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Tattoo issue A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: It is a whole new world and we are all in it together. When we planned the Tattoo Issue, I knew it would be a fun and colorful break from some of our more serious issues. I had no idea how bad we as a society would need it. The past two to three months have been consumed with Covid-19 news and information. The world as we know it may never be the same. Some may argue that is a good thing and others will swear life was prefect as it was. Regardless, we know change is inevitable. At the age of 36, I have already seen so much change in my life. Like when I was in high school and the teachers told me that no company would ever hire a blue-haired, tattooed professional. Well guess what, they did and do, every single day. Art brings us together, especially in chaotic times. And artistic people, those with exciting permanent ink and piercings, are often the catalysts. As we expressed in the diversity issue, each one of us is imperative to making this world what it is. Enjoy this break from reality, soak in the art, and learn a bit more about a culture you may have otherwise shunned. We hope you read, enjoy, and share.
Write us an email or shoot us a comment any time online: CultureClashGalveston.com facebook.com/CultureClashMag CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com Janese Maricelli-Thomasson Publisher
ON THE COVER: Untitled by Anthony Gotti Briganti. Gotti is a local tattoo artist. His work is featured all over town on the bodies of locals and tourists alike. *This magazine is NOT printed on recycled paper or with soy-based inks YET! But we are working on it. Help us get there, advertise or sponsor us! Email for more details CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com. 4
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table of contents Vol. 3 Issue 3 (May/June 2020)
CULTURE
CL AS H magazine
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DEPARTMENTS
PUBLISHER Janese Maricelli-Thomasson LAYOUT & DESIGN JanMar Agency
Be A Better Human
CONTENT MANAGER
7 What You Thought You Knew About Tattoo
Jamey Baird
EDITOR
Express Yourself
Leslie Whaylen
11 Practicing the Poke
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13 Tattoo Culture Behind Bars 16 Marked For Like 18 The Ilustrated Librarian 20 A Matter of Perspective
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Coolture 23 Pulse Calendar of Events
CHECK US OUT
24 Living Galleries
CultureClashGalveston.com facebook.com/CultureClashMag cultureclashgalveston@gmail.com
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26 People of Galveston
CONTRIBUTORS Jamey Baird • Amy Caton Adam Garrison • Juan Gonzales Julian Jimenez • Dan Marks • Zach Sullivan
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er issue
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Use your ink for a greater good. Culture Clasher, Kiki S. works as one of few black, female, tattooed models and uses her following to promote worthy causes.
be a better Photo courtesy of Kiki S.
human
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CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)
Photo courtesy of Ricky Cogburn of Main Street Tattoo Company
what You ThoughT You Knew About Tattoo by Julian Jimenez
“When you do a bad tattoo, people hate you for the rest of your life,” said Mel Black, a
musician and tattoo artist working out of Flying Squid Ink in Houston.
“But you know what?
Bread and butter: fixing bad tattoos. All day.” C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
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CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)
Photos this page courtesy of Mel Mo Black of Flying Squid Ink
“I could have an entire portfolio of just reworks and cover-ups. People don’t like spending money and so they get cheap shit they think is good and then one day they’re like ‘Oh shit, I have this garbage on my arm that’s representing me? I’m not a garbage person, I’m a badass person; I don’t want poo-poo on my arms, I want something that is awesome and beautiful, you know what I mean?”
Tattoo the World
Mel Mo Black
The world of tattooing has changed drastically in the past decade as the practice has exploded in popularity. According to a 2015 poll, 47% of millennials in the US have at least one tattoo, a trend that signals a societal shift in the way that body ink is perceived. With even professional jobs becoming more accepting of tattoos, tattoo artists are busier than ever. But with new shops opening all over the nation, Black notes the competition in cities can get intense. “It totally happens with shops in close proximity to one another. On Westheimer [for example], there is a shop, and there could be another shop across the street, and on the corner… and they’ll price bid each other. Clients are bouncing from shop to shop to get pricing and these tattooers are getting pissy at other shops,” said Black. “This guy I know used to own a shop on Westheimer and these guys opened up a shop right next door. Which is fuckin’ rude, right? So not only did they do that, they didn’t come over and introduce themselves. They didn’t say hey, my name is so and so… Which is like, try your best not to have fucking bad blood, especially if the shop next to you has been there for however long, right? Seniority. Seniority matters in tattooing so much. So it’s like, this guy who owns the shop, he’s pissed. He goes next door [to the new shop] and there’s the display case, right? And he just whips his balls out, sticks ‘em right on the display case and said some shit like, ‘Send “so and so” my fuckin’ regards.’”
