Tattoos in the News
To a Table's Napkin
By Korky Vann For the Next Hot Decorating Trend, Think Ink
The Hartford Courant
Inspired by the popularity of television shows “Miami Ink,” “LA Ink,” “Inked” and “Tattoo Highway,” and the mainstream acceptance of “tats” (estimates are that as many as 1 in 4 people between the ages of 18 and 50 are tattooed), designers have introduced clothing, bedding, rugs, tables and more emblazoned with the iconic patterns.
The hip Dana Hotel and Spa in Chicago hired Ami James, star of “Miami Ink,” to create tattoo art “Do Not Disturb” door hangers. Kiki Smith’s Tattoo line of engraved crystal vases and accessories made for Steuben sold out at stores across the country.
Los Angeles ink man Paul Timman recently teamed up with Ink Dish Design to create a line of delicate blue-and-white porcelain plates inspired by classical Japanese tattoos. Even jewelry-maker-to-the-stars Harry Winston has several tattoo-inspired brooch designs.
Now in Development: A Tattoo That Could
Save Your Life
Discover online
By Rachel Cernansky
It’s not quite the kind of science tattoo that The Loom displays in its gallery, but scientists in Cambridge, MA are developing a nanosensor that can be injected into the skin, like a tattoo, to monitor blood sugar levels. The sensor, still in early development, is intended to save diabetics from having to finger-prick and use enzyme test strips on their own blood, which is currently the most reliable method to measure blood glucose. The “tattoo” will be comprised of 120-nanometer polymer beads, and will actually be shallower than the ink of a real tattoo. Injected into the surface layers of the skin, the sensor will need to be re-injected periodically. Each polymer bead, wrapped in a biocompatible coating, contains sensor molecules that are designed to detect specific chemicals—which, in addition to glucose, will also potentially include sodium, chloride, and calcium. Once implanted, the beads will become fluorescent under an infrared light once blood glucose increases. The sensors will pull in the target chemical, and then a dye molecule will release an ion of the same charge to compensate for the presence of the new ion. The dye causes the fluorescence to appear, in concentrations proportionate to the level of glucose (or other target chemical) in the blood. Researchers have a long way to go before the tattoo will be ready for human use, and it will involve carrying around a fluorescence monitor to measure the emission of light from your skin. But it’ll sure beat pricking your finger—and who knows, maybe they’ll even offer custom designs so you’ll be able to wear your favorite image.
'People's Art' Thriving Despite Recession
The Arizona Republic
By William Hermann
The gallery-strewn streets of downtown Scottsdale may resemble a ghost town during these recessionary times, but the "people's art" of tattooing lives and thrives in little shops across the Valley.
Like at Tiki Tattoo in east Mesa, where artist Anthony Romero says, "When you have a tattoo, lots of people get to see your art, rather than if it was a painting in your home, where only a few people get to enjoy it; maybe that's why so many people are getting tattoos.
"With your tattoo art, you walk around with it forever and show it to the world."
Mischa Faust, 19, traveled 25 miles from her Phoenix home to get work done at Tiki and said the trip and the expense were worth it. Faust could have gone to any of about 100 Valley tattoo shops, most of which have opened in the past five years, but the young woman knew what she wanted.
"The artists here are great, will do exactly what you want," Faust said. "I like the expression of something beautiful you're able to make when you have a nice tattoo. I'm going to enjoy showing it off."
Paul Montag, a piercer at Tattoo Boulevard in Glendale, says that although showing off one's skin art is a vital part of the appeal of tattoos, there's more going on.
"Tattoos have been around for thousands of years and never gone out of style," Montag said. "People get tattoos for the beauty, but they are also very personal and often remind them of someone, maybe someone who has passed away."
Montag said that "recession or not," business at Tattoo Boulevard is good.
The multiplication of tattoo studios in the Valley in recent years reflects the nationwide increase in the popularity of tattoos. A 2007 report from the Pew Research Center said 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have at least one tattoo. And 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds have at least one.
One need only listen to what people say about their tattoos and the artists who render them to understand how proud the recipients of skin art can be of their tats. Lena Kopp of Mesa says the portrait of singer David Bowie she has on her right leg "is a thing of beauty, and I'm very proud of it."
