The Tattooed Poets Project: Elliott D. Smith

I met Elliott D. Smith at the Union Square Barnes & Noble last month and took pictures of his tattoos for The Tattooed Poets Project. I also met his roommate Jared, whose work will appear here tomorrow.<br /><br />Elliott has quite a bit of work, including a sleeve-in-progress, which is being constructed by the wonderfully talented <a href="https://profiles.google.com/the.milkmaid/about">Joy Rumore</a> at <a href="http://www.1228tattoo.com/">Twelve 28 Tattoo</a> in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.<br /><br />Check out this composite of Elliott's right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqSRLAUQ3guePJgVV9xJYhduTNArIV4_0tLfzHJngsJT0c6yT9QsJ0uhl_v4CJiCvNbbjJhf4J171UTrwCCm_yPYI5omHeHR3FhVyUQpF03TG3OOab2nhaZ5oq3jFTQrpgVqMVVmvvec/s1600/elliot+smith+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqSRLAUQ3guePJgVV9xJYhduTNArIV4_0tLfzHJngsJT0c6yT9QsJ0uhl_v4CJiCvNbbjJhf4J171UTrwCCm_yPYI5omHeHR3FhVyUQpF03TG3OOab2nhaZ5oq3jFTQrpgVqMVVmvvec/s400/elliot+smith+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This still-incomplete tattoo is part of a sleeve based on a mural at the Morgan Street stop on the L train in Brooklyn.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLnZJyyuCZBuMg08DMZdQn1CcEx4r-530S_3XAkE0vf2Ld_1TE9kjL7_GpNz3e6UlvD-wx4eJnBHtD3rFtLVnlyvR4xXJhx5idDhfRwfxNfuIUJW8B144W01VT4AxZ2lClWjPC9TWbSI/s1600/mag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLnZJyyuCZBuMg08DMZdQn1CcEx4r-530S_3XAkE0vf2Ld_1TE9kjL7_GpNz3e6UlvD-wx4eJnBHtD3rFtLVnlyvR4xXJhx5idDhfRwfxNfuIUJW8B144W01VT4AxZ2lClWjPC9TWbSI/s400/mag.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Elliott D. Smith</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The sleeve has the Alice in Wonderland figure at its center, but a lot of other images, like the banana as well. Elliott pointed out in the photo above that the banana (lower right corner) is much smaller. For the purpose of the art of the tattoo sleeve, its scale has been increased significantly.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLnUNVViCM_Lb3NzA5pniQ3GVtLZAY4aDdx4WAVQOXvw0iKtvoLWtKhcLy0Gv8kOvVpo5q33magLRc0bTAaF6pxTEXr6hKEur-aDTpVD0FR5ybQfu0czh-GWCmXOADue8l877cJFCDzM/s1600/Banana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLnUNVViCM_Lb3NzA5pniQ3GVtLZAY4aDdx4WAVQOXvw0iKtvoLWtKhcLy0Gv8kOvVpo5q33magLRc0bTAaF6pxTEXr6hKEur-aDTpVD0FR5ybQfu0czh-GWCmXOADue8l877cJFCDzM/s640/Banana.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />Elliott added that he visually enjoys the image of the mural, and his "own little Alice in Wonderland dream land" is slowly taking shape on his flesh.<br /><br />Also on his right arm with the sleeve is this quote from "<i>The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action</i>," by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audre_Lorde">Audre Lourde</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBxWvgQ1qeLQisH3Q4F9X_xbpGaxItHc81pehNLPar0WV-wBM12l4n0IA4xevOiJ1h16PL1aBwyFLYYSwNceDCnIH_Rljc9uFoTFfYfjpF73G_OTXViznOr3RnBT5AvbTq0I6GgmR44E/s1600/forearm+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBxWvgQ1qeLQisH3Q4F9X_xbpGaxItHc81pehNLPar0WV-wBM12l4n0IA4xevOiJ1h16PL1aBwyFLYYSwNceDCnIH_Rljc9uFoTFfYfjpF73G_OTXViznOr3RnBT5AvbTq0I6GgmR44E/s400/forearm+quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The quote is "I am not only a casualty, I am also a warrior."<br /><br />There are times when a writer's words resonate so loudly in your ears, they shake you to your core. Elliott told me that he "read it [these lines] one day and the next day got the tattoo."<br /><br />He offered up this interpretation of the line: "it's easy to think of yourself as victim," he said, but succeeding in life is about "surviving and fighting through victimhood".<br /><br />Elliott also has these words on his outer wrists:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5LdqSTab9l0hJ89IkDUKEK54gleTVLo36_BgGh1QQB1xoXn2JhDTyhpx5rhSOK0lVX8Ggr05muzr7TiCdoTSbtMIkyjXvh-MudsjarJ84EREE6LFWsDA6w7ixiBJC9ykWgn_eCjxQZQ/s1600/Freedom+Poet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5LdqSTab9l0hJ89IkDUKEK54gleTVLo36_BgGh1QQB1xoXn2JhDTyhpx5rhSOK0lVX8Ggr05muzr7TiCdoTSbtMIkyjXvh-MudsjarJ84EREE6LFWsDA6w7ixiBJC9ykWgn_eCjxQZQ/s400/Freedom+Poet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is the third poet this month with "poet" inked on his or her flesh. However, the combination of "freedom poet" adds another dimension to the corporeal text.<br /><br />This was a "spur of the moment" tattoo, Elliott told me, elaborating that aside from the obvious "poet," he is "holding freedom in his hand and facing out".<br /><br />Finally, we don't get a lot of lower back tattoos here on Tattoosday, but when we do, they are extraordinary:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFIJXyKUszI4kk9TpHXz7T9I9a6o2v2LHLiiDBFARTEeKRzOJZOm6Kb3hGfrsVhBO-Ckrd8aoL0L9QpW8gCb0Fv3aBcFIDvTkDcwnzrjSKtE10-X-IPUEkWCgxdXRZ3NcE6Yuz8_WwPI/s1600/City+Lower+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFIJXyKUszI4kk9TpHXz7T9I9a6o2v2LHLiiDBFARTEeKRzOJZOm6Kb3hGfrsVhBO-Ckrd8aoL0L9QpW8gCb0Fv3aBcFIDvTkDcwnzrjSKtE10-X-IPUEkWCgxdXRZ3NcE6Yuz8_WwPI/s400/City+Lower+Back.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Elliott took a couple of photos into Joy and she crafted this design. The concept is a spin on the "power to the people" idea, but with an emphasis on urban people. "Most Americans live in cities," he explained, "but [they] don't have power". This is a spin on the frustration that many feel, that the values of the citizenry of the American cities are not represented by the government.<br /><br />As for poetry, Elliott offered us this work:<br /><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal">EARNING STRIPES</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I own thirteen striped shirts.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have known the misfortune of wearing lines on skin,</div><div class="MsoNormal">stretch marks and self-hate carve flesh in convincing fashion.</div><div class="MsoNormal">No lover has ever asked me why</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have known the misfortune of wearing lines on skin,</div><div class="MsoNormal">razor blade reminders tattoo thighs with teenage dreams.</div><div class="MsoNormal">No lover has ever asked me why</div><div class="MsoNormal">it was so easy to steal from myself.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Razor blade reminders tattoo thighs with teenage dreams,</div><div class="MsoNormal">this belly, a thanksgiving turkey for carving-- </div><div class="MsoNormal">it was so easy to steal from myself</div><div class="MsoNormal">when I didn’t believe I had anything to give.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This belly, a thanksgiving turkey for carving.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sliced up white meat</div><div class="MsoNormal">when I didn’t believe I had anything to give.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mother doesn’t know there’s blood on the stairs.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sliced up white meat,</div><div class="MsoNormal">stretch marks and self-hate carve flesh in convincing fashion.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mother doesn’t know there’s blood on the stairs.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I own thirteen striped shirts.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Elliott D. Smith reps Louisville, Cincinnati, and Brooklyn. When he's not  working with formerly incarcerated people or conducting research on masculinity, he drinks whiskey and talks too loudly. He believes in the power of tattoos, reference books, and matching music with the weather.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Thanks to Elliott for sharing his ink and his poetry here with us on Tattoosday!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><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 </span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><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></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Elliott D. Smith