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CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)
That’s to say nothing of even the work a tattoo artist has to put into promoting themselves in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Ricky Cogburn, co-owner of Main Street tattoo in League City, described how in the social media era, it’s even more important to keep on your toes. “I’m always constantly trying to interact with my followers. You have to engage,” said Cogburn. “Taking care of your story, constantly putting out paintings or producing tattoos to show people what you’re doing. If you look bored or look slow all the time, you’re gonna look lazy or nobody wants to get tattooed by you. You have to put forth the image that you’re busy all the time and that you want to work. Even now, I’m telling people, ‘Hey, I’ll do paintings for you.’ You’ve got to hustle.” It’s a challenge even in the best of times, and with the pandemic shutting down non-essential businesses like tattoo shops, it’s even more difficult for tattoo artists to support themselves. “We’re shut down. Everybody’s shut down. We’re not considered an essential business, which is accurate. Tattooing is a luxury,” said Cogburn. “And it sucks. There’s no back-up plan. My employees, they’re not required to pay rent to us. It’s commission based, right? So there’s nothing we can do for them. They’re responsible for their own taxes as independent contractors. There’s no retirement, there’s no 401k. I’m not even eligible for the stimulus. We’re looking into that small business loan thing, but that’s still money you have to pay back.” An anonymous tattoo artist described how some tattooers have resorted to doing work in their own homes, even though it’s currently illegal, in order to maintain even a minimal revenue stream among the huge spike in unemployment caused by the nation-wide quarantine. The source states that it’s something they’ve only done once in their career, back when they were still learning. It stands yet to be seen how the current situation will develop for tattoo artists as a whole and how people in all walks of life will manage if the stay-home orders continue in the coming months. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
Ricky Cogburn Photo courtesy of Ricky Cogburn of Main Street Tattoo Company
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Galveston is home to some of the most amazing tattoo artists in the state. Need ink? You are in the right place.
Photos courtesy of Maricelli Photography
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)
Practicing the Poke
by Adam Garrison
My name is Adam Garrison, I’m a local artist born and raised here in Galveston Texas. I’ve always loved art of all kinds and the many diverse ways in which it can be applied. I enjoy learning about the materials used and admiring the final outcome of someone’s creativity. I started getting tattooed at the age of 18 and haven’t stopped wanting to be tattooed since. I love everything about getting a tattoo, although everyone would agree that pain is typically the only downside to it. I started my tattoo venture about four years ago after receiving a tattoo from my friend, James “Gotti” Flores. He taught me a few methods and sold me some of his old equipment. Thank you, James, I appreciate you.
Photos courtesy of Adam Garrison
I started out by tattooing myself and, over time, quit using a machine and started instead using a sewing needle to hand poke the ink into my skin. I realized that the hand poking method can be reliable and a unique way of tattooing. I started getting better needles of different sizes and gauges, and also got a decent hand poking tool in order to offer high quality, hand poked tattoos. I’ve now been doing hand poked tattoos for three years and have had nothing but good experiences. I specialize in small to medium sized (occasionally large) American, traditional, black ink hand poked tattoos. I pride myself on always practicing proper cleaning and sterilization. I’ve never had an opportunity to work in a shop or apprentice thus far but I make sure to uphold the same safety measures and credibility. This is what I love to do. If you’re truly passionate about something, you shouldn’t give a fuck about the obstacles you will face along the way. It’s no walk in the park and I knew that from the very beginning. However, the only way to learn something for yourself is by practicing it. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself) I am in TDCJ, arguably the harshest prison system in the United States. Tattooing is
most definitely against the rules here, but it is an everyday thing in every unit in every state in the country and probably the world. We work under the risk of getting caught and subsequent discipline measures such as loss of privileges, solitary confinement, parole denials, and more. Why do we do it then? Why risk tattooing or getting tattooed? For the same reason that people do the same thing in the free, plus maybe a few others.
