Tattoo Hunter Premiers
I’m just giddy over the international arrival of a new show that delves into body rituals and traditions: Tattoo Hunter with our favorite tattoo anthropologist Lars Krutak.
Tattoo Hunter hits Europe tomorrow on Discovery World channel at 10pm.
In the US, the series premieres on Discovery Channel, March 7 at 1pm (according to their website).
Lars gave me a hint about the premier show: “The first episode is really a scarification show we shot in Papua New Guinea. It’s perhaps the bloodiest of all and I find it amusing that DC has rated it “G.”
Here’s more on the series:
In this landmark series, Krutak seeks to understand the meaning behind sacred traditions that date back thousands of years by immersing himself into the daily life of indigenous peoples worldwide. Through his many adventures, viewers will be exposed to unique tribal customs including tattooing and scarification practices in Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South America before these fascinating cultures disappear. And through his personal experiences with tattoo and scarification masters who cut and tattoo his skin, viewers will learn how these painful rite of passage ceremonies continue to shape the very essence of tribal identity, religion, and cosmology.
Check out the articles on Lars’ site for previews of the storylines and locations. Fascinating accounts of bod mod culture among indigenous people. An education in themselves.
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Philly Tattoo Convention
A couple of weeks ago I gave my rundown of this month’s tattoo conventions, including the Motor City and Philadelphia shows taking place this Friday through Sunday.
Turns out that I will be making it to Philly, but only on Sunday, and I’m thrilled to bring along the Haitian sensation Sean Toussaint who will be photographing the event especially for Needled that day.
I’ll also be bringin my remaining Needled swag, like lighters, so look (down) for me (I look like this) hangin at the Tattoo Culture and North Star booths; oh, and the bar of course.
I’m known to be friendly as long as you don’t grab me and say, “I thought you would be taller,” so play nice and I’ll give ya free shit as long as they last. Looking forward to it!
Inked Mag Latest Issue
The latest issue of Inked Mag is out and, yeah, I’d rather see Margaret Cho on the cover talkin about her first class tattoos than that Malin Ackerman chick and her don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it ink, but there are some meaty items in this men’s lifestyle mag (they’re not billed as an industry mag despite the name).
My fave: MASTODON! Nuff said.
For more badass, my Greek homegirl and X Games gamine Tara Dakides not only talks about potentially facing her last season of pro-snowboarding but also the symbolism behind her tough torso tattoo. [Such a hot photo of her; that would've made a sweet cover!]
There’s also the hotness of Heather Gabel, painter and illustrator, best known for creating the Alkaline Trio’s iconic skull and heart logo.
On the tattoo artist front, I contributed two pieces, which you can read in their entirety online:
In Sewn Together, I talk about tattoo artist collaborations with couture houses and street wear brands. Keep in mind that it was written before Ed Hardy filed suit against Audigier. For artists and illustrators, I’m hoping that the feature might give some background info that could be helpful in negotiating deals and avoid law suits of your own.
Then check my feature on Smith Street Tattoo Parlour, home to old school stylists Bert Krak, Steve Boltz, and Eli Quinters (shown in their Brooklyn studio above). The internationally renowned tattooers, sought after for their custom tattoo work, defend the “street shop” and talk about why they love walk-ins and flash:
“We love the street shop,” says Boltz. “That’s what we all came up doing. I was doing that for 10 years before someone said they wanted something ’special’ from me.” It’s a change from the custom-only studio trend throughout New York that has led to some snobbery over personalized work. In response, Quinters says, “Some customers will come in and say they don’t know what they want, and we’ll tell them to pick something off the wall. Then they’ll say, ‘I don’t want something off the wall!’ But how do you not want that? Are you too good for old Bill Jones flash?”
Pick up the March issue of Inked on stands now and online.
Margaret Cho in Urban Ink
Our homegirl Margaret Cho is lookin FIERCE in the latest issue of Urban Ink.
The beautiful badass is rockin a gold bikini showing off tattoo work by Don Ed Hardy, Mike Davis, Chris O’Donnell, Andrew Moore, Kat Von D, Mom’s Barnaby, and Nathan Kostechko.
Over the past few years, Maragert has transformed her bellydancing bod into a walking work of art by top tattoo talent. She’s also been the subject of fine art recently as well.
The wonderful Shawn Barber – who has a fab feature in Fecal Face — is working on this portrait of Margaret below (love the lollipop!):
A hardcore Cho fan even has a portrait and autograph tattoo of the comedian. Ok, you know I love me that Margaret but maybe I’ll just jewelry that tattoo instead.
I will be headin to dirty Jersey to see her perform at the Bergen Performing Arts Center on March 6th. Check her other tour dates here.
Watch our video interview with Margaret here for more tattoo goodness.
Jewelry My Tattoo
I got this link about a jewelry company that will take your tattoos and bling ‘em out, aptly called Jewelry My Tattoo.
Don’t have a sample in my hand so I can’t offer a thumbs up or down but the idea is interesting.
I see it as a better alternative to name tattoos of lovers for example — just get the name as jewelry. Or wear the tattoo of your loved one around your body (and take it off when the love is gone).
The jewelry is available in silver, gold and platinum and can take between 3 to 6 weeks depending on the level of detail of the tattoo. Prices begin at about 0 for a small silver piece and are based on the size and complexity of your design and the metal you choose. [See a video of the process here.]
Also check their standard tattoo inspired designs on their online store.
Tattoo News Review
Last week, Pat commented that my news review lacked its classic, well worn weekly bitterness. [Was I truly happy or just giddy over my Beckhamization?] But this week, my friends, I shall not disappoint.
