two forearm tattoos represent his belief in astrology.<br /><br />Both are relatively recent inkings. The dragon is about a year old. On his left arm, the piece was inked at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dru1">Hypnotic Designs</a> in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. He believes by Angel. Hypnotic Designs work has appeared on Tattoosday twice before, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/01/erics-memorial-for-his-grandmother.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/3rd-avenue-festival-bay-ridge-part-5.html">here</a> (Angel credited there too). Joe was born in 1976, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_%28zodiac%29">Year of the Dragon</a> in the Chinese Zodiac.<br /><br />The bull was inked at a shop in <a href="http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/">Ft. Lauderdale, Florida</a>. Joe is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_%28astrology%29">Taurus</a>, astrologically, and the two pieces complement each other nicely.<br /><br />Joe is currently having a chest piece done at <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=277607840">Kings County Tattoo Company</a>. He couldn't show me the piece entirely, and it isn't colored yet, but he was absolutely raving about the quality of their work. Kings County tattoos have appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/03/whole-lotta-rosary.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Joe for chatting and sharing his astrological tattoos!

Joe's Astrological Ink

I ran into Joe outside of Nino's Pizza in Bay Ridge , at 92nd and 3rd Avenue. His two forearm tattoos represent his belief in astrology...

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Eric's Memorial for his Grandmother

I spotted this memorial on Eric's forearm in a local Duane Reade drugstore:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8DJDUc-7a0kBYBIyzHLV3DfZOjgucVrIbvHrdKHyVUdwFC3ALEC5IEQBJjaQwqqk7zTqUfIua1D7sjRPnZ1m9Qy8AjesiS4atvG1YWfk11DDv7Fohg6VpWNn_YJSO4QJgXfnOCU705K-/s1600-h/100_6327.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160390130950430498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8DJDUc-7a0kBYBIyzHLV3DfZOjgucVrIbvHrdKHyVUdwFC3ALEC5IEQBJjaQwqqk7zTqUfIua1D7sjRPnZ1m9Qy8AjesiS4atvG1YWfk11DDv7Fohg6VpWNn_YJSO4QJgXfnOCU705K-/s400/100_6327.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />This was Eric's first tattoo, inked about three years ago after his grandmother, Milagros, passed away.<br /><br />He told me he was both "interested and nervous" when he had this done. He had no regrets, as it is a way for his grandmother to be with him, in spirit, forever.<br /><br />This was inked at <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=55507305">Hypnotic Designs</a>, in Sunset Park. Their work has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2007/10/3rd-avenue-festival-bay-ridge-part-5.html">here</a>. That is where the "Brooklyn Born 'N' Raised" tattoo was inked.<br /><br />Thanks to Eric for sharing his memorial tattoo with us!

Eric's Memorial for his Grandmother

I spotted this memorial on Eric's forearm in a local Duane Reade drugstore: This was Eric's first tattoo, inked about three years ag...

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3rd Avenue Festival, Bay Ridge, Part 5