Photo courtesy of Tattoo Journal
I started tattooing while serving as a U.S. Marine stationed in Twenty-Nine Palms, California. Our base was in the middle of the Mojave Desert and the list of things to do to amuse ourselves quickly ran out. Being an artist as well as a McGuyver-ish type dude, I built my own machine out of Radio Shack parts and a guitar string and quickly started tattooing my fellow Marines. I etched devil dogs, EGA’s (Marine Corps’ emblem), skulls, banners and others. I got my hands on a professional setup years later and continued tattooing for fun and extra money. I slowly sharpened my skills and built up my equipment as time passed. Then I suddenly became an involuntary guest of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and my life as a tattoo artist stopped… for a while. One day I saw a man tattooing and the desire to create permanent art on people came rushing back over me. I covertly studied the machine being used, (you don’t stare in prison) and soon after, made my own. A tattoo machine is basically an electro magnet attached to a metal band with a needle. As AC (alternating current) runs through it, the end of the C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
By Juan Gonzales (not pictured)
“
I not only know where they are from, what to call them, and if they are connected but also how long they have in prison.
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself) band with the needle attached is attracted on and off - very, very quickly. We “acquire” very fine angel hair wire and wrap it around a bolt to create our electromagnet core. We burn vaseline or plastic chess pieces in a container and make our black ink from it. When mixed with a bit of shampoo and water, it makes a very dark ink. Needles are fashioned out of stainless steel strands from a cable or stainless steel wire brush bristles. Some people even use sharpened staples. Everyone has their own preferences on how their machine is built and ink is made, but they are all basically the same. Some even connect it to their fans so that the speed may be adjusted three ways. It is very basic, but it gets the job done. In the free, people tattoo each other using anything from bamboo slivers to sewing needles. Prison is no different. After all, a tattoo is just placing ink under the skin using any method possible. It’s not a difficult process if you think about it. In prison, we make do with what we have or can “acquire”. All tattooing in prison is done clandestinely. It becomes a little easier in the units where we live in cells instead of dorms, but it is still dangerous and easy to get caught. Here in my present unit, you have to either work in the client’s cell, or your client has to come into your cell. If caught in a cell not your own, it is very often a major disciplinary case. We use a lookout called a jigger to let us know when a guard is coming. It’s risky business nevertheless.
Artwork courtesy of Juan Gonzales
Most work here is single needle work, although some people tie three needles together to make a shader. Like in the free, there is a wide rage of skill levels. Some artists stick to simple lettering and tribals while there are others who rival any artist in the free as far as black and gray work. From perfect portraits to full detail back pieces, it’s all possible if you happen to know the right artist. There are even some who are able to “acquire” colored ink, but it is rare. Why do people take the risk of getting a tattoo in prison? Getting caught or even catching an infection or disease would seem to be enough reason to just wait till freed, right? Not so. People here get tattooed for all the same reasons people do in the free, plus some. Maybe one of the biggest is just to fit in. The vast majority of inmates in Texas are tattooed, and some are heavily tattooed. Facial tattoos are normal in this place. We tattoo everything from our names, hometowns, statements (like TRY ME), names of loved ones or lost ones, and even just random shit like a computer keyboard on the inside of an ankle so that typing can
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself) be practiced on a crossed leg while watching TV. We also identify each other by tattoos. Do you know G-Town? You know G-Town with the caddy on his neck not Spiderweb Shoulder G-Town! A large number of prison tattoos have to do with gang life. They tell others who their “friends” are and the placement and size sometimes also tell you how serious they are about their “friends.” They are a quick and easy way for the gang investigators to confirm you and classify you as a member of a gang although that means extra attention from them and possible parole denials. My tattoos have to do with my military service, my nickname, and my family. I have “MARINE” in inch and a half letters and a huge “EGA” (Marine Corps emblem) on my left arm, a wolf pack with each member of my family, skulls (of course), a Wonder Woman (my first love) and my keyboard. I am proud of each one. I plan on getting a “viaje” done too, which is a sort pf Mexican visual story. By looking at my tattoos, people here can quickly tell what kind of person I am, just as I can do the same by looking at their tattoos. Many times, I not only know where they are from, what