I met Elliott D. Smith at the Union Square Barnes & Noble last month and took pictures of his tattoos for The Tattooed Poets Project. I...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan

In the first post of this year's Tattooed Poets Project (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/04/tattooed-poets-project-vicki-iorio.html">here</a>), Vicki Iorio described watching today's tattooed poet, <a href="http://www.tammynuzzomorgan.com/">Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan</a>, recite verse while being tattooed. Here is that tattoo, along with some others:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-wKPQT8oRMnD-WqfnV3D1pjplHofjykUr4fbwnvUKLpOH1qatDPbfYmxUOkj1Ryiji29TBb8OL6Z5OSVK2Bd_fGd-wwih2Dfp6p8_Fr4pQTxXI2En_WT2xO5o75JSrhHvYqt3VqVm1g/s1600/Tammy+poet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-wKPQT8oRMnD-WqfnV3D1pjplHofjykUr4fbwnvUKLpOH1qatDPbfYmxUOkj1Ryiji29TBb8OL6Z5OSVK2Bd_fGd-wwih2Dfp6p8_Fr4pQTxXI2En_WT2xO5o75JSrhHvYqt3VqVm1g/s400/Tammy+poet.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph by Mark Wells</td></tr></tbody></table>The word "poet" in the center of the back is self-explanatory and was inked by Syxx, at <a href="http://www.wyldchyldstudios.com/">Wyld Chyld Tattoo Studio</a>. Above that is the name "Joey," who is Tammy's husband. That was done by an artist named Kenny at a shop called Z Connection. The piece on the right is a rose, with the names of Tammy's three children and their birth dates, inked by Bob at <a href="http://www.tattoolous.com/#">Tattoo Lou's</a> on Long Island. Dave at Tattoo Lou's also did the memorial cross for Tammy's son Mike, who was killed in 1995. Tammy also has this tattoo on her foot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGO0iG9y0Dx1OHPTViG9917CEDQh5Y1qvhwxTBvIWNEhzaMk3jS8mfI4H0BLuuDacLYBWNRalxyN-PgucbbLxeA8HKXdwkapaQ7N949jrPjXr5p2LWIxlIJ9FGuyvEWafNNFWE4q3uiY/s1600/cat+paw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGO0iG9y0Dx1OHPTViG9917CEDQh5Y1qvhwxTBvIWNEhzaMk3jS8mfI4H0BLuuDacLYBWNRalxyN-PgucbbLxeA8HKXdwkapaQ7N949jrPjXr5p2LWIxlIJ9FGuyvEWafNNFWE4q3uiY/s400/cat+paw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />That cat paw is for Tammy's cat, Maude, who passed away last October 10, and was done by Jimmy at Wyld Chyld.<br /><br />Tammy also shared some of her poetry:<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">POEM#6<br /><br />I am not the coca cola girl, <br />the Cheez-It tidbit waiting for you to taste, <br />the limo ride to the Yankee’s game, <br />the wrangler jeans chick baking in the New Mexico sun, <br />and I never was or will be Sunday mornings in spring.<br /><br />I am the time-ticking-away second hand, <br />the flat tire on the side of the road, <br />the too high door jam, <br />the worn-out tooth brush, <br />the 59 cents in the ashtray, <br />the Lunch Poems dog-eared book, <br />and the who never forgets to tell the truth.</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">SPOONS <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I remember when you spoon-fed me ice-cream as we lay in bed on that rainy afternoon<br />and the way your fingers tasted and your neck had a hint of sweat and I closed my eyes<br />and you drove away the dark and I called your name in a low, soft moan.<br /><br />I remember when you spooned sugar into your morning tea on that sunny Tuesday</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />and I watched you drink as if you were a foreign film I could not understand<br />and your smile told me my poetry made you hunger for more than a nine-to-five life.<br /><br />I remember when you spooned dirt into the flower pot and filled it with mums for me</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />and I was peeking out the window seeing you bent down working away humming<br />and I decided then that I was not who I wanted to be without you in my days and nights<br /><br />And I remember how after you left I packed away all the silverware, including those</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />spoons and I gave the box to the Salvation Army, hoping for some salvation of my own<br />and I drove away from our town knowing I would never see another sunset like you.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan is a very busy woman. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">She was appointed </span><a href="http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Suffolk</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">County</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> Poet Laureate for 2009 – 2011. She is founder and president of <a href="http://www.tammynuzzomorgan.com/north.htm">The North Sea Poetry Scene, Inc.</a> and The North Sea Poetry Scene Press. She was nominated for Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for her poetry book, <i>Let Me Tell You Something</i>. She is<br />listed in <a href="http://www.pw.org/">Poets & Writers</a>, has penned 4 chapbooks, is Poet-in-Residence at </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1201664158"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Southampton</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org/"> Historical Museum</a>, an adjunct Professor at </span><a href="http://www.briarcliffe.edu/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Briarcliffe</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">College</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">, the editor of the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1201664165"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Long Island</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.poets.org/viewevent.php/prmEventID/5636"> Sounds Anthology</a>. She hosts TNSPS’s Arts Forum TV Show on Channel 20 on Cablevision in Riverhead, N.Y. and serves as the Lead Poetry Jurist for the <a href="http://www.eastendarts.org/">East End Arts Council</a>, Riverhead, N.Y.<br /><br />Currently, Tammy is creating an archival/arts center (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><a href="http://www.lipoetryarchivalcenter.com/" target="_blank">www.lipoetryarchivalcenter.com</a>)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> for </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Long Island</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> poetry that will be a gathering place for poets. She is also currently working toward an M.F.A. at </span><a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/southampton/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Southampton</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Stony</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Brook</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">University</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks to Tammy for sharing her work, both written and tattooed, here on Tattoosday!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><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 </span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><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 style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan

