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Shotsie Gorman

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Blog Entries posted by Shotsie Gorman

  6. Shotsie Gorman
    "A CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN" WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS MONTH AT THE PORTSMOUTH UK TATTOO CONVENTION. on the 14 15th of April, It will be availablke again for FREE at ORegon ink tattoo expo April 27 28th 29th
    Her is what some people are saying about this seminar.
    Come one Come all
    "Turn off your f-ing cell phones, and uncross your arms and legs" ....and get ready to stretch your creative brain.
    *
    Shotsie Gorman's seminar is about finding inspiration in everything around you, not just everything that has been done before you. He teaches you ways to unstick your brain, and be brave enough to think, and create, outside the proverbial tattoo box.
    *
    Complete with awesome personal stories, and relevant examples that push the boundaries of the status quo, this seminar is a must for anyone who may find themselves in a creative rut, doing the same old stuff, and needs a kick in the pants. Plus, you get tattoo history, and stories, from a living legend. How cool is that?
    *
    I highly recommend this seminar. It was well worth the time.
    Thank you Mr. Shotsie!
    -Tanya Magdalena, Above the Pearl Tattoo.
    Come one Come all
    "Turn off your f-ing cell phones, and uncross your arms and legs" ....and get ready to stretch your creative brain.
    *
    Shotsie Gorman's seminar is about finding inspiration in everything around you, not just everything that has been done before you. He teaches you ways to unstick your brain, and be brave enough to think, and create, outside the proverbial tattoo box.
    *
    Complete with awesome personal stories, and relevant examples that push the boundaries of the status quo, this seminar is a must for anyone who may find themselves in a creative rut, doing the same old stuff, and needs a kick in the pants. Plus, you get tattoo history, and stories, from a living legend. How cool is that?
    *
    I highly recommend this seminar. It was well worth the time.
    Thank you Mr. Shotsie!
    -Tanya Magdalena, Above the Pearl Tattoo.
    Scott Sprouse: thanks! seminar was awesome...mind blowing! i saw your lips moving, but your voice was coming from inside my mind.
    Hey Shotsie! Sorry I haven't gotten you that testimonial yet, if you can still use it here it is, and if not well then I'd still like you to know how much I enjoyed your seminar!
    Cheers!
    "Anybody who is insecure about the artistic process and how to get the spark of inspiration needs to listen to Shotsie talk, he is warm, fierce and full of knowledge and I left his seminar feeling like I could conquer any blank piece of paper in my way."
    And here's the long version I used to get the words flowing.
    "These days anyone can be an artist it seems. Amid knock offs and impersonators, Shotsie Gorman has a gift to share with us. He knows how to unlock that inner passion, the thing that sets apart true artists from impersonators. We must fight that fear of failure, to just create something even if it is terrible. It is still something to learn from. Despite how much we think we know about ourselves and the world, it is important to know we really know nothing at all. The concept of creation is so large and weighted by our own insecurities, we must learn to use the tools we already have in our mind to create and inspire. His stories and wisdom comes from the heart and soul, and he is a gifted speaker whose words resonate deeply to all walks of artistic life."
    Olivia
    JoshuaSouth Areafiftyone
    I wrote something about your seminar My name is Joshua South, I have been tattooing for almost 23 years and recently I attended the Eugene Oregon tattoo convention. I was really excited to find out Shotsie Gorman was having a seminar as he truly is a legend in the tattoo industry. But I had no idea what it was about, didn’t matter I was in based on his reputation alone.
    When I entered the room it was filling up fast but I managed to snag an empty seat. The first thing I noticed about Shotsie was his powerful presence and control of the atmosphere. He had an extremely Zen like feeling of confidence about him that made me feel comfortable and attentive to what would be coming next.
    As he began speaking and warming up the group with a few humorous classic stories I settled in and really started to listen. Slowly I became aware of what I was learning, and that was the creative process and how it evokes from within me. He spoke in simple words and described something almost impossible to see, creation... I mean how can you tell someone with words exactly how to find the creative spot within, focus in on it and then detail it for someone else to see?
    Somehow Shotsie Gorman can and I would recommend his seminar to anyone. I felt crazy amounts of energy flashing through me as he spoke, I will never forget it and if I ever get the chance I will go again
    Thanks for the class Shotsie! You're ability to keep a class focused, on track and organized was unparalled by ANY other class I've attended. Your message (to me) was simple but amzingly helpful. Stop, shut up, listen, and create. It can't really be made any easier. As you said, if people spent half the energy creating what they personaly love as they do copying other peoples ideas then their artwork will sell itself. Thank you for helping to break the mold, detroy the rut and push people to do what they love, not what they think they can sell. I hope you find this helpful and it finds you in good health.
    ~Matteo Holmes
    Call Shotsie Gorman 707-299-0882 to book this Seminar at your next event!
  8. Shotsie Gorman
    Sacred Rose Tattoo, Best of the Bay winners, locations on University ave in Berkeley and Solano Ave. in Albany. Looking for a full or part time tattooist. Also looking for a cosmetic tattoo artist to work by appointment only or to contract out a station. This is a reputable and high end shop. You must have a versatile portfolio and at least 5 years professional shop experience. Motivated, customer service, friendly disposition a must. Serious inquiries only.
    1728 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703
    (510) 883-1083
  9. Shotsie Gorman
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2614706732839&set=a.2614706572835.2148062.1410202637&type=1&theater
    My work is placed at the NAU Museum of art in Flagstaff AZ via a National Juried show. Every two years submitting artist works are revued for placement in this show .It's a difficult one to get into. The selection process is from over 8,000 submissions froma round the US.
    I am proud to have two of my ceramic pieces in the show it's up until the end of December for those close enough to see it.
    thanks
    amigo's
    Shotsie Gorman
  10. Shotsie Gorman
    It s wonderfull to know unselfish people. I am so tired of phoney,spiritual types who are secretly bitter, fearful, unable to truly live their spiritual teachings in any other than LIP service. I am constantly pushing buttons of those types, hypocrites. All the, alters, bells and incense but no true center. Just their egos! Acting as though, they had control of the universe, could direct it for good or evil intent! Eventually leads to all sorts of tumor growth but never growth into their true paths.
  11. Shotsie Gorman
    Hoep to see my local mates! Food wine and friends see our amazinr array of art works on paper 3/D paintings Ceramics and oils on Canvas!
    Celibrating my wife Kristine's B day as well! Come join in see Sacred Rose tattoo shop a 2000 square foot beaty in Berkeley
    starts at 7pm
    Marcus Cuff of tattoo magazine will be there shooting the show Annie Sprinkle Charles Gatewood many other bay area luminaries! In cluding YOU!
  12. Shotsie Gorman
    Shotsie and His wife are a dynamic duo of vreative energy. There will be an exhibition of both of their work at SACRED ROSE TATTOO STUDIO GALLERY SR2 17 28 UNIVERSITY AVENUE BERKELEY
    Shotsie will be showing Ceramic sculpture, Paintings and works on paper, Kristine Gorm,an will be displaying a collection of large scale oils on canvas of KOI FISH!
    The show has an opening party with amazine food and wine on August Sixth Saturday from 7pm unitl?
    Show runs until September 1st 2011
    For further information call 707-299-0882 Shotsie Gorman

