Memorial Tattoos with Cremation Ashes

The hottest topic this days are getting the ashes of a deceased loved one tattooed in your body as a memorial for that special person who was part of our lives. Check out the video




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Skinfinity Tattoo Company

While trying to be up to date with the best in Tattoo, Piecings and Body Modifications I came across this awesome Tattoo Parlor. It has an amazing atmosphere and from what I've noticed their employees really know how to treat a customer the way they should be treated and serviced.

Artists

Aaron Gross

Bobby Fields

Heather Maranda

Heather Mouser-Fields

Kelly Frazier

Monica Cieszynski

"Skinfinity Tattoo Company is the next generation of Tattoo Hybrid Shops. It is one of the newest fusion art concepts in the Tattoo Industry. It is a concept based on "skin", caring for it, healing it, decorationg it, and applying permanent works of fine art upon it."

Skinfinity Tattoo is located on 1082 Havendale Boulevard, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Tel: 863-401-8288
Email: SkinfinityTattooCompany@yahoo.com
Website: www.skinfinityink.com

Sources
La Sumisa
Skinfinity Tattoo


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Last Rites Gallery presents Lilith, new works by Sarah Joncas

Presents: Sarah Joncas

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 30th, 7pm-11pm
Last Rites Gallery presents Lilith, new works by Sarah Joncas. Using powerful and sexually charged energy, "Lilith" takes on a darker context with Joncas painting in full-force celebration of the original femme fatale. Combining explicit imagery with more subtle anthropomorphic iconography, she leads us into a world of seduction and mystery.

"My show Lilith is not necessarily as a direct allegorical reference, but more so for what she represents. According to Jewish Mythology, Lilith is considered to be the true 1st wife of Adam, her unwillingness to submit caused her to rebel from Eden in search of her own dark path. As such, she’s been written as the temptress, the mysterious and the devil. Taking from fairytale and folklore inspirations, much of the work borders on the fantastical, indulging and sometimes turning other mythological females into similar demoniac beings. Though working with a relatively more aggressive theme than usual, I’ve kept the melancholic and pensive tone that my work is most well known for. In general, I’ve always focused on the alienated female subject as well, making a theme on the legendary archetype a natural course for me to take. In a sense, I see this body of work as a bit of a return for me. Though the women I’m portraying in these pieces are bolder, more sexual and more mature than those of my previous work, I’ve decidedly brought back some of the whimsy that I’d abandoned after years of schooling. In effect, this body of work has been especially fun for me to create, which is more or less the reason I got into painting in the first place."

Sarah Joncas was born in 1986 and grew up within both Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Ontario. She currently resides and works out of Toronto, Canada. Her interest in the visual arts developed at an early age, starting with the dedicated drawings of dinosaurs and lizards. Eventually the study and enjoyment of working from existing images stirred up the need in Sarah to create images of her own; ones that could reflect the world, yet also appease the personal feelings/ideas that she herself maintained. With this, her direction changed gradually from the world of animation, towards a path in fine art.


About Last Rites Gallery:
Established in 2008, Last Rites has become a premiere gallery for the Dark Art movement and a haven for artists who prefer to explore the ominous, uncomfortable, and eccentric in their work. Striving to showcase some of the most thought-provoking art in contemporary surrealism, Last Rites creates an atmosphere where the artist can harness limitless expression and the observer can reflect inward, inspired to understand that which resides in us all. Since it’s inception, media accolades now include Juxtapoz, Inked Magazine, Tattoo Society, Hi Fructose, NY Post, and the Channel 11 News. Paul Booth, featured by Rolling Stone as “King of Rock Tattoos”, opened Last Rites after 20 years of contributions to the tattoo and art community. Networks including Discovery, TLC, MSNBC, and MTV, continue to share Last Rites' reputation with the world.
On display April 30th to June 5th, 2011.
( Installation Shots Coming Soon )

CONTACT:
Celeste Fuechsel
Assistant Director
1-212-560-0666
info@lastritesgallery.com
Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd street, 3fl New York, NY 10001


Sources
La Sumisa
Last Rites Gallery


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Awesome Snow White Tattoo

Not all Tattoos tend to be scary, lots of them can be quite appealing like this one of Snow White. Great work and fantastic artistic skills.

Sources

La Sumisa
Cory Doctorow
Boing Boing


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Tribal Art Meets Flower Power in Nepal Festival of Body Paint

As Nilu Shah leans forward in her chair, her shoulder becomes an artists' canvas. The Nepalese tattooist Ujjwol Mathema is more than happy to needle in.

"I can only smile … it tickles," said Ms Shah, 24, of the bird's wing that is her first tattoo.

Organisers of the inaugural three-day Nepal International Tattoo Convention, which closed on Sunday, hope Ms Nilu's pleasure will be shared by others. They hope that one day so-called "tattoo travellers" will flock to the capital of the mountain state for body art, and that their visits will bring in badly needed tourist dollars.

Nepal's image in the West has historically been confined to Buddhism, Mt Everest backdrops and treks through the snow-capped Himalayas.

More recently, the nation has been the battleground of a divisive Maoist insurgency that forced some developed countries to issue travel advisories.

Since the decade-long civil war ended in 2006, it has struggled to develop its economy and its potentially vital tourist sector.

But in recent months, the country of 29 million people has launched several tourist initiatives - both private and state-sponsored - known collectively as Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

This year, the Canadian rock star Bryan Adams became the first Western act to play Nepal. Now, two months later, the nation has hailed the success of the Nepal International Tattoo Convention.

The tattoo shop owner and body art historian Mohan Gurung is credited as the creative force behind the convention. He said the aim was to launch an annual forum in which local and international body artists and tattoo enthusiasts "can interact and interpret tattoos as an art form and not just some abstract fad".

Mr Gurung said Nepal was the perfect place for such an event because of its tradition, location and links to unconventional, counter-cultural movements that stretch back to the Flower Power heyday of the 1960s.

On Friday, amid the sounds of punk and metal music, tattoo artists from Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany, Thailand, India and the United States, along with aficionados from around the world, converged on Kathmandu for the festival of bodypaint.

