LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
The oldest human with evidence of tattoos on their skin was discovered in a glacier of the Otzal Alps, near the border between Austria and Italy. The man, often referred to as “Otzi the Iceman,” had 57 tattoos and can be dated back to 3300 BCE. Evidence of general tattoo art can be found as far back as 5000 BCE or older.
Tattoos are more than just ‘drawings on skin.’ They can be attributed to cultures, traditions, tribal history as well as symbols of beauty. The various reasons for tattoos are vast.
On a tribal level, tattoo markings can represent age, marital status, power and class.
In today’s world, tattoo art has expanded past traditional markings and designs. Roses, hummingbirds, inspirational quotes and even the occasional cartoon character are a few examples. The possibilities become endless in the eyes of a tattoo artist.
Locally, there are artists eager to celebrate National Tattoo Day on July 17.
Kyle Ward and Hannah Godsey, owners of The Ink Gallery, put together a flash tattoo sale to recognize the special day.
According to The Ink Gallery’s Facebook post, “All flash designs will be buy one, get one free. You can also bring your own design (within the flash parameters) and we will do it for only $75. We will also run a raffle for a free $500 tattoo. It will be a collaboration between all three of our artists. Raffle tickets will be one for $5 or five for $20. Ticket sales end Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. Winner will be announced next week.”
Ward and Godsey both find it important to remind the community that tattoos are a form of art and mean something different to everyone.
“Tattoos are expressing yourself through art on your skin. Some people buy art to put on their wall, well we put it on our skin,” said Ward. “Some people use (tattoos) to relive memories. Someone can ask ‘Oh, what’s that?’ while pointing at a tattoo silhouette of two people on a boat. That person can then be like ‘That’s my dad and I fishing.’ You really get to relive that memory every time someone asks about it, which is really cool.”
“For me, it’s about taking control of your own body, being able to express yourself through a different kind of art and not caring what other people think,” said Godsey.
Ward finds inspiration and motivation through the history of Himalayan tattoos. Traditional tattoos in the Himalayan region and tribes are created using a hand poke or tapping method. For them, the traditional belief is that tattoos drive away misfortunes, as well as showcasing different stages of one's life. Some females get markings as a symbol of maturity.
“This is one of the most fulfilling jobs. Creating an original piece of art that no one else has is one of the coolest things in the world,” said Ward. “You get to sit and have a conversation with someone you don’t know. The client becomes the artist’s friend. Getting tattooed can be like therapy to some people.”
“If I had to sum it all into one word, I would say ‘livelihood.’ I couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything else,” he added.
While not everyone has the same opinions on tattoos, the history and cultural background of the art form is one to be recognized.