I really hit my stride on Sunday when I approached a group of young guys hanging out at the street fair in front of the <a href="http://www.riteaid.com/">Rite Aid</a> at 93rd and 3rd.<br /><br />No offense guys, if you're reading this, but I most likely would have passed you up as possible Tattoosday subjects had it been any other setting. These guys were young, in the early twenties, and looked pretty tough. The mass of ink added to their hard edges.<br /><br />I approached one of them and started explaining myself, but he seemed very reluctant. However, his friends joined in the discussion and, before I knew it, two of them had allowed me take some pictures and post them here.<br /><br />I will start with John Candela. He was totally into participating. He first had a young lady lift up the back of his shirt to reveal a huge back piece:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXR56ij4OB0YBTQ4N1nBcy4XP3inqWfVciIvZslplN3W4sc2YQU57akHxOLb7h8feWYaiannATljlX_LdqqpdVHMzmzlNjKYtTPmDuWTbvGMh919KoRcU2qhGu3fAGx8MYhpIl0ltQR8d/s1600-h/100_5287.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116215852417095714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXR56ij4OB0YBTQ4N1nBcy4XP3inqWfVciIvZslplN3W4sc2YQU57akHxOLb7h8feWYaiannATljlX_LdqqpdVHMzmzlNjKYtTPmDuWTbvGMh919KoRcU2qhGu3fAGx8MYhpIl0ltQR8d/s400/100_5287.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The large cross is a tribute to his friends Rob and Frank.<br /><br />He then showed me the tattoo on his left arm which was a tribute to the same guys and to a third friend, Smokey, who he called his guardian angels. It's hard to tell from the picture, but there are three angels are around the edge of the piece (only the one at the top is visible).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvW2f3PP75-iYQNsGSQnODAsuF0IIafvq7aNJX43sFYaECnPx9S7SdWwVI14xRWXn556Monl6tHvoBvienbY4RiIKET727SEUKclDLTTEeNqu8TDOeoA_foW0W4GIycVmGDtLv79i56yB/s1600-h/100_5288.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116216097230231602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvW2f3PP75-iYQNsGSQnODAsuF0IIafvq7aNJX43sFYaECnPx9S7SdWwVI14xRWXn556Monl6tHvoBvienbY4RiIKET727SEUKclDLTTEeNqu8TDOeoA_foW0W4GIycVmGDtLv79i56yB/s400/100_5288.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Lastly, he showed me this free-hand graffiti-like piece, which spells out his last name, Candela, which is the Spanish word for candle, which represents flames, and merged with the fiery border design produces a nice effect.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehwhN8zgeCcZcUY5i_8DqntiHmx94UFSJhP5Ab0y5GOzcvN2youBhubK8_rZouP5EfMOMj7cqNOcdwNotcgqiJYaYGjg_ggS6SjTlwMQ1mXUjGoZQ8dvxhM2WAQnm-72IuGA40FFRN8MF/s1600-h/100_5289.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116216264733956162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehwhN8zgeCcZcUY5i_8DqntiHmx94UFSJhP5Ab0y5GOzcvN2youBhubK8_rZouP5EfMOMj7cqNOcdwNotcgqiJYaYGjg_ggS6SjTlwMQ1mXUjGoZQ8dvxhM2WAQnm-72IuGA40FFRN8MF/s400/100_5289.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />John credited the work to an artist named "Steve the Butcher," who free-lances out of his house, and is not affiliated with any shop.<br /><br />I did not ask, as he did not offer, what happened to Smokey, Rob and Frank that caused them to die at such an early age. Had he wanted me to know, I'm sure he would have told me.<br /><br />The other tattoo I captured belonged to Jaimie, who I think had one of the coolest pieces of the day.<br /><br />It's actually one piece that wrapped around his left forearm. I generally avoid tattoos that wrap around because it is hard to capture the essence of the piece in photographs.<br /><script><!-- D(["mb","\u003cbr /\>So, check these out:\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>The message is "Brooklyn, born and raised." The Brooklyn Bridge is\u003cbr /\>represented, along with the Statue of Liberty. The best part of the piece,\u003cbr /\>however, is the "and" represented vy the letter N of the N train (on wich I\u003cbr /\>am currently riding as I type this up). The N express services a big chunk\u003cbr /\>of Brooklyn (as well s Manhattan and Queens). The "raised" is inked like\u003cbr /\>graffiti on the N train, completing a sweet Brooklyn-themed tribute to the\u003cbr /\>borough in which Tattoosday is based.