Thursday, May 21, 2009

PROTEST, AND ART CONJOINED




A chance encounter with Tiffany at Hot Cuts in Angels Camp provided a glimpse into beautiful body art.
Tiffany told me her mom got a tattoo when she was in high school' and she was aghast, embarrassed and angry. "How could you do this to me? Embarrassing me in front of my friends?", Tiffany remembered admonishing her mother.
At age 23, older, wiser, she invited her mom to go to Santa Cruz to be with her while she got her first tattoo.
"I'm so glad tattoo's are mainstream and don't have "that" reputation," she declared.
Tiffany is shown with a beautiful angel on her arm. On her foot she had a pisces tattoo in honor of her first child, Sharlee. Second daughter, Bella, was honored with a beautiful signature on her wrist.
Tattoo's have been a respected part of human culture since prehistoric times. During the 1940's, the tattoo was the territory of sailors and soldiers. Prevalent in the biker and jail culture for years gave tattoos a bad boy rep in the 1950's and 60's. It became a form of protest in the 70's and 80's. Now, mainstream.
I chuckle at the ring finger tattoo of a friend. It is a personal, political statement against marriage. It states succinctly, never again.
Now, that is determination.

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