to call them, and if they are connected but also how long they have in prison. It’s often useful to know as much as possible about someone as quickly as you can. Tattooing is probably the most lucrative hustle in here, besides the drug game. Many artists rely on their skill to earn the money needed to survive in here. There is risk in everything here and tattooing might provide the most money for the level of risk involved. Not that it compares to free world prices though. A full back piece goes for about $40 here, a sleeve costs about $20. I worked for a while until I got caught three times and twice with tattoo equipment. I was lucky in that I was only given minor discipline cases each time, but it could have been way worse. I put down my machine years ago after deciding the risk wasn’t worth it. I am still an artist though and fascinated by all things tattoo. I pour over every inch of any tattoo image I can get my hands on and study the new techniques and equipment coming out, out there. So far, I have resisted the temptation to get more work done while here, but I have big plans once in the free. I love and miss the feel of the machine in my hand and that first sting as the needle enters my skin. I love that I can create something that will last almost longer than I do. Each piece of art on me serves as a bookmark of my life at the moment I got it. Even the bad tattoos remind me of times I don’t want to forget. The cholo cross between my thumb and index finger, the low-rider hat wearing skull on my ankle, the almost unidentifiable wolf face on my forearm. All bad tattoos, but I love them just the same. I wouldn’t change any of them. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)
Marked for
LIFE By Dan Marks
I once thought it a fine act of marksmanship to fire a round down an empty bullet casing at close range.
Don’t judge. I was drunk. I was rewarded with a spray of lead and powder to the face that was most embarrassing. I was able to dig the big chunk of lead out of my nose with a knife, and the shooting glasses saved my eyes. But I still have “gunpowder spots”. The name “gunpowder spots” is derived from the sailors’ practice of making shipboard tattoos with gunpowder, instead of ink or carbon black. Sailors probably thought of gunpowder because the burning gunpowder coming out of their cannons gave them “gunpowder tattoos”, kinda like freckles. Gunpowder tattoos were not just for the cannon crew. Sharpshooters since the days of flintlocks often had the mark of their guns on the dominant side of their face. Even modern guns offer their blessings if not treated correctly. Gunpowder tattoos are also used in forensics to determine direction, proximity, and intensity. Old Westerns are filled with heroes and villains so marked in famous gun fights. One that springs to mind is Tom Chaney in “True Grit”. The mark on his face made him instantly recognizable, causing him to hide in the wilderness. Genesis 4:11-16. Now we’re starting to sound all Biblical and shit! And if that wasn’t enough for you, Leviticus 19:28 KJV ”Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Marine Art Museum
It is understandable then that tattoos used to be the mark of a select few; sailors, prisoners, motorcycle clubs; with little concern for “societal norms”. You wouldn’t have given it a second thought to see one of these ne’er-do-wells flaunting their ink. And you wouldn’t have given it a second thought to not be thought one of them. But two years ago Pope Francis declared, not only are they not a sin but, they can be a mark of beauty. To the young Ukrainian priest at the Legionaries of Christ’s Maria Mater Ecclesia College in Rome, the Pope continued, it is a sign of belonging. No wonder around 20% of Americans have at least one tattoo. This once frowned upon practice has become commonplace. (Take that, rebellious youth!) Still, this is not something to be entered into lightly. In the 1680’s pirate surgeon Lionel Wafer wrote that one of his shipmates requested removal of his “gunpowder spots” (the 16
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself) period idiom for tattoos). In an age before Isaac Newton’s treatise on visible light, before sterilization practices in medicine, and way the hell before the invention of lasers, Wafer was your only option. It didn’t usually turn out pretty. Nowadays we can tune a laser for the color of both the ink and the skin, making it a relatively painless procedure. So a Montana plainsman’s misspelling “Fillatlander”, or a sorority girl’s Chinese symbol for “soup”, may not seem as dire a decision. Luckily for you we have the Internet, which is almost as permanent. With technology and acceptance comes thoughtful scholarship. In archeology and anthropology we find evidence of a time when tattoos were more integral with our cultures. We have already seen passages in the Bible at the edge of prehistory. Aboriginal songlines tell the story of their people from creation to the present. Tattoos and petroglyphs have been used to fill in the details of these stories. Ancient Egyptians from as far back as 1300 BC have been found with medical tattoos. Even pets nowadays are tattooed to show they have been neutered or spayed, though I don’t think that was the Egyptian intent.