This weekend, I came home on Saturday night (my birthday, no less) to find my new apartment building on fire because the woman who lived across the hall had her crackpipe candle fall onto her bed, which immediately went up in flames. She ran out without closing her fire door … and then this happened.
The reason I mention this is as a reminder to be careful with candles, and it also doesn’t hurt to reacquaint ourselves with fire safety info like remembering to close those fire doors behind us, keep an extinguisher around, stop, drop and roll…
The other reason I mention this is to let ya know that I’m taking a break from cleaning out the smoke damage and gonna bang out my stress on the keyboard for this post. You’ve been warned. Let’s get to it.
First up, tattoos at the Oscars.
The AP gave us just a nugget despite its blaring headline Tattoos Abound at the Oscars. Turns out Evan Rachel Wood, shown above, is tired of being Dita Von Teese, and is now morphing into Angelina, with an amalgam of tattoos including the phrase “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream,” which she showed off on the red carpet last night. I don’t know what’s more disturbing, having all that dough and still getting shitty tattoos or having sex with Mickey Rourke.
[On a side note, for an eye full of good and bad tattoos, Wood and Rourke's The Wrestler packs a punch like an off-the-rope diving elbow drop. Especially on my girl Marisa Tomei, who rocks her faux ink in these hot but def not work safe snips.]
In Wood’s defense, however, she did get her own idea inked and not some tasteless tattoo meme like the “Shhh” tattoo ala Lily and Li-Lo; before we go off on the Hollywood braintrust, let’s cross our non-stupidly-tattooed fingers that it’s just marker.
Silly celebs are a minor annoyance, but what I found outrageously upsetting is this Maryland bill amendment, where House Republicans in the state tried to tack on an anti-choice amendment onto a bill requiring parental consent for a tattoo. The amendment would require in-person parental consent for minors to get an abortion. Regardless of your politics, trying to sneak in an extremely controversial amendment onto a good tattoo bill is just nasty politics at its prime.
Ok, now onto the idiocy in Oklahoma…
You may recall that Oklahoma lifted its state-wide tattoo ban in November 2006, after decades for wasting tax payer money for police raids on tattoo studios, never mind the associated costs with people getting sick from underground kitchen table tattoos. But now legislators are back with their bull.
Senate Bill 844 seeks to ban eyeball tattooing in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City Senator Cliff Branan said, “We as a good public health policy we felt it was important to stop that trend before it goes any farther here in the state of Oklahoma.” Here’s the problem: It’s NOT a trend. Three guys heavily into body modification did it in 2007. That’s it. It would be better to ban vacuum cleaners, gerbils and cardboard tubes as waaaay more people are doing dangerous things with that stuff.
In other tattoo law news, looks like Iowa is gonna go ahead and increase licensing and inspection fees, which would still be reasonable, says some tattooists, if the authorities used the money to shut down illegal scratchers, like those who do horrid teen tattoo parties — a real trend and a bad one.
Quick & Dirty Links:
- The OC Register reviews the MusInk Fest with photo galleries here and here.
- Tattooists now show up at career fairs.
- Gerard Butler giddy over a fan’s 300 tattoo.
- Swedish Prime Minister rejects free tattoo offer.
- More on Born-Again Christian tattooists.
- More on the SI Swimsuit Issue: tattoos are not “natural beauty.” Boob jobs though …
Guest Blog: Gangland
With my birthday tomorrow, the best gift this girl can get is a day off (to prep to party tonight) and the most wonderful Patrick Sullivan has done just that with his review of two shows heavy on the tattoos: Gangland and Lockdown.
There’s no clever introduction here. This Sunday starting at 7pm (EST) the History Channel is running a marathon of Gangland, its series that takes an hour-long look inside some of the United States’ most notorious gangs –– and their tattoos.
Now in its third season (new DVD set to be released in April), Gangland gives a basic tutorial on well-known gangs like the Bloods and Crips, but also covers other criminal organizations that have flown below the radar disguised as motorcycle clubs, or episodes honing in on a few different gangs, like “Deadly Triangle” which takes a look at Asian gangs in America. And like tattoos, the series can get seriously addictive.
Each episode defines the gang’s roots, history and hierarchy, but the best part is getting a look at the tattoos — as ink is just another version of gang colors. Take the episode on the Aryan Brotherhood, a group that began in prison and have since spread out into the streets. They’ve adopted the shamrock as a gang symbol and explain that if you’ve got a shamrock tattoo and have the unhappy fortune of getting locked up, you better keep it covered unless you plan on joining or getting killed.
…
And, just in case you haven’t caught it, another ink-heavy show is National Geographic Channel’s Lockdown. No marathons this weekend, but you can check out clips on their website. The reality of the American prison system is unbelievably crowded, vicious and, you got it, tattooed. More often than not, you’ll get both the prisoners and the guards discussing tattoos, or at least, showing them off. And the quality of tattoos currently coming out of prisons might be even more surprising than the prisons themselves. Or a close second.
Both shows may owe a little credit to their cable cousins, Miami Ink and LA Ink, for getting the mainstream tattoo ball rolling. And though there are millions of viewers that often express ambivalence or just flat out anger at the shows (yet still watch them), it’s possible that their popularity has granted Gangland and Lockdown a bit more wiggle room to show off tattooed thugs in a brutally educational and really interesting context.
Gangland DVD sets are available on the History Channel’s website as well as Amazon.com.
The next Lockdown doesn’t run for a few weeks, but you can check out tattoos and teasers here.