In 97 indoor stalls, tattooists displayed their artwork in booklets as enthusiasts browsed and some brave souls surrendered their skin.

Participants' motives were as diverse as the designs. Puskar Thapa, 20, a student, said having his name inked in on the underside of his left wrist was about being a part of pop culture.

"Guinness" Rishi, 70, from India, said his ambition was to "spread the message of world peace". Known as the "Human Flag Pole", Mr Rishi is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most national flags emblazoned on his flesh - 305 flag and 185 map tattoos.

He said he intended to add 30 more before the end of the convention.

For Yasramiya Chaudhary, from western Nepal, it's all about tradition. The 66-year-old was first tattooed at the age of 20 because it was mandatory in her tribe before marriage.

"Otherwise, my in-laws wouldn't eat anything I cooked," said Ms Chaudhary, whose hands, feet and chest are inscribed with tribal art.

Despite being an integral part of some of Nepal's ethnic cultures, tattoos have had a sketchy reputation in the nation's past.

They were once synonymous with the "free love" ideology made popular by the hippies who strolled Kathmandu's backpacker hub known as Freak Street during the late-1960s and 1970s.

Another reason for disparagement was cultural. For centuries, members of Nepal's lower castes would decorate their bodies with stars and moons in the belief that once their soul left their body they would be recognised in heaven.

Mr Gurung said that the perception of tattoos has changed in recent years and that they are now "becoming an acceptable art form".

Established 12 years ago, Mr Gurung's shop is one of the oldest tattoo parlours in Kathmandu. He said his clients range from tourists to college students and even to white-collar professionals. His waiting list is eight months' long, he said.

The beauty of Nepali art, with its colourful depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses, has helped Nepal become a popular destination for tattoos, said Mr Gurung.

"The underground scene has now transformed into a mainstream business," Mr Gurung said at his studio, Mohan's Tattoo Inn, in the tourist district of Thamel. There are roughly 30 tattoo parlours between the Thamel area and Freak Street, and more may be on the way.

Local tattoo artists, like Mr Mathema said there is room for improvement. "There's money moving in but they're not focusing on hygiene, quality or environment," said Mr Mathema, who opened his tattoo parlour, Ujo Tattoo, on Freak Street in February.

Mr Mathema said he wants to set a standard. His tattoo education began in Australia, and he has professional experience in Thailand, India and Dubai.

At the convention, Mr Mathema was one of the few artists who covered his mouth with a mask.

Health concerns, pain and indecision are common reasons to avoid tattoos, said Mr Mathema. But for diehard tattooists like these two, "tattoos aren't just tattoos".

"I have a relationship with my tattoos," Mr Gurung said of his 25 pieces of body art. "It's a collection of memories," he said, adding that the images are dedicated to his wife, children, friends and travelling experiences.

Sitting for her first tattoo, Ms Shah said she wanted her new image to be "special and different" from anyone else's design.

"For me, it's about the art and the feelings associated with it," she said. "I'll always have my first tattoo associated with this event [the first Nepal Tattoo Convention] and in some way I hope to be a part of an interesting history."

Sources
La Sumisa
Bibek Bhandari from The National



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Traditional Henna Patterns & Tips for a Great Tattoo

Happy Henna Season to every one! Featured today is a photo of a traditional style henna tattoo by Ann George for the back of the hand. Henna works best on the palms, back of the hands and on the feet.

It does not work as well on the stomach, the back, nor the chest. If you want a temporary tattoo for that part of your body, you are better off buying a decal tattoo. There are lots of nice new Indian design decals for lades  for sale at The Midnight Sun (they are on the counter.)

Also, if you want henna in these places, please be sure to dress in clothing that will not disturb the henna, and be prepared to adjust your day so that the henna may remain on your skin for at least three hours.

For gentlemen, the henna takes best on the inner wrist. I am able to do henna on your upper arms, but please be sure to shave several days ahead of time. It is unlikely that henna will give good color on the chest.

The price of a henna tattoo starts at $15 and fees increase from that point. For example, the tattoo in the photo cost $30.00.  I use only the finest, freshest henna powder mixing the paste myself each week to ensure you get the best color possible.

I have just purchased some organic rajasthani henna, long known for giving deep red color on the palms and look forward to trying that out this weekend. I will offer henna tattoo at the Midnight Sun Friday and Saturday if all goes well and weather permits. 


Please call for more information, or to schedule an appointment. 904-993-7466. (*Please note this is a photo of henna paste on the skin. If you are new to henna, I strongly encourage you to visit my FAQ page. Answers to most commonly asked questions are there.


Namaste.

How Important a Tattoo Can Be

We all know Tats are meaningful to those who wear them and we all know most of the time it has something to do with who we are, where we come from or what a person means to us (portraits). The best thing when getting Inked is the satisfaction we get to let everyone know how proud one can be of what really matters to us.

Forearm Tattoo: "Tattoo says jamaica on a island with waves & a sunset with clouds & a palm tree & it represents my home & where I'm from."

Torso Tattoo: "This say love is pain with clouds & a dove & a 5Point star which means ma ex that died & my heart that got broken."

Ray

Sources
La Sumisa

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Great Tattoos - Sleeves

Here are some examples of amazing / creative art. This is the kind of work a person is always to flaunt proudly. Keep in mind that achieving this level of tattoing requires practice, patience and experience. Remember this "Before getting a tattoo do research and try finding the best artist possible". A piece don't need to be finished in a day (unless is small of course). Have patience and at least go for 2 hour sessions. If you're going for a full back tattoo for example you can do a different spot on that project every week to allow the tattoo to heal properly.

Great work


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Things to Remember After Getting Tattooed

It will break your heart if your tattoo doesn't look as good as it used to be when you had it done. You may even end up spending an equal sum of money on re-touching it. It's essential for a tattoo to look nice once it heals and if you don't want that that to happen to you, here are some tattoo after care tips suggested by tattoo artist Al Alva:

Cleaning and moisturising
A newly done tattoo is as good as a wound. The epidermis of the skin reacts to the wound and secrets a transparent fluid to protect germs from entering the body. The surface of the tattooed skin must be cleaned regularly without wetting it in water. You can take a piece of cloth, wet it in water and dab it on the tattoo to clear it of germs. Moisturises it with a body lotion afterwards.