Nicole Agbayani, 23, of Phoenix, has elaborate tattoos on both arms and says she considers them "an incredible way for creative people to express their individuality."
Many artists today, such as Hilary Harp, a sculptor and an assistant professor in the art department at Arizona State University, readily accept skin art into the pantheon of beauty.
"Some artists want to put their work in the Whitney Museum, and some want to put it on people's bodies and have it walk down the street for people to see," Harp said.
"A lot of artists who are functioning at what I consider the highest level are also trying to have their work walk down the street. Art is moving out of the museums in a lot of ways."
And as art has moved out of the museums and onto people's faces, necks, torsos, arms, legs and feet, it has meant a very good living for people such as well-known artist Sage O'Connell.
O'Connell owns two Urban Art Tattoo & Piercing shops in Mesa and has been in the business 19 years.
"Even in this bad economy, we're doing well," he said.
"Tattoos were once considered something for sailors, then for bikers, but now they're an accepted form of self-expression.
"My tattoo artists all are booked out from two weeks to two months, and I am booked out five months. I charge $100 an hour and do two four-hour appointments a day . . . and that's not so bad."
Tattoo Parlors Busy Despite Recession
KING 5 News - SEATTLE
By Eric Wilkinson
It’s hard to believe someone would pay hundreds of dollars for an experience Dawn Yackel says is like “broken glass being drug across your skin,” but she happily hands over her hard earned money for a new tattoo.
“A good tattoo is priceless,” she said.
Workers at Seattle's Hidden Hand Tattoo Parlour say business is actually better now than it was at this time last year.
“This is Seattle. There's a lot of people who really like tattooing,” said owner Jeff Cornell.
Cornell says business is actually better than it was at this time last year. His clientele tends to be younger, more blue collar, and less likely to have been hit by falling home and stock prices. To them a 'tat' is a quality investment.
"You can't lose it. Nobody can steal it. And it can't be repossessed," says Cornell.
Dawn Yackel says it is like “broken glass being drug across your skin,” but she happily hands over her hard earned money for a new tattoo. And there's a whole psychological element at work here too, something about pain and perseverance, and the belief that you can get through it whether it's a recession or something more personal.
Jenny Bowker says she's had a rough year and misses her mom. She had no second thoughts about paying hundreds of dollars for a likeness of her mother.
“I don't think there could be anything better to pay for,” she said.
And then there's the job security in all those unwanted tattoos. The work Dawn is having is actually covering up the name of an ex. If she can't erase the memory she can at least ink over the daily reminder.
Other tattoo shops we spoke with said they are seeing more people stretch more expensive body art projects over longer spans of time. But for the most part, their business remains steady.
At 50 Years Old, Barbie Gets Tattoos - And a Megastore in China
Los Angeles Times
By Tiffany Hsu and Don LeeDaily
Barbie turns 50 this month, and to shake off a midlife crisis she's getting tattooed and opening the doors to her first megastore in China.
The developments are causing a stir on two continents, not bad for a plaything whose global cachet has been sagging of late.
We begin in Southern California, where, just in time for spring, Mattel Inc. has released Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie. The doll comes with a set of more than 40 tiny tattoo stickers that can be placed on her body. Also included is a faux tattoo gun with wash-off tats that kids can use to ink themselves.
Read full article at: http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/admark/la-fi-tattoobarbie6-2009mar06,0,239373.story
Tattooed Cats Are Scandalous New Trend in Russia
Examiner.com
A disturbing new trend has surfaced in Russia: cat owners getting their felines tattooed with elaborate, colorful designs.
A young Russian woman, Oksana Popova, had her rare Canadian Hairless cat Mickey put under general anesthesia for three hours while an image of King Tut was etched onto the cat's chest.
The tattoo artist Anatoly Keksel performed the work at his TattoonHamon Tattoo Parlor in Russia.
"I wanted something new and different for the times we live in," Popova explains.
"I have the same tattoo," boasts Keksel, lifting up his shirt.
The practice has infuriated animal rights activists in Russia, such as Irina Novozhilova. "The ethical thinking about animals in Russia lacks behind that of the West," says Nozozhilova. "People in Russia mostly buy animals for selfish reasons and anything that happens to them afterwards is a consequence of that."