Tattoos were once associated with inmates and gangs but
are now becoming cultural icons in America.
Gary Grundtisch, co-owner of Ink Assassins at 429 Grant
St., says a trend that he’s been seeing is mother and daughter as well as
father and son duos getting tattoos together.
Tattoo acceptance in America is increasing not only shown
by the number of people who have them
but in the types of people that are getting tattoos.
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| Dan Erickson of Ink Assassins plies his art |
Rob Pawlewski, owner of Dead
Man’s Hand Tattoo on 561 Forest Ave., said he’s “seeing
more straight-laced people getting tattoos.” Pawlewski thinks that much of the
acceptance of tattoos comes from the tattoo culture reflected on television.
Shows like LA Ink help bring tattooing into the
mainstream society. Pawlewski, however, says that it’s a double-edged sword.
Shows on television help
normalize the tattoo culture but sometimes that involves highlighting the
industry in an unrealistic light.
Although tattoos are gaining acceptance throughout
America, deciding to get one is not a decision to take lightly. Pawlewski
advises that if you’re getting your first tattoo out of impulse, you may end up
regretting it.
“A first tattoo should be meaningful and it should be
done by an artist that you’re comfortable with,” Pawlewski said.
For those who jump the gun and have a piece that they’re
no longer satisfied with, they can be fixed or covered up.
Grundtisch said that the tattoos he fixes
are poorly done by artists still learning the skill. What can’t be removed can at least be
improved on, he said. By Jason Murphy