Apply ointment
Calendula is a herbal remedy which heals wounds and soothes the skin. Apply a very thin layer of the cream on the tattoo thrice a day. Continue the treatment for the first 15 days.

Don't go for a swim, or the jacuzzi
Take short showers when you bathe. But going for a swim or taking a steam bath will lead your skin to form scabs as a reaction to chlorine and heat respectively and spoil the texture of tattoo. The thicker the scabs the lighter will be the colour of your tattoo when it heals.

Avoid sweating
If you are a health freak, don't exercise for 15 days after you get a tattoo. The salt in your sweat causes the same damage to the tattoo as chlorine or sea water by forming scabs.

Keep away from the sun
Long exposure to the sun could cause the tattoo to discolour. Avoid applying sunscreen and wear long sleeves to protect the area.

Don't shave
If you have got a tattoo on a spot where you need to shave regularly, avoid doing so till the tattoo is completely healed. Shaving may cause your skin to peel and erode the ink within.

No scratching
Your tattoo will start itching within first five-six days. Itching is a sign that your skin has started to heal but do not scratch, rub or press it against your body. It is possible that by doing so you may be scratching the ink out of the tattoo even before it can settle down in your body.


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China’s first lady of tattoo

A tattoo artist by profession, 28-year-old Zhuo, a native of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, is perhaps the most instantly recognizable resident of Shanghai: her fluorescent green, floppy mohawk and heavily inked frame skull, neck, chest, arms and hands all covered with black tats distinguish her as a counterculture icon of sorts.

Her provocative outward appearance can best be likened to the visual antithesis of the traditional Chinese value of blending in with a faceless sea of peers and comrades. But Zhuo, or Ting as she prefers to be called, is actually a perfect example of China’s push toward modernity. Her ability to combine Chinese and Western ideals and cultural references has allowed her to pursue her individuality, while creating a burgeoning independent business.

After dropping out of Harbin Normal University’s visual arts program, bored by the mundane nature of Chinese education, Ting decided to pursue her passion for body art, accepting an apprenticeship at one of the few tattoo studios in the Heilongjiang capital.

Cutting her teeth at several local studios by studying the techniques of local artists and visitors from Beijing and Guangzhou, Ting quickly scaled the ranks to become a full-fledged tattoo artist, and opened her first shop, Wen Yi Fuxing.

It was during this time that Ting met Dylan Byrne, the man who would eventually convince her to move south and open Shanghai Tattoo. In addition to managing all day-to-day operations at their Cool Docks-based studio, Byrne is an avid fan and collector of Ting’s tattoo art, recognizing in her a unique artistic style and ability.

“Her style is [always] developing; she does her own interpretations,” says Byrne. “The way she uses negative space, background effects and textures, you know it’s done by Ting.”

Eager to grow as an artist and digest foreign influences to improve her ability, Ting, moved to Shanghai in 2006 to open her first incarnation of Shanghai Tattoo on Zizhong Lu.

Recognized by the local media and the city’s expat population, Ting was immediately given the chance to not only ink an increasing number of foreigners and learn from their tastes, desires and requests, but she also used the opportunity to study Western styles, a study that has greatly impacted her growth as an artist.

“I like European and American-style realistic tattoos, or large Asian-style tattoos,” says Ting, who has moved away from simple tattoo styles, graduating into more-advanced techniques to draw portraits. “I like [to draw] something special.”

As her business continued to grow, Ting, along with Byrne, decided to leave their comfort zone in the city’s central Luwan District and open what has become Shanghai’s premiere tattoo studio in terms of size and hygiene.

While the new, remote location in the city’s South Bund would have killed most other small businesses, Shanghai Tattoo managed to increase its customer base to the point where they’ve employed two other full-time artists to meet the demands of Ting’s busy schedule. She is generally booked up to six weeks in advance and no longer practices tribal tattooing.

In just two and a half years since the opening of Shanghai Tattoo 2.0, Zhuo Danting has become the face of Shanghai’s tattoo community.

Featured in tattoo publications around the world and regularly invited to attend some of the most prestigious tattoo conventions in the world, Ting is finally arriving at the point where she realizes that her next logical career step is to test her worth at the international level.

“The thing about Ting is she is so naturally talented I would venture to say that I have never seen someone as gifted in their trade as she is,” says Devin Gallery, a three-time customer. “Guys back home in the [United] States who have been working [as tattoo artists] for 10-plus years [aren’t] capable to do anything close to what she was doing."

While Gallery is adamant about Ting’s world-class abilities, Byrne is eager to see her take to the international stage, and currently making arrangements for Ting to show at the International London Tattoo Convention next September.

Despite this constant push to become better and bigger, Ting is collected and focused on the important things: improving as an artist.

“For the artist, the tattoo is not only a job, but also a responsibility,” explains Ting. “My tattoos are my lifelong friends ... I have deep feelings [for them]. I wouldn't know what to do without tattoos."

Sources
La Sumisa
CNNGo
Shanghai Tattoo


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Female Genital Mutilation (Clitoris Removal)

Female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), female circumcision, or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), is any procedure involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs "whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons." The term is exclusively used to describe traditional or religious procedures on a minor, which requires the parents' consent because of the age of the girl.
When the procedure is performed on and with the consent of an adult, it is generally called clitoridectomy, or it may be part of labiaplasty or vaginoplasty. It also generally does not refer to procedures used in sex reassignment surgery, and the genital modification of intersexuals.



FGC is predominantly practiced in Northeast Africa and parts of the Near East and Southeast Asia, although it has also been reported to occur in individual tribes in South America and Australia. Opposition is motivated by concerns regarding the consent (or lack thereof, in most cases) of the patient, and subsequently the safety and long-term consequences of the procedures. In the past several decades, there have been many concerted efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to end the practice of FGC. The United Nations has also declared February 6 as "International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation".