In the first post of this year's Tattooed Poets Project ( here ), Vicki Iorio described watching today's tattooed poet, Tammy Nuzzo-...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Lorraine Conlin

Today's tattooed poet is Lorraine Conlin, one of several Long Island wordsmiths featured this month on the Tattooed Poets Project.<br /><br />Lorraine offers up this beautiful tattoo on the upper right side of her back:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztke_ktxUiTR35uxmqRP6UR_PGXhJ4HpfVVc4FGki1dKuZiPMIKVw6gqfMhsUOfY3P_19hz0VAOkwnf0o5HZSnpX2IihdWzSU5-Q-zJhoNxbRWRda_47TJZxG59_EVj2akQZFsuUJg-o/s1600/La+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztke_ktxUiTR35uxmqRP6UR_PGXhJ4HpfVVc4FGki1dKuZiPMIKVw6gqfMhsUOfY3P_19hz0VAOkwnf0o5HZSnpX2IihdWzSU5-Q-zJhoNxbRWRda_47TJZxG59_EVj2akQZFsuUJg-o/s640/La+.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Lorraine Conlin</td></tr></tbody></table>Lorraine gives us the background of this lovely La:<br /><blockquote>"My first and only tattoo (so far), was self-designed with a bit of enhancement by <i>Syxx,</i> of <a href="http://wyldchyldstudios.com/"><b>Wyld Chyld</b> <b>Tattoo</b></a> in Merrick, NY, where I co-host poetry events in their adjoining café.  <i>La</i> is the Lilliputianized form of my original nickname, <i>Lala.</i>  Before I said Mama or Dada, as most babies do, I uttered <i>Lala</i> and from that day forward, my family referred to me as their “little Lala”.  </blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlTDoeP_rIBvSNfR_nSz3gqhhgqC8-SlRCBzzHJ6Y0TvDfC09Ff8vYI6g02NK5lkvoi1K4XqoVL7lVAni9FBFFhYfR3IwxzFHt6TU3Sx7J5pdnJl8TUZRxkksKMwoAx_UXrkJSsjQW4w/s1600/La+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlTDoeP_rIBvSNfR_nSz3gqhhgqC8-SlRCBzzHJ6Y0TvDfC09Ff8vYI6g02NK5lkvoi1K4XqoVL7lVAni9FBFFhYfR3IwxzFHt6TU3Sx7J5pdnJl8TUZRxkksKMwoAx_UXrkJSsjQW4w/s400/La+detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Lorraine Conlin</td></tr></tbody></table>The name stayed with me and friends and business associates starting calling me “<i>La</i>”.  While hosting the open mic at Wyld Chyld Tattoo & Café, I met <a href="http://www.myspace.com/obrien6"><i>Syxx</i></a>, (Raymond Obrien) who is with the Metal Group, “<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Saints-of-Pain/137974834137?sk=wall">The Saints of Pain</a>”.  He signed up to read one night and read something he had written.  We started talking and I asked if I had any ink.  I told him I was afraid of infection and I was allergic to lots of foods and meds. He asked me which ones and when I said sulfur, he said I could get any colors except yellow or any that had yellow in their composition.  He was so reassuring, knowledgeable and gentle that I went home that night and started thinking about what to get and where I wanted it.  I sketched it out and brought him the sketch.  We made a date, he made the stencil and the rest is history." </div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal">Lorraine was kind enough to share this poem with us:<span style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 115%;">A Wannabe Fantasy</span></b></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="NoSpacing">I told my shrink I wannabe a back warmer</div><div class="NoSpacing">sit on a bitch pad behind a biker guy</div><div class="NoSpacing">wrap my arms round his ape-hanger grip</div><div class="NoSpacing">straddle his bar-hopper bike on Friday nights</div><div class="NoSpacing">ride with a big bearded chromosexual guy </div><div class="NoSpacing">cruise the big road to nowhere…</div><div class="NoSpacing">I wanna goggle the horizon -- eat asphalt</div><div class="NoSpacing">let my puppies hang loose </div><div class="NoSpacing">wear black leather chaps</div><div class="NoSpacing">and a purple skid lid</div><div class="NoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="NoSpacing">“I don’t think you do.” He said</div><div class="NoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="NoSpacing">Yes, I do</div><div class="NoSpacing">I love bikers</div><div class="NoSpacing">especially the B.U.G.s</div><div class="NoSpacing">the bigger, uglier the guy</div><div class="NoSpacing">the harder they try</div><div class="NoSpacing">the better they make me feel</div><div class="NoSpacing">told him I rode hard and long with a few</div><div class="NoSpacing">before these confession sessions </div><div class="NoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="NoSpacing">He said. “We have to stop now.” </div><div class="NoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="NoSpacing">I found a new therapist</div><div class="NoSpacing">she loves to listen </div><div class="NoSpacing">to my biker-chick fantasies</div><div class="NoSpacing">rides along with me</div><div class="NoSpacing">always asks</div><div class="NoSpacing">“How does that make you feel”…</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div class="NoSpacing">Lorraine Conlin is a US Customs Broker at <a href="http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html">JFK Airport</a>. She is on the BOD of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Long-Island-Poetry-Collective/253009005395?sk=info">The Long Island Poetry Collective</a>, hosts “Tuesdays With Poetry” for <a href="http://poetsinnassau.blogspot.com/">Poets in Nassau</a>, and co-hosts for <a href="http://www.performancepoets.org/">PerformancePoets Association</a> at <a href="http://www.yourli.com/Wyld-Chyld-Tattoo---Cafe/7312044">Wyld Chyld Tattoo & Café</a> in Merrick, LINY. Her work has been published in PPA Literary Review(s), <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewevent.php/prmEventID/5636">LongIsland Sounds Anthology(s)</a>.  Lorraine initiated and hosts <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152641658121666">Super Poem Sunday</a>, where folks gather to celebrate the sport of poetry on Super Bowl Sunday.  She is also the founder of the Long Island Poets for Darfur.  Lorraine is currently working on her first book of poems. </div><br />Thanks to Lorraine for sharing her tattoo and poem with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. The poem is reprinted here with the permission of the author.<br /><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 </span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><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>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Lorraine Conlin

Today's tattooed poet is Lorraine Conlin, one of several Long Island wordsmiths featured this month on the Tattooed Poets Project. Lorra...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Vicki Iorio