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>Jaimie credited this awesome tattoo to Angel at Hypnotic Designs.\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>A hearty thanks to Jaimie and John for their participation in Tattoosday!\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>\u003c/div\>",0] ); D(["ce"]); //--></script><br />But it's worth a try, so check these out:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSFVSLrnPUiWt_ZdmJMARZs8gV0XJme5xTdxyBKrQg9OTyAe1_fXEWSny8YsJY12hjw9FKwqPXnII8NFce8Nbd6etdLxz0ymAm4yUcTiHlY30k9MksplxM4ZGSqQJypZBAwYb4anueGIe/s1600-h/100_5283.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116215573244221458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSFVSLrnPUiWt_ZdmJMARZs8gV0XJme5xTdxyBKrQg9OTyAe1_fXEWSny8YsJY12hjw9FKwqPXnII8NFce8Nbd6etdLxz0ymAm4yUcTiHlY30k9MksplxM4ZGSqQJypZBAwYb4anueGIe/s400/100_5283.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYCjAu5Ymko8RoR8eUCx5ctnGsjjaGB7NRPiFwoWQQhkMiDO-IejnxGMkOsukvRG7ClcuFggNoY87oJQei72qeQgQYAoOCZABsLEHPXdhlYqKFYPBrdKQkFcfjg2a5-CMfCSVy2Vd8RQ/s1600-h/100_5284.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116215474459973634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYCjAu5Ymko8RoR8eUCx5ctnGsjjaGB7NRPiFwoWQQhkMiDO-IejnxGMkOsukvRG7ClcuFggNoY87oJQei72qeQgQYAoOCZABsLEHPXdhlYqKFYPBrdKQkFcfjg2a5-CMfCSVy2Vd8RQ/s400/100_5284.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCYhkelZn0VrXXUkyOFEa6U2635euWimL2EZcqWcnDZv8ezM9AUveW_MEoV0AAeRFXjXDpj9rr1xfL15vUD6kqkEKOw9ujze2zRBRFub0-Dz7TRwkKnAI_KoAf16ki3alLS2MNE_N4gWq/s1600-h/100_5285.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116215306956249074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCYhkelZn0VrXXUkyOFEa6U2635euWimL2EZcqWcnDZv8ezM9AUveW_MEoV0AAeRFXjXDpj9rr1xfL15vUD6kqkEKOw9ujze2zRBRFub0-Dz7TRwkKnAI_KoAf16ki3alLS2MNE_N4gWq/s400/100_5285.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG2Q3dyxH4M1hG4ksd_jEK-iqJe_WXs8NgGCsWghUiQ8WCcFU2JT5NAe-aXJX7Yjy_v31oPLynvffG2EAvze55uCvdmIRkfc8U6kZg_wirAAebsKsSpTs13g-EefIp92rY-U1Q0Pogb5O/s1600-h/100_5286.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116215182402197474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG2Q3dyxH4M1hG4ksd_jEK-iqJe_WXs8NgGCsWghUiQ8WCcFU2JT5NAe-aXJX7Yjy_v31oPLynvffG2EAvze55uCvdmIRkfc8U6kZg_wirAAebsKsSpTs13g-EefIp92rY-U1Q0Pogb5O/s400/100_5286.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The message is "<a href="http://brooklyn.com/">Brooklyn</a>, born and raised." The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge">Brooklyn Bridge</a> is represented, along with the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/stli/">Statue of Liberty</a>. The best part of the piece, however, is the "and" represented by the letter N of the <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/nline.htm">N train</a> (on wich I am currently riding as I type this up). The N express services a big chunk of Brooklyn (as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan">Manhattan</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens">Queens</a>). The "raised" is inked like graffiti on the N train, completing a sweet Brooklyn-themed tribute to the borough in which Tattoosday is based.<br /><br />Jaimie credited this awesome tattoo to Angel at <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=55507305">Hypnotic Designs</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Park,_Brooklyn">Sunset Park</a>.<br /><br />A hearty thanks to Jaimie and John for their participation in Tattoosday!

3rd Avenue Festival, Bay Ridge, Part 5

I really hit my stride on Sunday when I approached a group of young guys hanging out at the street fair in front of the Rite Aid at 93rd an...

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