Different terms are used to describe female genital surgery and other such procedures. The terms female genital mutilation (FGM) and female genital cutting (FGC) are now dominant in the international community. Practitioners commonly prefer the term female circumcision (FC). Groups that oppose the stigma of the word "mutilation" prefer to use the term female genital cutting. A few organizations have started using the combined term female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). All terms are currently still actively used.

The WHO defines Type I FGM as the partial or total removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy) and/or the prepuce (clitoral hood); see Diagram 1B. When it is important to distinguish between the variations of Type I cutting, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type Ia, removal of the clitoral hood or prepuce only (which some view as analogous to male circumcision and thus more acceptable); Type Ib, removal of the clitoris with the prepuce. In the context of women who seek out labiaplasty, there is disagreement among doctors as to whether to remove the clitoral hood in some cases to enhance sexuality or whether this is too likely to lead to scarring and other problems.

The WHO's definition of Type II FGM is "partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora. When it is important to distinguish between the major variations that have been documented, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type IIa, removal of the labia minora only; Type IIb, partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora; Type IIc, partial or total removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and the labia majora.

The WHO defines Type III FGM as narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and repositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation). "It is the most extensive form of FGM, and accounts for about 10% of all FGM procedures described from Africa.

Infibulation is also known as "pharaonic circumcision".
In a study of infibulation in the Horn of Africa, Pieters observed that the procedure involves extensive tissue removal of the external genitalia, including all of the labia minora and the inside of the labia majora. The labia majora are then held together using thorns or stitching. In some cases the girl's legs have been tied together for two to six weeks, to prevent her from moving and to allow the healing of the two sides of the vulva.

Nothing remains but the walls of flesh from the pubis down to the anus, with the exception of an opening at the inferior portion of the vulva to allow urine and menstrual blood to pass through; see Diagram 1D. Generally, a practitioner recognized as having the necessary skill carries out this procedure, and a local anesthetic is used. However, when carried out "in the bush", infibulation is often performed by an elderly matron or midwife of the village, without sterile procedure or anesthesia.

A reverse infibulation can be performed to allow for sexual intercourse or when undergoing labor, or by female relatives, whose responsibility it is to inspect the wound every few weeks and open it some more if necessary. During childbirth, the enlargement is too small to allow vaginal delivery, and so the infibulation is opened completely and may be restored after delivery. Again, the legs are sometimes tied together to allow the wound to heal. When childbirth takes place in a hospital, the surgeons may preserve the infibulation by enlarging the vagina with deep episiotomies. Afterwards, the patient may insist that her vulva be closed again.

Women who have been infibulated face a lot of difficulty in delivering children, especially if the infibulation is not undone beforehand, which often results in severe tearing of the infibulated area, or fetal death if the birth canal is not cleared (Toubia, 1995). The risk of severe physical, and psychological complications is more highly associated with women who have undergone infibulations as opposed to one of the lesser forms of FGM. Although there is little research on the psychological side effects of FGM, many women feel great pressure to conform to the norms set out by their community, and suffer from anxiety and depression as a result (Toubia, 1995). "There is also a higher rate of post-traumatic stress disorder in circumcised females" (Nicoletti, 2007, p. 2).

A five-year study of 300 women and 100 men in Sudan found that "sexual desire, pleasure, and orgasm are experienced by the majority (nearly 90%) of women who have been subjected to this extreme sexual mutilation, in spite of their being culturally bound to hide these experiences."

There are other forms of FGM, collectively referred to as Type IV, that may not involve tissue removal. The WHO defines Type IV FGM as "all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. "This includes a diverse range of practices, such as pricking the clitoris with needles, burning or scarring the genitals as well as ripping or tearing of the vagina. Type IV is found primarily among isolated ethnic groups as well as in combination with other types.


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Last Rites Gallery presents solo shows by Anthony Pontius and Sarah Joncas - Saturday, April 30th, 7pm‏

Last Rites Gallery presents:

Solo shows by:
Anthony Pontius and Sarah Joncas
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 30th, 7pm-11pm

ANTHONY PONTIUS, THE DECAY:

One of the most unique painters to emerge from the modern surrealist movement, Anthony Pontius is a maverick of medium - never following a formula, he experiments with various paint, thinner, and every vehicle in between to achieve unexpected and unprecedented results. Fluid and unabashed, his paintings do not shy of the bravado of bold brushstroke or a valiant splash of color, yet manage to retain an understated elegance. As recognizable images unravel into subconscious forms, these combinations of representational art with sinuous abstraction evoke intense emotion through the power of suggestion. In his latest body of work, Anthony examines the importance of the human connection to history:

"By using past and present techniques of painting and written histories, I invent my own nostalgic experiences and narratives. I examine imagery, stories and concepts from both the past and present and place them in a shared setting. The established conflicts and connections found in this union enable an image that is flexible for many audiences. I implore traditional and contemporary practices of painting and mix these approaches to form new arrangements. I may use classical clarity to represent and to define a specific part of a story, and at the same time use the ambiguity of abstraction to complete the formation of the work. From this, a new myth develops. It is a story that is familiar yet it has not been cultivated by anyone. The combination of specific imagery and less comprehensive moments creates an accommodating proclamation that allows the viewer to share the anxiety and beauty of human involvement with its identity. This approach allows me to represent our alignment with the annals of history. This display of beauty and complexity of the unknown provides a foundation to what we consider the past and present. As with history, these paintings are not clear or concise. They are fluctuating consequences wielded from contribution."

SARAH JONCAS, LILITH:
Last Rites Gallery presents Lilith, new works by Sarah Joncas. Using powerful and sexually charged energy, "Lilith" takes on a darker context with Joncas painting in full-force celebration of the original femme fatale. Combining explicit imagery with more subtle anthropomorphic iconography, she leads us into a world of seduction and mystery.