tale. We create our own myths and symbology. When the call went out for this edition of CC, some interesting images came back: a newborn’s footprint and birth date; Neptune, in commemoration of a sailor’s Equator crossing; and, twelve sets of paw prints in memory of twelve lost companions. In all the stories sent to us, one thing became really clear, somebody needs to work on their photography skills. What also stood out was that these tattoos overwhelmingly were dedications to specific events or loved ones. Our belonging then becomes tied more closely to the symbols we use. It is not merely the sailor’s Pig and Chicken to keep them from drowning, a Tibetan prayer inscribed by a monk, the tears and spider webs of prison, or the hennaed hands of a bride-tobe. There are a lot of ways to make your mark in the world. Most of us are satisfied with birthmarks and scars. Some have a larger story to tell.
March Hunter (left) Chris Sutton (bottom left) Stefani Melvin (bootm right)
Photos courtesy of those photographed.
South Pacific Islanders have long tattooed themselves for everything from spiritual protection to communal status. Some would argue that it is for such purposes that many practice the art today. For many of these cultures, the entire body was the canvas. What would be the purpose of protecting yourself from harm only to expose your Achilles heel? But most of us won’t commit that kind of real estate. We prefer brevity. We condense our story. Make ours a novella instead of an epic. In doing this, though, we have created an art form that, like the sailors and prisoners, leaves behind the larger saga of anonymity and weaves a far more personal
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Illustrated
CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)
Librarian the
By Amy Caton
Tattoos are a manifestation of our identities; they represent our passions, life events, and communities. Librarians
Do tattoos on our librarians create confusion? Curiosity? Fear? How are we supposed to juggle society’s stereotypes of tattoos with the trust we place in Librarianship? Librarians are highly recognizable figures who work most often in public service, outreach, and teaching across diverse patron needs, capabilities, and distances. Often “the work of librarianship revolves around providing access to information, following the belief that an informed citizenry makes a robust democracy” (Keer, 2015). We may hold opposed perceptions of librarians as old, stodgy, even dusty, restrained women and tattooed individuals as outcasts, misguided, and cultish youth, bikers, and veterans. We may share conflicted
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C. - Ho
uston Li
brarian
are trusted knowledge keepers and community experts; they connect us to information and to each other. And the rising sub-culture of tattooed librarians thrives in Galveston threatening to create connections among us, weave stories into our community, and bring a pestilence of literacy to all.
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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)
perceptions of tattoos as stigma, storytelling, connection, humor, coping, and more. But I trust in our community to see through these and other stereotypes and allow our minds to hold multiple truths seeing clearly the uniqueness of the tattooed librarian. Consider that looking at something from a different angle can change our perception so can reviewing our own community of librarianship and their relationships with tattoos. I spoke to a fellow librarian about how they are approached and treated professionally and in our community.
MAURINE (MO) NICHOLS
Photos courtesy of Amy Caton
Associate Director of Library Services at UTMB Moody Medical Library Total Tattoos: 3 Maurine Nichols says, “My tattoos are pretty small and not really that noticeable. They are also sort of subject-neutral in that they are just letters [. . . ] and they haven’t prevented me from getting hired at places or getting promotions. [People are] usually just inquisitive-when did I get them, what do they mean, did it hurt, etc.” In case you’re curious, she got one of her tattoos while working on a music video set in a tattoo parlor in LA. The video was for the instant classic from Twista & Legit Ballers called...‘Tattoo’.
