Sunday at the Art Museum
Alana’s teen class yesterday at the Akron Art Museum went really well. Above is a picture of her getting ready. For the first half, she gave a slide lecture in the museum auditorium on the history of tattooing, tattoo mechanics, sterilization, and styles of art in tattooing. For the second she helped the kids make their own designs, and apply stencils. We were pretty surprised all the kids in the class were girls.
One of them asked for a tattoo for her birthday and her dad signed her up for Alana’s class instead. She arrived tribal back design in hand, and wanted to know how long such a thing would take. I can say for certain she won’t want that 10 years for now, but ever the teenager, was unwilling to listen. Alana explained how she had her first tattoo covered up, and how you should spend a very long time considering a design, which I’m sure this girl’s dad was happy to hear. She tried blowing off Alana’s cautionary tales about sterilization by explaining how she’d done all her own piercings, tongue included. Another girl designed a “Juggalette” tattoo for her lower back in old English. I hope in 3 years when she’s old enough to get it by herself she’s changed her mind, or wants to work at Taco Bell (home of the Juggalo) for life. I was a little disappointed that after showing examples of amazing color realism tattoos, traditional Japanese body suits and Horiyoshi pieces, the kids were basically into flash art. Humph, teenagers!
After the class our friend who works at the museum gave us a great tour, and we were able to see the Rockwell exhibit. I knew the museum was going to be nice when it reopened, but this was the first time I’ve visited since then and was really impressed.
I used to want to get the Fear Factory logo tattooed on my leg after hanging out with them after a show in high school, am damn glad I held off on that one. Of course, I have a whole sketchbook of poorly drawn tribals that I was going to get, probably the one time in my life where procrastination has seriously paid off.
As for flash art, I know four people from my high school that have the exact same piece on various parts of their bodies (one lower back, one bicep, and two on the forearm, but flipped the opposite way).
I just don’t get why someone would want something generic permanently etched onto their skin.
I cannot even begin to count the number of terrible tattoos I’ve wanted in my youth. When you treat a tattoo as a whim or a trend, it will age like a trend. If you want a timeless piece of art it requires more careful consideration. Who would want a tattoo that hundreds or thousands of other people have? What’s the point?