We're kicking off this year's Tattooed Poets Project with a tattoo that seems, ahem, apropos-etic:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAJizLQvWz-dXLW5zRUwyhPyXr2c6fp2HxOh0sKGsKgGWz-Q0PHImag6X4sTeoCndQo57k_68bX_NXw7dQoECAxRtn_Z4cHSgoPhTHTC7H4pVV4zvqoho5Wc1A4d7bGcRJj4ywPQj1jI/s1600/Poet+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAJizLQvWz-dXLW5zRUwyhPyXr2c6fp2HxOh0sKGsKgGWz-Q0PHImag6X4sTeoCndQo57k_68bX_NXw7dQoECAxRtn_Z4cHSgoPhTHTC7H4pVV4zvqoho5Wc1A4d7bGcRJj4ywPQj1jI/s400/Poet+c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This poetic foot belongs to Vicki Iorio, a New York poet. She explains the tattoo:<br /><br /><blockquote>"My group of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island">Long Island</a> poets have the pleasure of reading at the <a href="http://wyldchyldstudios.com/">Wyld Chyld Cafe and Tattoo Parlor</a> in Merrick, NY. I watched <a href="http://www.tammynuzzomorgan.com/">Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan</a>, the poet laureate of Suffolk County get "poet" tattooed across her shoulder blades. [Tammy will be appearing on the site later this month.] She recited poetry while her back was bleeding, I knew at that moment I would have to get one! </blockquote><blockquote>It was a cold January night, Sixx tattooed my right foot with a beautiful scripted "poet." It was a beautiful moment and I love my tat and all it signifies. A slew of woman poets have been tattooed by Sixx. A tattooed sisterhood, indeed."</blockquote>Here is a poem from Vicki:<br /><br /><blockquote><b>Tattoo 56</b><br /><b> </b> <br />I will get a tattoo next birthday<br />no one will care<br />it won't be like birthday 13<br />when I dyed my hair purple on a shoplift heist<br />shaved off eyebrows<br />pierced frozen ears with a needle<br />hacked off bushy black fur under stockings<br /><br />I will find an illustrated man<br />his head bald and shiny<br />eyes so blue I will see straight through<br />to his good heart, diamond stud in one ear<br />massive arms shocking to the touch.<br /><br />My spider will go willingly to his fly.<br />I will tell him what I want<br />where I want it.<br /><br />After validating plastic worth,<br />my pirate will lead me to his table<br />gift me with little hurts<br />celebrate me electrically<br />wrap me in gauze<br />sing the praises of Bacitracin<br />wish me a happy birthday.<br /><br /></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Vicki Iorio is a Long Island poet who hangs around tattoo parlors. Her poems have been published in various publications including <a href="http://www.outsiderwriters.org/archives/6288">hell strung and crooked</a>. She is saving up for another tattoo!<br /><br />Thanks to Vicki for sharing her poetic tattoo and tattoo poem with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday.<br /><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 </span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><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>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Vicki Iorio

We're kicking off this year's Tattooed Poets Project with a tattoo that seems, ahem, apropos-etic: This poetic foot belongs to Vicki...

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Amanda's Irises (and a Quote)

This start-of-the-year post is courtesy of Amanda, who I met at the end of October in the <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_592">Borders</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Circle">Columbus Circle</a>.<br /><br />It was her sleeve of irises that first captured my attention:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5JT2AI8l8MPi_LZ9ZnrFrQJ9aik0pPiQOFZHotXgMsAFFdd7FHb5BmcxRc2U13-VhyphenhyphenefTf7RrJeT-EAoy7VElXg8dokd1YG8GEnir7lEfNSrgFtVFC56ASLGGNV937t1DOjccSga_8I/s1600/Amanda+Iris+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5JT2AI8l8MPi_LZ9ZnrFrQJ9aik0pPiQOFZHotXgMsAFFdd7FHb5BmcxRc2U13-VhyphenhyphenefTf7RrJeT-EAoy7VElXg8dokd1YG8GEnir7lEfNSrgFtVFC56ASLGGNV937t1DOjccSga_8I/s640/Amanda+Iris+Collage.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br />These are inspired by the work of <a href="http://www.vangoghgallery.com/">Vincent van Gogh</a>, perhaps this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXYoVmdBvtXf5NZIuLNptkVHMwgU77W6_AGzaFE3iE7NuTucARicxkTMNdlOE8irYLZ3-3IejwWnzJXXZViv56wShqBZQZM8sp2263AnwCi8NrOqssEX2YjWuVkN86GF8A5wVHdFKmhI/s1600/Irises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXYoVmdBvtXf5NZIuLNptkVHMwgU77W6_AGzaFE3iE7NuTucARicxkTMNdlOE8irYLZ3-3IejwWnzJXXZViv56wShqBZQZM8sp2263AnwCi8NrOqssEX2YjWuVkN86GF8A5wVHdFKmhI/s400/Irises.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.highvoltagetattoo.com/artists_dennis.html">Dennis Halbritter</a> when he was at <a href="http://incognitotattoo.com/">Incognito Tattoo</a> in Pasadena, California. He has since moved to <a href="http://www.highvoltagetattoo.com/home.html">High Voltage Tattoo</a>, <a href="http://www.katvond.net/">Kat Von D's</a> shop on <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/la-ink/">L.A. Ink</a>.<br /><br />Dennis also inked this on Amanda's inner right bicep:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMymMXt3K49PSgS28hy7apsokHetHfdRGc0xGvhK7AFx7RC7O1sP2-QNFes6yZYS1cc1OOAP4yiqDfdtnzNz94_miB8epkhQ9wVEpIuuD4zDqyrAV_ecVaU8ulG5J2kTEFp7VoHWZwFU/s1600/amanda+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMymMXt3K49PSgS28hy7apsokHetHfdRGc0xGvhK7AFx7RC7O1sP2-QNFes6yZYS1cc1OOAP4yiqDfdtnzNz94_miB8epkhQ9wVEpIuuD4zDqyrAV_ecVaU8ulG5J2kTEFp7VoHWZwFU/s400/amanda+quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This quote "IO FU QUELLO CHE VOI SIETE E QUEL CH'IO SON VOI SARETE" is taken from an Italian fresco credited to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaccio">Masaccio</a>. This is the artwork in question:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5EQgOBIaZedAgeIJdvmRDtLQPRwsGFkjxdn59g2fvk1XOblovsXw2g0hv6Elboey9fPFuQFc3XtEly7PQTgXbcQm9Gz8HGBZIQzFalGYo0bbOdVt6trytt6kfYG-zM1c9JlUDtaxjkQ/s1600/296px-Masaccio_trinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5EQgOBIaZedAgeIJdvmRDtLQPRwsGFkjxdn59g2fvk1XOblovsXw2g0hv6Elboey9fPFuQFc3XtEly7PQTgXbcQm9Gz8HGBZIQzFalGYo0bbOdVt6trytt6kfYG-zM1c9JlUDtaxjkQ/s640/296px-Masaccio_trinity.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Holy Trinity, with the Virgin and Saint John and donors, </b></i><b>in Florence</b></td></tr></tbody></table>If you look at the bottom of the fresco, right above the skeleton is the phrase Amanda has inscribed on her arm.<br /><br />The phrase is translated as "I once was what you are and what I am you also will be".<br />These words remind her of her own mortality.<br /><br />Thanks to Amanda for sharing these lovely tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Amanda's Irises (and a Quote)

This start-of-the-year post is courtesy of Amanda, who I met at the end of October in the Borders at Columbus Circle . It was her sleeve of...