"My show Lilith is not necessarily as a direct allegorical reference, but more so for what she represents. According to Jewish Mythology, Lilith is considered to be the true 1st wife of Adam, her unwillingness to submit caused her to rebel from Eden in search of her own dark path. As such, she’s been written as the temptress, the mysterious and the devil. Taking from fairytale and folklore inspirations, much of the work borders on the fantastical, indulging and sometimes turning other mythological females into similar demoniac beings. Though working with a relatively more aggressive theme than usual, I’ve kept the melancholic and pensive tone that my work is most well known for. In general, I’ve always focused on the alienated female subject as well, making a theme on the legendary archetype a natural course for me to take. In a sense, I see this body of work as a bit of a return for me. Though the women I’m portraying in these pieces are bolder, more sexual and more mature than those of my previous work, I’ve decidedly brought back some of the whimsy that I’d abandoned after years of schooling. In effect, this body of work has been especially fun for me to create, which is more or less the reason I got into painting in the first place."

Sarah Joncas was born in 1986 and grew up within both Hamilton and Niagara Falls, Ontario. She currently resides and works out of Toronto, Canada. Her interest in the visual arts developed at an early age, starting with the dedicated drawings of dinosaurs and lizards. Eventually the study and enjoyment of working from existing images stirred up the need in Sarah to create images of her own; ones that could reflect the world, yet also appease the personal feelings/ideas that she herself maintained. With this, her direction changed gradually from the world of animation, towards a path in fine art.

About Last Rites Gallery:
Established in 2008, Last Rites has become a premiere gallery for the Dark Art movement and a haven for artists who prefer to explore the ominous, uncomfortable, and eccentric in their work. Striving to showcase some of the most thought-provoking art in contemporary surrealism, Last Rites creates an atmosphere where the artist can harness limitless expression and the observer can reflect inward, inspired to understand that which resides in us all. Since it’s inception, media accolades now include Juxtapoz, Inked Magazine, Tattoo Society, Hi Fructose, NY Post, and the Channel 11 News. Paul Booth, featured by Rolling Stone as “King of Rock Tattoos”, opened Last Rites after 20 years of contributions to the tattoo and art community. Networks including Discovery, TLC, MSNBC, and MTV, continue to share Last Rites' reputation with the world.
On display April 30th to June 5th, 2011.

CONTACT:

Celeste Fuechsel
Assistant Director
1-212-560-0666
info@lastritesgallery.com
Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd street, 3fl New York, NY 10001

Sources

La Sumisa
Last Rites Gallery



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Tooth Filing

Human tooth sharpening is the practice of manually sharpening the teeth, usually the front incisors. Historically it was done for spiritual purposes, with some exceptions, but in modern times it is usually aesthetic in nature as an extreme form of body modification.

Historically, many cultures have practiced this form of body modification. In Bali, teeth were filed down because it was thought that the teeth represented anger, jealousy, and other similar negative emotions. The teeth were also sharpened as a rite of passage for adolescents. Teeth filing was also used by Aborigines for spiritual reasons, as did assorted Vietnamese and Sudanese tribes. In Mayan culture, the teeth were sharpened, and sometimes had designs carved into them, to distinguish those in the upper-classes. Many cultures would sharpen their teeth to imitate animals, such as the Wapare of intertropical Africa, who sharpened their teeth to imitate sharks, as well as kicking out some mandibular teeth during puberty. In Ancient China, a group called Ta-ya Kih-lau ("Kih-lau which beat out their teeth") had every woman about to wed knock out two of her anterior teeth to "prevent damage to the husband's family." Some cultures have distinctions between which sex does what to their teeth. In the central Congo region, the Upoto tribe has men file only teeth in the maxillary arch, whereas women file both mandibular and maxillary arches.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Body Adornment
Totemism and Exogamy
La Sumisa



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Body Modification Trends

Here are some of the trends when it comes to Body Modification.

Tight-lacing

Tight-lacing (also called corset training and waist training) is the practice of wearing a tightly-laced corset to achieve extreme modifications to the figure and posture and experience the sensations of a very tight corset. Those who practice tightlacing are called tightlacers. Some tightlacers call the corsets they wear training corsets.

Human Branding

Human branding or stigmatizing is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention that the resulting scar makes it permanent. This is performed using a hot or very cold branding iron. It therefore uses the physical techniques of livestock branding on a human, either with consent as a form of body modification; or under coercion, as a punishment or imposing masterly rights over an enslaved or otherwise oppressed person. It may also be practiced as a “rite of passage” such as within a tribe, or to signify membership in an organization such as a college fraternity or sorority.

Extra-ocular Implant

An extra-ocular implant (also known as eyeball jewelry) is a cosmetic implant involving a tiny piece of decorative jewelry which is implanted within the superficial, interpalpebral conjunctiva of the human eye.

It's Henna Time Again! Spirit Vision Henna is back at The Midnight Sun

Do you love henna tattoo? Have you been waiting all winter long for the weather to break? Well, the wait is over.

I am happy to say I just made up a very lovely paste, letting it rest in the sun so that the dye would happily release from the mix of henna powder, henna tea & lemon juice.

Essential oils and some tamarind were added, the paste rested another day in balmy sunshine, and I now have a cone of henna to give deep stains on the hands and feet.

For those new to henna, it is a heat-activated body dye, and thus we wait for the warmer weather. The longer you leave your henna paste on the skin, and the warmer the weather, the darker your finished color will be.

I use quality henna powder from reliable suppliers, and the finest essential oils... but you must come prepared as well. Please do not come for henna wearing lotion or sun screen as this will prevent the dye from staining your skin a deep color.

I am hoping you will leave the paste on your skin for at least three hours, so if you want henna on your feet... wear the tiniest flip flops possible. ( Some want to brave 5 Points bare foot, but I don't think this is the best idea. )

Henna tattoo designs start at $15 and go up from there. I bring a good selection of pattern books, and you are welcome to look through the many images posted on this blog, or on my henna site.

I have been doing henna tattoo for over ten years now, all henna is free hand, and I am happy to create a unique design that fits your style and your budget. It is best to call ahead for henna if you want a tattoo during the week. I am not always available on short notice, so best to plan ahead.

