Cover Story

For readers who have access to cable TV, the TLC reality shows "Miami Ink" and "L.A. Ink" may ring a bell. The shows revolve around two tattoo parlors and the lives of the customers and artists who work there. Maybe you've even found yourself watching them, strangely interested in tattoo culture and what goes on when someone "gets inked". Or maybe you're completely turned off by the whole idea of tattoos. Either way, it's hard to avoid the fact that tattoos are becoming a distinct part of American culture, with growing popularity.

And as their popularity grows, the old stereotypes begin to fade - so get that image of military men and biker dudes out of your head. Today's tattoo wearing citizens come from all walks of life, and they're not only for men.

An Artist's Take
Tucson is home to dozens of tattoo shops, and it isn't difficult to find a shop with a female tattoo artist. One such artist is 34-year-old Sheryl Lake, who got her first tattoo at age 29 by her own hand. "It was the first tattoo I'd ever gotten done, and I was nervous because I didn't know what it felt like," she said.

Lake has continued to work as a tattoo artist for the past five years, and describes the types of clientele she sees in the industry as "doctors and lawyers, and normal everyday people." Lake, who works at Ancient Art Tattoo, attributes the surge in the tattoo industry to better tattoo artwork, and more sterile, professional environments. "If it was still the big burly guy in the back ally, no one would be getting them" she said.

As a tattoo artist, it seems that Lake would find herself in an environment with a large male clientele, but that stereotype doesn't hold true. "Slightly more women than men get tattoos now," she said.

Lake's tattoo environment also boasts a large mural painted in the lobby reading "Rock of Ages" and a woman clinging to a cross. Ancient Art Tattoo, full of Christian imagery, is definitely not your stereotypical tattoo parlor. In fact, Lake sports a tattoo of the face of Jesus on her ankle. This conservative edge may contribute to a larger number of conservative tattoo seekers, but the tattoo surge among women is not only at this shop.

Vicki Fuhrmann, tattoo artist at Enchanted Dragon, has been tattooing for 30 years and has seen many changes within tattoo culture.

"It's not as unique anymore, but the work that's out there now is outstanding and great artists are tattooing exquisite work on people. I couldn't have imagined that 30 years ago," she said.

However, Fuhrmann, who got her first tattoo at age 13, explained that women were always a larger part of the client base than men, but generally got smaller artwork.

"Women couldn't be that flamboyant back then. Now that the ages have changed, a lot of women are getting more heavily tattooed," she said. Fuhrmann also mentioned that she still sees more women coming in for tattoos but that the ratio of women to men is "balancing out more."

Fuhrmann credits the surge in the tattoo trend to the increase in conservative people getting tattoos. "It makes people feel it's ok," she said. "There's still a lot of taboo in the industry, but it's slowly fading. People are realizing that you're not a degenerate if you have tattoos."

Why get a tattoo?
There are women who get tattoos on a whim, according to both Lake and Fuhrmann, but a majority of women are getting more than just ink on their skin.

"My Korean name tattoo is my pride in my heritage, and since I don't have any documentation of my Korean name, I wear it with pride," said 26-year-old Michelle Kim.

Kim has three tattoos, the first of which she got when she was 21. She said she wanted to be able to put a lot of thought into it before getting something so permanent. "When I get a tattoo, I think of what that symbol means to me and if it's something that I can be proud of," said Kim.

31-year-old Jaime Trudel wanted to make sure when she got a tattoo it was for the right reasons. "I prayed for years before I got my tattoos," said Trudel, "because they're something very permanent but also very personal."

Trudel has a tattoo of Eeyore on her shoulder that reminds her of her son, and a Pegasus tattoo on her chest that reminds her of her aunt who was like a mother to her, she said.

So why not carry around a photograph as a reminder?

"Because it's with me all the time. It's not something I can get rid of, lose or break. It's mine. I can carry it with me wherever I am, and it's far more valuable than anything that I can ever buy," said Trudel. "They're like badges of honor, and you have to earn that."

Nicole Cassese, a 21-year-old journalism senior at the University of Arizona, has two tattoos. "I wanted something that would be important to me forever and a symbol of my personality," she said. "I'm a creative person and I think tattoos are fascinating in general. When they have meaning I think that brings importance to the artwork."

Both Cassese and Kim represent the population of women in their 20's who are getting tattooed in masses. "Just about every girl I know has one [a tattoo]," said Cassese. "The more people that get them, the more other people feel comfortable getting them," she said.

Even pre-teens are becoming interested in tattoos as American culture becomes increasingly accepting of them.

Iliana Perez-Martinez, 11, said she wants a tattoo when she's 21.

"I wouldn't get a name. If I had a boyfriend, and had their name on my arm, I'd have to cross it out one day," she said. She is, however, interested in getting three small stars on her wrist and stars near her eye. Even though tattoos are permanent, she doesn't feel she would regret it.

"If I got something bad I'd regret it. But if I got like a little smiley face, then no," she said.

Controversy
Tattooing has been controversial amongst Christians for decades, but as it grows in popularity, more and more Christians are getting tattooed. In fact, a t-shirt made popular through internet and concert sales reads, "Jesus loves me and my tattoos."

Karen Mcutchin, 21, and her fiancé Jay Campbell consider themselves to be committed
followers of Jesus. Mcutchin doesn't have any tattoos, but her fiancé has about two-dozen.

Though Campbell obtained many of his tattoos before he became a Christian, he has acquired many more since then.

Can this be reconciled to a lifestyle that follows the Bible?

"I don't think it's a sin," said Mcutchin, "as long as the tattoo glorifies God, and there's a
reason behind it and it enables you to reach out to people."

Mcutchin explained she felt it may be easier for Christians with tattoos to reach out to a different demographic of people than a Christian who may seem more "blue-collar."

Mcutchin also feels getting a tattoo is a big decision that should not be taken lightly.

"I would tell my kids they have to wait 'til they're 18, and they have to pray about it for a long time because it's permanent and should be something that glorifies God."

18-year-old Tera Jewell agrees with this mentality.

Jewell got her first tattoo in December, the word "Adonai" on the top of her foot.

"The Lord saved my life and I wanted a conversation starter to share with people about that," said Jewell. She said she feels having a "Christian tattoo" will be a reminder of her salvation, and hopefully a tool that will allow her to bring other people to know Jesus.

"I think in the Biblical sense, people think the Bible says 'no tattoos,'" said Jewell, in regards to Leviticus 19:28. "But that's the old law, and we're [Christians] not of the law anymore."

Miriam Billings, a 57-year-old Christian, follows a more conservative view on tattoos.

"I was raised that you didn't do anything to your body that would be detrimental, that's coming from a very strict background," she said. Billings said she also feels that medically speaking, tattoos can cause infections.

"Some people want a Christian tattoo because it could be a witness, which could be true," she said. "But I think your life would show that more than a tattoo would. As a Christian myself, I wouldn't get one."

Billings also brought up the point that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

"Is it pleasing to God that we do things like that?" she said.

However, Billings is not dogmatic about the issue, and said she feels it is ultimately about the individual and their personal relationship with God.

Kim, a Christian and a pastor's daughter, also understands this sentiment, but has a slightly different take. "The Bible does say that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, but a tattoo will not make the Holy Spirit not want to live in you - that's for sure," she said.

Whether this trend is here to stay is hard to say, but the reminders of the "tattoo generation" are permanent, and there will be a lot of women still sporting this fad into their elderly years. As Sheryl Lake put it, "I don't mind that I'm going to be an old 'painted' lady, and I'm sure there are going to be a lot of other old 'painted' ladies right along with me."

© 2008 Good News Tucson™