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Chris's Tattoos Motivate and Inspire

I met Chris earlier this month in Penn Station and he shared his 3/4-sleeve. He is the owner/operator of the <a href="http://www.musclemakergrill.com/locations_chelsea.php">Muscle Maker Grill</a> at 92 Eighth Avenue in Chelsea.<br /><br />His sleeve is a collage of designs that motivate and inspire him, with a skull design thrown in, to boot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIpS8lVrIWIGozQeAEe-_XkKNM-ODv1rM12LzM_7hrP0-syPorHGAsWl3sv5u-LkMURqPXGYxNzDP1XE42vMe4a18qjhlfXabfUwRhyq0Jop4GF3quGyahjGJtb7Sffa0IM8RCYYw7pk/s1600/Chris++Skull+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIpS8lVrIWIGozQeAEe-_XkKNM-ODv1rM12LzM_7hrP0-syPorHGAsWl3sv5u-LkMURqPXGYxNzDP1XE42vMe4a18qjhlfXabfUwRhyq0Jop4GF3quGyahjGJtb7Sffa0IM8RCYYw7pk/s400/Chris++Skull+wm.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br />He has the phrase "Live Now. Shoot for the Stars" inked on his biceps. This motto is a nod to his ambition as a business owner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Aa7vxUB3Ht1skPm5jOhvk4oijzDrWJzc6wcQlFDp_vMn5bNmOqefuMnb1he-ONaikRn60KQVEHNg0Ni_aSyJIhDG1rGv4vksdCHEEacxeftGyySdKeQ1_7ILq5rIZd6j58i-L6LxD4/s1600/Chris+Live+Now+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Aa7vxUB3Ht1skPm5jOhvk4oijzDrWJzc6wcQlFDp_vMn5bNmOqefuMnb1he-ONaikRn60KQVEHNg0Ni_aSyJIhDG1rGv4vksdCHEEacxeftGyySdKeQ1_7ILq5rIZd6j58i-L6LxD4/s400/Chris+Live+Now+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The three pawprints tattooed below the elbow, on the left side of the photo, above, represent his three dogs (2 Cocker Spaniels and a mutt).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY2o4Q_ZMLULVahXxEKNdPeL5qLsj0Rn-SpqL_uc_3rr4PwYEam4DDb4aIM9pCBjhwP3UaaaCQGC95e0dOUJ8heSR_78o-AznRZjCpJp6cbZzObYPXWFUiTYr9Rkcvdb_wDptGZWe9jg/s1600/Chris+Dog+Paws+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY2o4Q_ZMLULVahXxEKNdPeL5qLsj0Rn-SpqL_uc_3rr4PwYEam4DDb4aIM9pCBjhwP3UaaaCQGC95e0dOUJ8heSR_78o-AznRZjCpJp6cbZzObYPXWFUiTYr9Rkcvdb_wDptGZWe9jg/s400/Chris+Dog+Paws+wm.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><br />The cross and the prayer, "Lord, Protect Me" are based on his Catholic faith.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiccsm987Y2YvK8-llvrKIRrZVJlMXCrVlmFNp5Wrcch9o0DHdP0ii-igrSlB7-UNSDIQ1wiuqlcgt3mc33ItJU6tdrJON_2q6BdVbDxTcom7iY-FJ84MU3HCub_y8Z9WDlaSgqONzYE/s1600/Chris+Crucifix+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiccsm987Y2YvK8-llvrKIRrZVJlMXCrVlmFNp5Wrcch9o0DHdP0ii-igrSlB7-UNSDIQ1wiuqlcgt3mc33ItJU6tdrJON_2q6BdVbDxTcom7iY-FJ84MU3HCub_y8Z9WDlaSgqONzYE/s640/Chris+Crucifix+wm.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />In all, Chris figures he's had about 10 hours of work done.<br /><br />He also gave me permission to share this photo from his Facebook page:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh76ZOer7xKJj4BT8ifAhV40QKjQGZopZsa0GY1YcBR-IKijYxG3msi4QMUE0jSfvzRkz5xYYJ04_GscBSXCaALOV785vJEvgKx3P_E3tW8H1GTEIgB1PztUoLhMGN4Oa-fa-YTYbrI0/s1600/chris+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh76ZOer7xKJj4BT8ifAhV40QKjQGZopZsa0GY1YcBR-IKijYxG3msi4QMUE0jSfvzRkz5xYYJ04_GscBSXCaALOV785vJEvgKx3P_E3tW8H1GTEIgB1PztUoLhMGN4Oa-fa-YTYbrI0/s400/chris+back.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Christopher Almazan</td></tr></tbody></table>I had hoped to show a better shot of the peacock that is on his back, with feathers that come up over his shoulder, but could not get a clear enough picture. The shot above gives a great idea, however, of his tattoos.<br /><br />All work is credited to Rick Schreck at the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HOUSE-OF-1000-TATTOOS/60057472825">House of 1000 Tattoos</a> in Middlesex, New Jersey. A piece from Rick appeared earlier this Fall on the site <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/10/melanies-phoenix-helps-her-rise-above.html"> here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks again to Chris for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br />Visit the Muscle Maker Grill website <a href="http://www.musclemakergrill.com/locations_chelsea.php">here</a>.

Chris's Tattoos Motivate and Inspire

I met Chris earlier this month in Penn Station and he shared his 3/4-sleeve. He is the owner/operator of the Muscle Maker Grill at 92 Eig...

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Brian's Ink Speaks About Art