I will be offering henna tattoo at The Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32205 this Saturday, most probably between 1 and 4 PM. Please call 904-993-7466 for more information if need be. 

Tattoo Artist Dwaine Shannon

Tattoo Artist Dwaine Shannon of Saints And Sinners in Fells Point inks a floral back piece on Baltimore resident Bonnie Mimmack at the Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel on Friday April 8, 2011. Shop worker Shawn Sapp stands in the background dispalying a back piece that Dwaine did for him last year that won the back piece category of the annual competition at the convention.

Rib Removal

This is a cosmetic surgical operation during which the lower ribs are removed to permit the person to gain an hour-glass figure.

In this body-contouring procedure, most of the floating ribs (numbers 11 and 12) and occasionally rib 10 are removed, in conjunction with abdominoplasty, to give female patients a more feminine hourglass figure. The rear portion of the ribs are left intact to protect against trauma to internal organs. This plastic surgery operation is irreversible as the ribs do not re-grow. It is performed under general anesthesia and requires hospitalization.

Scarification Video

Most of the time people get to see the before and after results of scarification through pictures. Here is a video where you can appreciate the skills of the artist who perform this awesome way of body art expression. Enjoy

Skin and Bones Tattoo Exhibit

For centuries, long before their landlubber cousins sported shoulder skulls and bicep beauties, seafaring men have offered up their skin to the tattoo artist's needle. The results are as plain as the anchor on Popeye's forearm.

"There's a thin wall between life and death at sea," says Craig Bruns, curator of "Skin & Bones — Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor," a touring exhibition now on display at Mystic Seaport. "You're going to want talismans for good luck, and you're going to want them on your very body, almost like a second skin."

Even fictitious sailors had them.

In Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick," for example, the imposing harpooner Queequeg was covered in tattoos. "This tattooing had been the work of a departed prophet and seer of his island, who, by these hieroglyphic marks, had written out on his body a complete theory of the heavens and the Earth, and a mystical treatise on the art of attaining truth," Melville wrote. "So that Queequeg in his own proper person was a riddle to unfold; a wondrous work in one volume; but whose mysteries not even himself could read."

"Skin & Bones" unravels some of those mysteries.

Using everything from antique needles to old postcards, it traces the connection between American sailors and tattoos from Colonial times right up to current-day U.S. Coast Guard sailors. Plus, visitors can sit at a "Tattoo-A-Tron" and get their own faux tattoo.

The exhibit debuted in 2009 at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Mystic is its first port of call since then, and it will remain here through Sept. 5.

"Sailors were working folks," Bruns explains. "They were the lowest rung on the social ladder, just above slaves. They were feared. They looked weird. They had their own jargon, and they were rowdy. And they had these tattoos."

There were practical reasons for all the body art, of course.

First, tattoos were a form of identification. Sailors had little in the way of personal possessions, and they depended on tattoos to indicate their citizenship, religious affiliation and date of birth.

Tattoos also showed where a sailor had traveled, whether he crossed the equator, how many miles he sailed, significant military battles he was in, names of ships on which he served and names of shipmates who died.

"By 1770, there was already a very complex tattoo culture," Bruns says. "It's a mark of masculinity. Of belonging. Of patriotism."

"Skin & Bones" has early tattoo equipment on display, from the sail-making needles of the 1700s to the advent of Samuel O'Reilly's electric Tattoo Machine in 1891. There also are examples of tattoo "flash" — the books of tattoo designs that served as portfolios for shipboard tattoo artists.

One of those flash books, owned by a sailor named C.H. Fellowes in about 1900, is on loan from Mystic Seaport. It's one of the oldest flash books still in existence.

Beyond such artifacts, the exhibit is filled with the tattoos themselves.

You have dragons, American flags, hula girls, hearts, roses, ships, figureheads, coils of rope, mermaids, whales, eagles, shields, fish and stars. Some swabbies preferred the "twin screw" tattoo: a pair of propellers that sailors thought would keep them from drowning and propel them back to shore.

On one wall of the exhibit is the classic, 1944 Saturday Evening Post cover, "The Tattoo Artist," painted by Norman Rockwell. It shows a brawny sailor getting the name "Betty" tattooed to his arm, underneath the crossed out names "Sadie," "Rosietta," "Ming Fu," "Mimi," "Olga" and "Sing Lee."

There are nuggets of nautical tattoo trivia, too.

For instance, Macy's shoppers may be interested to know that the department store's red star logo is identical to the red star tattoo on the arm of founder Rowland Macy, who worked on a whaling ship when he was a teenager.

Here's another tidbit. Sailors believed they could survive a shipwreck if they tattooed a pig on their left foot and a rooster on their right foot. This may be because shipboard animals traveled in crates that floated if they were tossed overboard.

"Some tattoos were very allegorical, and others were pretty direct," Bruns says. "It was all part of being a sailor and being part of that world."

Today's sailors are represented in a series of video interviews with Coast Guard officers talking about their tattoos.

"There is something unique about my Neptune tattoo on my left calf," says Emilio Mercado, a petty officer recorded at the Sector Delaware Bay Station in Philadelphia. "The tattoo doesn't show the eyes of Neptune, since I'm acting as the eyes of Neptune right now for the United States Coast Guard and the nation. ... Once I retire, the eyes will be drawn in the tattoo as a completion of my duty and to ensure safety for my own life."

American sailors have decorated their bodies with tattoos for more than 200 years. Discover why in this new traveling exhibit from Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. Skin & Bones presents over two centuries of ancient and modern tattooing tools, flash (tattoo design samples), and tattoo-related art, historic photographs, and artifacts to tell the story of how tattoos entered the sailor's life, what they meant, and why they got them.

A tattoo could be a memento of a voyage, a memorial to a lost shipmate, or a talisman to ward off evil spirits. They also had a practical side: tattoos were used to prove identification in event of catastrophe or imprisonment. Regardless of the purpose, the tattoo served to prove the wearer's membership in a maritime brotherhood.