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AMY CATON
Instructional Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Library & Learning Commons at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus Total Tattoos: 5 As for myself. I have a collection of astronomy inspired tattoos that link me to important people in my life as each tattoo matches in size, shape, and placement with an irreplaceable person on this planet. These are very visible. When I teach or travel nationally to professional conferences, my tattoos usually spark joy and insightful conversations about art, science, our planet, and connections to others. However, the discrimination in academia is less than expected as my peers’ reactions are thoughtful and without verbal judgement. Dare I say, I haven’t encountered professional discrimination, but heaps from close family. Modern librarians are making a clear statement that trust in our professionalism is not undermined by tattoos and we argue instead that tattoos create connections to our communities. No one’s intellect or trustworthiness should be determined by societal stereotypes based on tattoos. When confronted with choices you may or not have made, I implore you to consider learning people’s stories and creating connections without misplacing judgement or stereotypes onto others for choices that make them happy, whole, and connected. Sources Olivares. X, & Grush, L. (2009). Check It Out: New Calendar Features Librarians’ Tattoos. ABCNews. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=8225957 Keer, G. (2015). The Stereotype Stereotype: Our obsession with librarian representation. American Libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine. org/2015/10/30/the-stereotype-stereotype/ 19
CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)
A Matter of Perspective By Zach Sullivan As a 34-year-old native Austinite, I’ve seen the rise in acceptance of tattoos. I was a child who was appreciative
of alternative culture. I adored the artistry of the vibrant colors and the cool designs. Growing up, it was impressed upon me that carrying a tattoo or having a piercing was somehow “bad,” or that these symbols marked a person who was untrustworthy (perhaps even criminal). This view seemed to be the overall consensus, but if you fast forward to the present— oh my, the perspective has changed.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com
Our society has progressed so much. The acceptance of being inked has changed with it. What is the reason for this? Is it just a trend? Or a colorful way to express oneself? It could be as simple as the world becoming more accepting in general. This is especially true with the larger, more liberal communities who push for social acceptance. Rather than being told to ‘get in line’ and ‘fit in,’ people are now treated as unique individuals. Of course, celebrities and athletes could certainly have played a role. More than ever we see these ‘stars’ sporting at least some kind of design. In fact, it is rare to see a musician or athlete without some sort of symbol etched into them. It would only make sense that this would progress the overall acceptance of tattoos. I must admit, the ”monkey see, monkey do” phenomenon most likely has played its part in this as well. It may not be much deeper than that tattoos are accepted and look cool to some people. One person, age 22, I spoke with about the subject told me, “They [tattoos] don’t have to mean anything”. Others however, carry true and personal meanings in every centimeter of ink. I personally like to take this more romantic stance. Most people who I have spoken to who have tattoos agree with one thing: personal meaning is reason number one for getting ink. Both the tatted and the blank canvases out there seem to actually agree on this. “Tattoos 20
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are tied to symbolism for me,” one person, age 30, told me. “There is a lot of meaning and sense of personality. I got mine at a very important time in my life. I would get another for sure.” A tattoo-less man I spoke to, also age 30, said, “I would like some for sure,” but admitted the idea of getting something for the rest of his life on his body was daunting. For me, permanence is comforting, but older generations can struggle with this facet of tattoos. Annette Pearson, a 60-year-old woman who splits her time between Galveston and Austin, has seen the rise of acceptance of tattoos firsthand. “I might,” she replied when I asked if she would consider getting a tattoo. “I appreciate tattoos, but don’t know if I want to commit.” As a person with tattoos, I know the importance of personal meaning. I gaze upon my own art that I carry around, and I am reminded of things that are important to me. I lost my dog, Max, to cancer and I decided to have him tattooed. It is essential to me to be reminded of that love that will be there forever. Now, just about a year later, I look down at my arm and smile and feel that love every time I see Max. The world has moved forward, and tattoo culture has seemed to seep into all corners of life. Whether it’s art, a reminder to yourself, or some deeper spiritual meaning, tattoos are everywhere. I love to see acceptance of not only the beauty of tattoos, but the individual as a whole. And no matter your view of tattoos, there is one thing everyone agrees with— be yourself. If that’s your heart on your sleeve (perhaps literally), don’t be afraid of being you. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
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FEATURED ARTIST Anthony Gotti Briganti inkfamus1@gmail.com Instagram @tattoosbygotti aaltitudetattoo.com ‘London Alexandra’ “Under a watchful eye, my daughter (London) will always be safe amid the chaos that surrounds us all. She is so full of color and breathes life into all those who surround her... Daddy loves you my Birmingham!”
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SEE ART Anthony Gotti Briganti is a local tattoo artist. His work is featured all over town on the bodies of locals and tourists alike.