I met Brian in Barnes & Noble, Union Square, back in August and he shared two tattoos with us. Put your thinking caps on, folks, because Brian, who is a video artist (website <a href="http://taxiplasm.net/">here</a>), has very cerebral ink.<br /><br />First up is this tattoo, on Brian's left biceps: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEyHP7jiu-_l_Q4mlkdBe0yiy1biwa4P57SVcLxYAI2XOdMtOYEzuDZddAgCjDAqAOfu1WiSA5rgzoHP-MupdyaZOBSlzEQfunbeRLmplYNotrja-w8FA5b6LfCKrXoz0BViBK8ru/s1600/Kubin+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEyHP7jiu-_l_Q4mlkdBe0yiy1biwa4P57SVcLxYAI2XOdMtOYEzuDZddAgCjDAqAOfu1WiSA5rgzoHP-MupdyaZOBSlzEQfunbeRLmplYNotrja-w8FA5b6LfCKrXoz0BViBK8ru/s640/Kubin+wm.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br />This tattoo is based on an illustration entitled "Every Night We Are Haunted by a Dream" by the artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Kubin">Alfred Kubin</a> (1877-1959). <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVdO-zkC24ULzX8OJ6oc94lPJKMKI4G-KQgBHBCMPAn3-ICz-BprFKtWhXWH7kQoxxFILLjscbhgenGJRcbTelMFmYhxVn83F2VnM5_XgNtP6aybwc2VhtRoGSxz1uKmVx3Jkjaed/s400/every+night.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="340" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Jede Nacht besucht uns ein Traum (Every Night We are Haunted by a Dream)</em>, ca. 1902-03</strong><br />Pen and ink, brush, wash, and spray on paper<br />39.1 x 31.8 cm (15 3/8 x 12 1/2 in.)<br />Albertina, Vienna</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVdO-zkC24ULzX8OJ6oc94lPJKMKI4G-KQgBHBCMPAn3-ICz-BprFKtWhXWH7kQoxxFILLjscbhgenGJRcbTelMFmYhxVn83F2VnM5_XgNtP6aybwc2VhtRoGSxz1uKmVx3Jkjaed/s1600/every+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Brian explained that this work corresponded very closely to the publication of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freud#Major_works_by_Freud">Sigmund Freud's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Interpretation_of_Dreams">The Interpretation of Dreams</a>, and that Kubin's illustration represents "art between the cusp of pre-surrealism/expressionism and surrealism". It speaks to Brian's understanding of the perception of dreams and art.<br /><br />Brian also had these words inscribed on his inner right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqT1Hhef7a8eCvxeDhKFto1jpgc8V8tPB65jgniDlYOh5VgZ_C4H97b7PbRYnkIra6oXARBiUxK2rflNf-6cne1wiLVzdnAkLcfKk-mAstiGkFLeaOfJ0M4rSJ62m7foJdcgAdyH/s1600/Camus+quote+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqT1Hhef7a8eCvxeDhKFto1jpgc8V8tPB65jgniDlYOh5VgZ_C4H97b7PbRYnkIra6oXARBiUxK2rflNf-6cne1wiLVzdnAkLcfKk-mAstiGkFLeaOfJ0M4rSJ62m7foJdcgAdyH/s320/Camus+quote+wm.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br />The words "Cr<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}</style> <![endif]--><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">é</span>er Dangereusement" are the French title of a 1957 essay by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Camus">Albert Camus</a> entitled "Create Dangerously". This "essay on realism and artistic creation" likewise spoke to Brian who acknowledged that "all art is a political act". It makes perfect sense, if you think about it, in that no great work of art was ever created by the artist playing it safe. It is those who created dangerously that are remembered as trailblazers and icons in their respective fields.<br /><br />Brian had both of these tattoos done in Austin, Texas.<br /><br />Thanks to Brian for sharing his artistic ink with us here on Tattoosday!

Brian's Ink Speaks About Art

I met Brian in Barnes & Noble, Union Square, back in August and he shared two tattoos with us. Put your thinking caps on, folks, because...

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Kevin's Gravitational Tattoo

I love word tattoos so I couldn't help but stop Kevin at Barnes & Noble earlier this month. He had this tattoo inked on his inner right forearm:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEOs3DC_iFNbAnjFhsprumTaYJoroaZopSP01PbzQbzcyelNAKeSF4qF334lLXNi518EwfrasF2ZjxZNX4M9P_5dC6Zd0Ax90JeKolVesSpRPk_bliEqmRrhMIanCKUYh8X4AOYQY/s1600/Gravity+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEOs3DC_iFNbAnjFhsprumTaYJoroaZopSP01PbzQbzcyelNAKeSF4qF334lLXNi518EwfrasF2ZjxZNX4M9P_5dC6Zd0Ax90JeKolVesSpRPk_bliEqmRrhMIanCKUYh8X4AOYQY/s400/Gravity+wm.jpg" width="357" /></a></div><br />He explained that he enrolled in school not knowing for sure what he wanted to do. He was on a path for a career in finance, but also has a keen interest in art and graphic design.<br /><br />He says that the tattoo is a reminder that, although gravity is all around us, and pulling us toward the status quo, he should stay true to himself and never give up his interest in art.<br /><br />He had this done by <a href="http://www.bettyrosetattoos.com/">Betty Rose</a> at <a href="http://www.redrockettattoo.com/index2.html">Red Rocket Tattoo</a> in Manhattan. Work from Red Rocket has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Red%20Rocket%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Kevin for sharing his Gravity with us here on Tattoosday!

Kevin's Gravitational Tattoo

I love word tattoos so I couldn't help but stop Kevin at Barnes & Noble earlier this month. He had this tattoo inked on his inner ri...

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Lindsay's Ink for Peace

When I recently upgraded my camera, the first new photo I took, of Lindsay's tattoo, convinced me I had selected well:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMt5dmcN424BxbDZUCUzwmYJlTS-1nZtDKiZ1S0UOhZ4SANnfN6buTeZUFchgCGQbo3LmQXfnAalbor1Ucupa27881LgSCIzde_Ci_QkEWLAmfL7bBClenMJljAIFIzdkl0NUsRt6/s1600/Peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMt5dmcN424BxbDZUCUzwmYJlTS-1nZtDKiZ1S0UOhZ4SANnfN6buTeZUFchgCGQbo3LmQXfnAalbor1Ucupa27881LgSCIzde_Ci_QkEWLAmfL7bBClenMJljAIFIzdkl0NUsRt6/s400/Peace.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />This lovely tattoo, on Lindsay's upper left arm, is punctuated by this part of the tattoo on her biceps:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoecACSijSAoDwUoaJInvy5cFga8WL0iKNcQGIrJ57pu-4lRDdho52aMOcPauNlBNS0qZFLnCPWHsna5Jlu5mXbQ6jDNOo38bTmJcu5MgN-tEE0KmhLQ1-J7ZWVQU9P4zsCAVi7E37/s1600/Peace+Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoecACSijSAoDwUoaJInvy5cFga8WL0iKNcQGIrJ57pu-4lRDdho52aMOcPauNlBNS0qZFLnCPWHsna5Jlu5mXbQ6jDNOo38bTmJcu5MgN-tEE0KmhLQ1-J7ZWVQU9P4zsCAVi7E37/s400/Peace+Words.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The picture tells the story and the words, all meaning a form of "peace" in Hebrew, Arabic, Sanskrit, and English, punctuate the images just inches away.<br /><br />Lindsay took a class on world religions at the <a href="http://www.uri.edu/">University of Rhode Island</a> and this influenced her greatly. She wanted the tattoo to focus on the beauty at the heart of religion, and to disregard the conflict that so often plagues religious dogma.<br /><br />Lindsay feels that the tenet of peace is often lost and this is her way of expressing how it means so much, but is forgotten in relations with people of different backgrounds.<br /><br />She brought a picture that somewhat embodied how she wanted the tattoo to look in to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-Freek-Tattoo/374502782019#%21/pages/Art-Freek-Tattoo/374502782019?v=info">Artfreek Tattoo</a> in Providence, Rhode Island. She and the artist Brian Mullen collaborated on interpreting what she wanted the piece to embody and she was very happy with the end result.<br /><br />The tattoo was completed in two short sittings that spanned four hours.<br /><br />Work from Artfreek has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Artfreek%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Lindsay for sharing this fabulous tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Lindsay's Ink for Peace

When I recently upgraded my camera, the first new photo I took, of Lindsay's tattoo, convinced me I had selected well: This lovely tatto...