The exhibit traces the progression of purpose and design to the present. Some of the connections are surprising: The famous red star logo of Macy's department store is believed to have been inspired by a tattoo founder R.H. Macy got while on a whaling voyage in the South Pacific on the Emily Morgan (a predecessor of the Museum's 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan).

Skin & Bones brings together the most comprehensive presentation of design flash on this subject. From eagles and flags, to ships and animals, to lost shipmates and loved ones, visitors can survey the evolution of tattoo design through the decades. One of the oldest surviving books of American flash, bearing the name C.H. Fellowes, belongs to Mystic Seaport and is on display. Visitors can also see the range of tattoo-making tools, from rather crude sail-making needles to Samuel O'Reilly's revolutionary electric tattoo machine of 1891.

Visitors will be invited to get their own tattoo in an interactive "tattoo booth" where a recorded "tattoo artist" talks to them about their chosen design as he inks a pretend tattoo on their forearm using a video projection effect. They can also try their hand at sketching a tattoo and share the results.

By the end of the exhibit, you will know if you have a tattoo, thank a sailor!

Sources
Jim Shelton

Indian Tattoos - The Indian Ink Tattoo Expo 2011

Girish Giridhara’s arms are tattooed with Hindu gods, goddesses and sacred mantras. The spiritual designs are intricate but also hardly surprising for a man who once trained to be a priest.

Shaven-headed, with gold earrings and a red tilak on his forehead, the 36-year-old tattoo artist looks relaxed in a sleeveless t-shirt, knee-length shorts and flip-flops at the Indian Ink tattoo convention.

The exhibition in Mumbai this weekend is billed as India’s first, with organisers hoping to tap into a growing interest in permanent body art among young Indians.

But Girish, an exhibitor at the event, knows that body art in India is not a new trend set by cricketers or movie stars.

Tattooing has been an integral part of Indian tribal culture for centuries and no Hindu wedding is complete without the mehndi ceremony, where the bride’s hands and feet are elaborately decorated in non-permanent henna.

“It (tattooing) is documented in the Vedas (scriptures) from the time of (the Hindu epic) “It’s been around for a long time, then it disappeared for some reason. Now it’s come back,” Girish, who runs the Bramha Tattoo Studio in Bangalore. told AFP.

Reality television shows like “LA Ink” – about tattoo artists and their clients in Los Angeles – have helped changed the modern mindset towards tattoos in India, he said.

“About five years back people didn’t want to go for tattoos. They used think it was only for junkies. People are more open-minded now. It’s now being seen in a very good light.”

That change has also influenced designs, with previously popular Western and Japanese art making way for styles reflecting India’s rich and varied artistic, religious and cultural heritage and as a form of identity and self-expression.

Girish’s route into tattooing was unconventional. He comes from a family of Hindu priests and studied in temples between the age of eight and 15 to become one himself. He first became interested in body art aged eight, around the time of his threading ceremony – an initiation rite among upper-caste Hindu males to signify adult religious responsibilities – and developed his skills.

“There was a lot of opposition in my family (to him becoming a tattoo artist),” he said.

“But we asked the scholars and they said tattooing can be taken as an occupation by a priest if it involves spiritual guidance and medicinal use. So, I started tattooing.” Even though he may not be a practising priest in saffron robes, Girish still sees a divine element to his work.

A tattoo, he says, is carried with the soul after death and is a connection to the body’s past in the journey of reincarnation. He has also set himself a target of tattooing 10,000 people with the sacred Hindu syllable “om”, which he pays for himself.

“Many people can’t afford professional tattoos,” he explained. “That’s why I’m doing it… I’ve already completed about 1,000.” The sideline also allows him to educate the public about the dangers of getting cheap tattoos with unclean materials from untrained artists.

“It’s very dangerous,” said Girish. “They can spread hepatitis, HIV and skin diseases. It (tattooing) needs to be safe and knowledge is very important.” The sentiments chime with those of the convention organisers, who want to raise public awareness about how to get tattoos safely as well as the profile of the country’s most talented artists.

Co-organiser Shibhanii Shah, a 25-year-old photographer and artist, said there were some 100,000 tattoo artists in India, demonstrating the potential for development.

But she added: “We don’t have any rules on hygiene and that’s quite disappointing. India needs to get that level where we can show our talent and be as good and as safe a place as anywhere in the world to get a tattoo.”

The Indian Ink Tattoo Expo 2011 - Mumbai

The city got ready to host a first ever tattoo convention which started this weekend. Tattoo art moved from its punky, rebellious image to respectability.

Some think it is a rebellious act, while others think it's cool and consider it as a fashion statement. For many, it is a way to express themselves. Tattoos are poised to become mainstream in urban India. In ancient times, tattoos were popular in India and generally carried religious or spiritual meanings.

In modern times, India's rapid economic prosperity has brought changes in lifestyle of urban youth, who are largely going for western tattoo culture. An increasing number of tattoo studios in Mumbai is an indication of its popularity.

In fact, the latest move to popularise this art form is being undertaken in a more organised manner. This weekend, the city will play host to India's first tattoo convention.

The Indian Ink Tattoo Expo 2011, which will be held at the World Trade Centre in Cuffe Parade, will see tattoo artists from all over the country, showcasing their work. "We have 40-45 tattoo artists participating in the convention.

We have put up 35 stalls out of which 25 stalls are for the tattoo artists where they can showcase their work and anybody can walk in to get a tattoo done," says Shibanii Shah, Proprietor, Eventos Promotions and More.

The convention will also have an adequate representation from Mumbai. Apart from that, the event will have performances by various rock bands and dance troupes. Pay Rs 200 and get a pass for the two-day event.

Ask Shah if the entry fee is steep and she replies, "The whole event is targeted towards a niche audience. So people who are really interested in tattooing, won't mind paying this much."

The cost of organising the convention is around Rs 25 lakh, says Manoj Thakur, co-organiser. Renowned tattoo artists, like, Nepal's Mohan Gurung and Johnny from Singapore will be part of the event. The convention will also have a seminar on black and grey techniques by well-known tattoo artist, Nick Sharma.