May - June 2020 Calendar of Online Events
may
(online events)
Arts and Crafts with La Maestra Valentina May 2, 2020 • Online 3:30-4:30 PM, Cost: $15 www.speakitalynyc.com/eventsworkshops-for-children Studio Antonelli ART SCHOOL Various Times • Online FREE school.jessicaantonelli.com Wellspring of Strength and Personal Wellness May 6, 2020 • Online 6:30-7:30 PM, FREE www.eventbrite.com/e/wellspringof-strength-personal-livingregistration-101475606270 Virtually Galveston Several virtual tours and activities from local favorites Anytime • Online FREE www.galveston.com/blogs/virtuallygalveston
C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
SEE MORE NOW
aaltitudetattoo.com
june
(online events)
Monday Night Fever Online Stay at Home Yoga June 1, 2020 • Online 7:00 PM *Multiple Dates* FREE www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mondaynight-fever-online-stay-at-home-yogatickets-100448690738 Tiny Cupboard Live Virtual Indie-Pop Concert June 3, 2020 • Online 8:00 PM *Multiple Dates* FREE www.eventbrite.com/e/ live-virtual-indie-pop-concerttickets-101923086696 Virtual Open Mic Night NYC June 15, 2020 • Online 8:30 PM *Multiple Dates* FREE www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-openmic-nyc-at-your-service-isolation-begone-tickets-100981989850
Drink up ARBONNE VEGAN CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE 1 cup Nut Milk (unsweetened) 1/2 to 1 cup Blueberries 1 frozen Banana 1 tbsp Nut Butter handful of Spinach Arbonne Chocolate Protein Powder
Learn More
Contact Arbonne Rep. Olivia Bailey IG @plantstrongmom 23
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Galveston’s Living Galleries
Lauren “Turkey Leg” Davis
Jacob Ellis
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Melody Van Kay Blaine Lunz
Cate Black
Genesis Guajardo
G - Town
ast o c d ir h t dirty
Texas
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Ian Kirkpatrick (above) “Tattooing is my lifestyle. My day to day revolves around my art and my tattoos. Early on, I was working as a mechanic and had some painting hung up in my bay. I was working on a tattoo artist’s car when he asked me if I wanted to give up eighty grand a year to sweep his shop for free and go homeless until I would eventually learn to tattoo a couple of years later. I told him “Hell yeah!”. I quit my job the next day and pawned all of my tools to make it. It’s been my dream come true. It took years of hard work but I’m finally at the end. I get to enjoy my art and make a good living doing it.” 26
How have tattoos or piercings influenced your lifestyle? By Jamey Baird
Lo Novack (left) “So, for the record, I definitely don’t think tattoos turned me into who I am but are more of an extension of who I already was. Having tattoos has totally changed the way I look at the world because I know it has changed the way the world looks at me. I’ve had amazing phone interviews with previous potential employers only to be told my tattoos and purple hair wouldn’t be acceptable. I see other moms look me up and down because I definitely don’t look like what they think a typical “Room Mom” might look like. I believe tattoos are slowly becoming more and more mainstream and I’m thankful to work for an amazing organization that values and embraces who I am and how I choose to express myself. To me, it’s all just a new form of art and I love letting my body be the canvas!” C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
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Hollywood Keith (above) “Out of high school, I went to trade school for electrical. I did three semesters and toward the middle of the third semester, I wasn’t that in love with it. In 2001 I started working at a smoke shop that was connected to a tattoo shop. One day I noticed how many piercings the piercer at the time was doing. Because he was there, I decided to learn how to pierce. I started LED piercing in 2002 and I had found something I loved. The tattoo and piercing world, unlike everybody else, don’t care if you don’t have a tattoo or piercing. In this world, you got all forms of life. Everyone from pimps and hoes to doctors and lawyers. To steal a quote from Hollywood tattoo artist Mike Mahoney ,“This is where the elite and underworld meet”. One day you can get the meth head who was trying to sell you used socks while high. Then an hour later you can get Beyoncé or Jayz. This is an industry that is unique and always unpredictable. Opportunities that you couldn’t imagine like being on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, so many great experiences come out of it. I have 13 awards and 20 years under me. I look forward to the next 20 just to see where the road will take me. Come get pierced by me and feel all the history of this industry.” C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 0
OUT OF THIS WORLD SWAG CultureClashGalveston.com/shop
a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers 27
SENIOR PHOTOS Maricelli Photography • 409-502-8221 Direct link to your images. You own the rights! $85 - 2 OUTFITS / 2 LOCATIONS
Weddings Events Head Shots & MORE
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