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Stephanie's Serpentine Strength

Under normal circumstances, I may not have stopped to chat with Stephanie about her wrist tattoo. However, she was playing with her new corn snake, which is not something you see everyday when passing through Pennsylvania Station.<br /><br />Stephanie introduced me to her new friend <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/mu%C3%B1eca"><i>Muñeca</i></a> (the Spanish word for "doll") <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhfdZ_fDExGZOmsCBOkBGEoe_603A9pcg6SsDvxZU31am9_JKdi9KZdeZnnjRyVtDSM9Wgn1cueW5rvweEDalDW0QDu-2IMGLOa9b8qsI91dLHanWL4vTIRWdVVjvpRdxsKopv9Hr/s1600/Snake+strength.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhfdZ_fDExGZOmsCBOkBGEoe_603A9pcg6SsDvxZU31am9_JKdi9KZdeZnnjRyVtDSM9Wgn1cueW5rvweEDalDW0QDu-2IMGLOa9b8qsI91dLHanWL4vTIRWdVVjvpRdxsKopv9Hr/s400/Snake+strength.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />and then elaborated on one of her three tattoos, the word "Strength" on her inner left wrist:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr3aCmAmdCKeK2MC1nRmUvgrosV-6jRN5PBpt1DW5AZHHHWpPYtj4izrmgjyz8CPNphXNzkqs3vNguhdnSpULJ9nbaz-JoY0IV5cUm16_0hie2LitrtlFk20pRQr4vWwqcqy9Y9WS/s1600/Strength+Close-Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr3aCmAmdCKeK2MC1nRmUvgrosV-6jRN5PBpt1DW5AZHHHWpPYtj4izrmgjyz8CPNphXNzkqs3vNguhdnSpULJ9nbaz-JoY0IV5cUm16_0hie2LitrtlFk20pRQr4vWwqcqy9Y9WS/s400/Strength+Close-Up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />She had this done at a time in her life when she was depressed, so she put the word on her wrist to remind her to always be strong.<br /><br />What's truly interesting about this tattoo and the juxtaposition of the snake is the serpentine nature of the letter "S". My friend and co-worker Maida also pointed out, when I showed her the photo, that <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/mu%C3%B1eca"><i>muñeca</i></a> also has the anatomical meaning of "wrist" in Spanish.<br /><br />The tattoo was done at <a href="http://www.progressivetattoo.com/">Progressive Tattoo</a> in Lindenhurst, New York.<br /><br />Thanks to Stephanie for sharing her tattoo and Muñeca with us here at Tattoosday!

Stephanie's Serpentine Strength

Under normal circumstances, I may not have stopped to chat with Stephanie about her wrist tattoo. However, she was playing with her new corn...

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Sarah Channels Emma Goldman

I recently had the intense displeasure of discovering that <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/07/hello-polaroid-goodbye-kodak.html">my camera</a> had broken. For someone whose spare time is spent taking pictures of other people's tattoos, this was a harrowing experience, especially since my BlackBerry's camera is flash-less and takes good pictures under only specific lighting conditions.<br /><br />So what's a poor inkspotter to do? Pass out his card and hope for the best.<br /><br />And despite dozens of cards distributed to many people with cool tattoos, the only one who has really come through for me is Sarah, who I met last Friday on the subway platform at West Fourth Street, as I waited for the D train to Brooklyn.<br /><br />Possessor of several tattoos, the one of Sarah's I spotted was on her inner left forearm. My photo was blurry and, as the D pulled into West Fourth, she handed me her card so I could follow-up with her. Thankfully, she is a woman of her word, and sent me this photo yesterday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OgarUMebIa4UjIn-wrIuuxu11gqJY4ZbiqH_-QREO8bzRveFijVK4dv0g7oi03VONBUsuB-_Fdq3cSZBheTgpvJreyQAd3u_DpIGcY0k-MHERak3BIAUSQ7Oru7Q8Gm-zWq8gt2T/s1600/tattoobook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OgarUMebIa4UjIn-wrIuuxu11gqJY4ZbiqH_-QREO8bzRveFijVK4dv0g7oi03VONBUsuB-_Fdq3cSZBheTgpvJreyQAd3u_DpIGcY0k-MHERak3BIAUSQ7Oru7Q8Gm-zWq8gt2T/s400/tattoobook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Since Sarah is a writer and journalist, I'll let her do the talking. You can check out her work at  her website <a href="http://ohyouprettythings.net/" target="_blank">ohyouprettythings.net</a> and/or read her blog at <a href="http://champagnecandy.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">champagnecandy.tumblr.com</a>. Sarah explains:<br /><br /><blockquote><i>It says "It's not my revolution if I can't dance to it"</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w_NECLV0IAtjRSg5jrxYzXw9ASl9UZnLwa1MFYdWE3YFaBY4d4Y9l3jkfLQZp2JVnXE-dkdMvEhDjGDquIqyxjQcF6USOjkT4UYpnbIdcVLgu9NGWillobdki_okDg8ZzsXfMe-S/s1600/tattoobook+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w_NECLV0IAtjRSg5jrxYzXw9ASl9UZnLwa1MFYdWE3YFaBY4d4Y9l3jkfLQZp2JVnXE-dkdMvEhDjGDquIqyxjQcF6USOjkT4UYpnbIdcVLgu9NGWillobdki_okDg8ZzsXfMe-S/s320/tattoobook+detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>The tattoo is my most recent, and it's a paraphrase of a possibly-apocryphal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Goldman">Emma Goldman</a></i> <i>quotation. It's a line that spoke to me the first time I heard it. I'm a political journalist and a feminist activist, and Goldman's always been someone I looked up to. Also, I became a political person through music, and dancing and music have a particular significance for me.</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><i>It was done by <a href="http://brooklyntattoo.com/RYOKO.html">Ryoko</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/WELCOME_2.html">Brooklyn Tattoo</a> [who we most recently saw inked Julie Powell's tattoo <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/julies-crazy-tattoo.html">here</a>] and she's super-awesome...</i></blockquote>As a lover of type tattoos, I had inquired about the font used and Sarah did not disappoint: "the font is <a href="http://www.fontspace.com/david-rakowski/garton">Garton</a> and the words revolution and dance are in <a href="http://www.dafont.com/miama.font">Miama</a>".<br /><br />Thanks to Sarah for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Sarah Channels Emma Goldman

I recently had the intense displeasure of discovering that my camera had broken. For someone whose spare time is spent taking pictures of o...