Artists
While many participants are full time tattooists, others juggle between work and hobby. Prakash Baing (32), an art director at a gaming company, works as a tattoo artist in his free time. Baing, who used to paint in his studio, Packo Baing at Khargar (Navi Mumbai) to take a break from gaming, soon got hooked to tattooing. He says, "Human body is God's best creation and we decorate the body."

Baing says that his interest in tattooing developed after he visited Thailand nearly two years ago. "I went to Thailand on a holiday. I noticed that tattooing is big there. Since I was already into painting, I took a one-month course in tattooing and since then I have been hooked to it. I was already creative, the course helped me to learn the technical aspects of the art," says Baing.

After returning to Mumbai, Baing set up a studio. He now employs a full time tattoo artist in his studio. "I come to attend clients on weekends and after my work hours, usually in the evening," says Baing, who makes it clear that he does it outside his office hours.

Another part-time tattooist,Roshan Paul (23), started tattooing when he was just 17. Paul, who will be part of the convention, doesn't have a studio, and works as a visiting tattooist. Paul, who also works for an advertising firm, says, "A person is born with a tattoo. My job is just to get it on the skin."

Meaning
Many believe that tattoo is much more than just a fashion statement. "A lot of youngsters tell me that they want to get a tattoo done, but I usually don't entertain them. My clients should have an idea about what they want to get tattooed.

The idea has to be there and then it can be worked upon," says Paul. Baing agrees, "Why get something that you will regret for the rest of your life? When college kids approach me, I ask them think why they want to get something tattooed on their body.

Only after they are sure, I work on them." Unlike Baing and Paul, Al Alva is a full time tattoo artist and runs a tattoo parlour in Bandra (W). So how does he react when somebody approaches him for a tattoo? "Rather than asking why you would want a tattoo, I ask them why would you not want to have one? It is perfectly fine to have tattoos on your body," says Alva.

Business
Established artists can earn anything between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh a month, when business is good. Also, artists say gleefully that they are flooded with demands. Some appear so busy they decline new clients.

"I'm booked for the next seven months," says Paul. Dipesh Shah(28), owner of InkTribe, manufacturers and suppliers of tattoo equipment claims that he even exports tattoo machines abroad. Tattoo artists can charge anything between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for a tattoo, which is 6-12 inches long.

Acceptance
In fact tattoos, which were until recently sneered at, are gradually being accepted by society. "It is the same old thing that our forefathers had, so why would you be ashamed of it?" asks Alva. And yet tattoo artists say a large section of the Indian society is reluctant to accept this art form.

Dipesh, who got his first tattoo on his arm says, "I did not show it to my family for two years until one day my mother accidentally discovered it. Initially, my family members were upset. Now they are fine with it. I even got a picture of my parents' tattooed on my arm," says Dipesh, a biomedical engineer by profession.

A tattoo enthusiast, Dipesh has 14 tattoos on his body. Niyoti Upadhye (29), who has three tattoos on her body which includes a dragon fly on her index finger says that, says. initially her parents were not happy when they got to know that she had got a tattoo. "But after they saw it, they were fine with it," she says.

Influence
Tattoos can also have a deep impact on one's life style. For example, Vinay Narkar, an art director who will be modelling his tattoos at the convention for Paul's stall, turned vegetarian after getting his tattoo.

"I went for deep sea diving and was so touched by the beauty of the fishes that I decided to get a Blue Marlin tattooed on my arm. Earlier I used to have fish, but soon I turned vegetarian and completely stopped eating fish," says Narkar.

Many believe that the tattoo on your body becomes part of your personality and an integral part of your life. "I have seen people who have skulls or demons tattooed on their body, getting angry very fast. Similarly, tattoos like those of Ganesha have a calming effect," explains Paul. Rahul Bhatt, who starred in Bigg Boss season 4, has recently got a tattoo of a tiger done on his back.

Bhatt believes that as far as tattoo artists are concerned there is no dearth of talent but there needs to be some kind of regulation on tattoo parlours. "If a rookie decides to open a tattoo parlour and he is not well versed with the technique or doesn't maintain hygiene in the parlour, then chances of infection are there," says Bhatt.

Not only infection, tattoo artists claim that most of the time, they end up doing cover-ups. "Many of my clients ask me to work on tattoos which are already on their body. Either they have been done badly or the client is not happy. So we work on the tattoo and make it look better," explains Paul.

Regulation
The convention will be an opportunity for tattoo artists to take stock of where they stand and how they can popularise the art. In the West, tattoo parlours are required to obtain proper licenses from the authorities.

In India, it is unregulated and any fly-by-night operator can set up a tattoo parlour. If proper sterilisation method is not followed,then customers are susceptible to infection.

Says Ben Irani, an Indian American, who is going to launch his tattoo magazine, D-bloc, during the convention, "This convention will help us create a database of tattoo artists and the kind of work they are doing. It will also help us see and discuss protocol that is to be followed during tattooing."

Cosmetic Tattoos

With the expanding tattoo market, a new form of tattooing is fast emerging. Cosmetic tattooing is a technique where tattooing is done in a way to resemble make-up. For example, eyelining and permanent colours to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids are applied.

"Usually women prefer pink colour on their lips; darker shade of brown as lip liner; greyish black colour as eye liner; the colour of eyebrows depend on their hair colour," says Dr G Rana, a general practitioner who also runs a tattoo parlour in Wadala.

"We charge anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 depending on their requirements," explains Rana. Dr Ishwari Bhirude, a dentist by profession and one of Rana's customers, got a permanent darker shade of red on her lips, recently at Rana's parlour.

"I used to lick my lipstick off inadvertently and consume a lot of wax indirectly. My husband was really concerned. Hence I wanted permanent solution," says Bhirude. Bhirude, who is not a tattoo aficionado, went for cosmetic option.

"Now I just have to apply gloss," she says. Bhirude, now wants to go for a permanent eyeliner as she wants to stay, "beautiful 24X7."