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Leyna's Balloon Keeps Her Grounded

Leyna was leaving the <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_582?schid=GLBC%7CNew+York+NY%7C582">Borders</a> at 2 Penn Plaza when I spotted one of her tattoos and asked about it.<br /><br />This was the tattoo in question:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI1lFGgu0GSV-N4lwo7JHUhdM5auqqchJROIgl8Aow8_sRxDIGDxYNPyMCFQjnpAZfJvOLFDEcAp9L8NFMQSP_9sI0izjm6bEhc3EQsjuXza2yx8wdRvCfhCMUhH19OjzRjHDMD6H/s1600/Balloon+Anchor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxI1lFGgu0GSV-N4lwo7JHUhdM5auqqchJROIgl8Aow8_sRxDIGDxYNPyMCFQjnpAZfJvOLFDEcAp9L8NFMQSP_9sI0izjm6bEhc3EQsjuXza2yx8wdRvCfhCMUhH19OjzRjHDMD6H/s400/Balloon+Anchor.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br />It is located on the back of her left leg, on the calf.<br /><br />The design was inspired by the cover art from the <a href="http://www.modestmousemusic.com/">Modest Mouse</a> record <a href="http://www.modestmousemusic.com/music/we-were-dead-ship-even-sank"><i>We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank</i></a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5JbFTKN8aLVH-kcEv0z37oOaKpMm4RWP6uCIwYigZOJ-h2u1BhDi3Mih5uyb3fq_ScoLud8HjMQdT_oGmRiF1caQSpvu9yWr37ObSFYyjvB7jRddsZ_s7Em28QM_iA-ijtjB8MBs/s1600/weweredead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5JbFTKN8aLVH-kcEv0z37oOaKpMm4RWP6uCIwYigZOJ-h2u1BhDi3Mih5uyb3fq_ScoLud8HjMQdT_oGmRiF1caQSpvu9yWr37ObSFYyjvB7jRddsZ_s7Em28QM_iA-ijtjB8MBs/s320/weweredead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Leyna thought the anchor was cool, and she feels it is a good representation of herself in her 20's.<br /><br />The tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/pages/derik.html">Derik Snell</a> at <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/">Hand of Glory Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. He liked the design because he had never tattooed a hot air balloon before. Work from Hand of Glory has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Hand%20of%20Glory%20Tattoo%20Studio">here</a>.<br /><br />Another one of Leyna's tattoos  caught my eyes, as well:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLyXNPECVl-bmIj0-hHhUp6f85INqvF1nlWXc7cd_cNerklQAUp9cfhSX_m0WywY1AyQmU89vb69Imltzpn6GintDrJZkJjQO9NnuTFXeTwN9NxVdmff3yv0Wwd7eQjG1RZdrmurH/s1600/howl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLyXNPECVl-bmIj0-hHhUp6f85INqvF1nlWXc7cd_cNerklQAUp9cfhSX_m0WywY1AyQmU89vb69Imltzpn6GintDrJZkJjQO9NnuTFXeTwN9NxVdmff3yv0Wwd7eQjG1RZdrmurH/s400/howl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This two-word snippet, "ecstatic and insatiate" is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.allenginsberg.org/">Allen Ginsberg's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Other-Poems-Lights-Pocket-Poets/dp/0872860175?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Howl</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0872860175" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. I'd speak more about it, but it appeared first on the most awesome blog, <a href="http://www.contrariwise.org/">Contrariwise</a>. I'd direct you over <a href="http://www.contrariwise.org/2010/01/06/ecstatic-and-insatiate/">here</a> to read what Leyna had to say about this tattoo, and encourage you to linger about and check out the seemingly endless array of literary ink.<br /><br />Thanks again to Leyna for sharing her tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Leyna's Balloon Keeps Her Grounded

Leyna was leaving the Borders at 2 Penn Plaza when I spotted one of her tattoos and asked about it. This was the tattoo in question: It is ...

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Julie's Crazy Tattoo

Inkspotting can be impulsive, but I also like to approach each volunteer after some consideration.<br /><br />Rather than rush up on someone and barrage them with questions, I like to make sure the tattoo(s) in question are not only interesting to me, but will be interesting to others.<br /><br />When I spotted Julie's back in Penn Station, for example, I hesitated:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkzsxdH2teZZMP_PbMAbUkOxDvBzz3z0vzGe9noNeEx9yuXKTsD_fhh1SiZ6IXWnE-2w36LZSRLaW4gWqadGz-hd9AgxQbYqOwL9FYEs8jF9jkoDx4dyKMqUADaKQf1Xf-MnbIOBt/s1600/Loufoque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkzsxdH2teZZMP_PbMAbUkOxDvBzz3z0vzGe9noNeEx9yuXKTsD_fhh1SiZ6IXWnE-2w36LZSRLaW4gWqadGz-hd9AgxQbYqOwL9FYEs8jF9jkoDx4dyKMqUADaKQf1Xf-MnbIOBt/s400/Loufoque.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It wasn't initially clear what her tattoo said and I was struck by its uniqueness. A huge fan of word and type tattoos, I couldn't recall ever seeing anything quite like it.<br /><br />So my curiosity got the best of me and I introduced myself to Julie.<br /><br />The tattoo "<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/loufoque">Loufoque</a>," which is a slang term in butcher jargon for "crazy person". Julie explained that she apprenticed with a butcher shop for six months and it was a word she often heard tossed about by the staff, occasionally used when referring to a customer who might be difficult or, let's say, insane.<br /><br />The term Loufuque derived from 19th Century butcher slang and it became part of the vernacular. Julie thought that this tattoo would be a great way to commemorate her experience.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/RYOKO.html">Ryoko</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyntattoo.com/WELCOME_2.html">Brooklyn Tattoo</a>. I asked the artist where she came up with the letter design and she kindly gave me a little more perspective: <br /><br /><blockquote>"I recall Julie requesting the letters themselves to express lunacy. The final design in the photo is my own interpretation of what she had asked for and I think my intention here was to make the phrase look chaotic and disorderly, yet somewhat maintaining it's legibility. It's what I was able to put together by trying to depict what she might have been imagining in her head at the time."</blockquote>So, this post was written and prepped and I was online doing some final research when I stumbled upon this tidbit of information from "<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-03/of-meat-and-men/2/">Of Meat and Men</a>" by <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/author/bussel/">Rachel Kramer Bussel</a> over on <i><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/">The Daily Beast</a></i>:<br /><br /><blockquote>Her goodbye present from the <a href="http://www.fleishers.com/">Fleisher’s</a> staff is a set of knives inscribed with her name and “Loufoque,” French-butcher Pig Latin for “Crazy Lady,” a term she now has permanently tattooed across her back. Yet Powell now sounds much surer of herself than the lost woman whom we find in the early pages of <i>Cleaving</i>. Next up is a stab at a novel: “I’ve written quite enough memoirs for a 36-year-old.” </blockquote><br />Was this coincidence? Or were we talking about the same person?<br /><br />Scrolling back in the article, I discovered that the Powell here and the Julie that I met in Penn Station were one and the same person.<br /><br />The same person who crafted <a href="http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html">The Julie/Julia Project</a>, in which the author blogged her way through Julia Child's <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/child/making.html">Mastering the Art of French Cooking</a>, which became a book, which in turn became the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/">Julie and Julia</a>. All of this Julie never once mentioned. Then again, I never asked. And it is all about the tattoo, after all.<br /><br />That being said, thanks to Ryoko for sharing her thoughts about creating this tattoo, and a hearty thanks to <a href="http://juliepowellbooks.com/">Julie Powell</a> for sharing this interesting tattoo. I'm glad my curiosity got the better of me!<br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0316003360&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=031604251X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>

Julie's Crazy Tattoo

Inkspotting can be impulsive, but I also like to approach each volunteer after some consideration. Rather than rush up on someone and barrag...

Read more »