  13. Shotsie Gorman
    Only the mind blowing best of info from a 33 year veteren tattooists and Polymath!
    Don't miss out on this opportunity to sit for one hour for free!
    and go on a rollercoaster ride. Learn to tune your mind springs get the thought lines in order, Wrap the coils of the into universe in to an understandable vision. Se spectacular nsights fly around the rooom..
    http://oregonink.net/
  14. Shotsie Gorman
    The the Fresno convention . I will be offering my FREE seminar on unblocking you creativity!
    “ A CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN”
    A SEMINAR PRESENTED “FREE OF CHARGE” available for ARTIST ATTENDEES OF THE FRESNO TATTOO EXPO
    For Jason
    My material needs for the seminar are as Follows: are a slide projector and viewing screen. access to light control in the room, if possible a dry erase board and markers.
    Duration is one hour with Question and Answer period following.
    A power Point slide show and discussion that covers and ranges from creativity , quantum physics, Brain mapping, Creative visualizations, finding your own voice.
    How to Deal with Creative Challenges
 SHOTSIE WILL SHOW YOU HOW to deal effectively with creative abilities instead of feeling overwhelmed by numerous ideas, interests and projects. 
Work with creative resistance and dissolve creative ‘blocks’
 Cultivate ‘flow’ and bring creative projects to actual completion!
    If you wonder about your creativity or are having difficulty manifesting your creativity into a successful and fulfilling experience, you are not alone. However, you may be the only highly creative person in your immediate environment. That experience can feel psychologically isolating.
    Shotsie will provide actual tools to help you through this process.
    ARE THESE YOUR ISSUES?
    1. Trying to Find the “Right” Answer
    One of the worst aspects of formal education is the focus on the correct answer to a particular problem. While this approach helps us function in society, it hurts creative thinking because real-life issues are ambiguous. There’s often more than one “correct” answer, and the second one you come up with might be better than the first. “THERE ARE NO RIGHT ANSWER IN CREATIVITY!”
    2. Logical Thinking
    Not only is real life ambiguous, it’s often illogical to the point of madness. While critical thinking skills based on logic are one of our main strengths in evaluating the feasibility of a creative idea, it’s often the enemy of truly innovative thoughts in the first place.
    One of the best ways to escape the constraints of your own logical mind is to think . One of the reasons why metaphors work so well in communications is that we accept them as true without thinking about it. When you realize that “truth” is often symbolic, you’ll often find that you are actually free to come up with alternatives.
    3. Following Rules
    One way to view creative thinking is to look at it as a destructive force. You’re tearing away the often arbitrary rules that others have set for you, and asking either “why” or “why not” whenever confronted with the way “everyone” does things.
    This is easier said than done, since people will often defend the rules they follow even in the face of evidence that the rule doesn’t work. People love to celebrate rebels like Richard Branson, but few seem brave enough to emulate him. Quit worshipping rule breakers and start breaking some rules.
    4. Being Practical
    Like logic, practicality is hugely important when it comes to execution, but often stifles innovative ideas before they can properly blossom. Don’t allow “YOUR PERSONAL CRITIC” into the same room with your inner artist. I will discuss how to get the critic out of your head!
    5. Play is Not Work
    You’ve heard the expression “work hard and play hard.” All you have to realize is that they’re the same thing to a creative thinker.
    6. Being a “Serious” Person
    Most of what keeps us civilized boils down to conformity, consistency, shared values, and yes, thinking about things the same way everyone else does.
    .
    7. Avoiding Ambiguity
    We rationally realize that most every situation is ambiguous to some degree. And although dividing complex situations into black and white boxes can lead to disaster, we still do it. It’s an innate characteristic of human psychology to desire certainty.
    8. MAKING MISTAKES OR Being Wrong is Bad
    We hate being wrong, and yet mistakes often teach us the most. Thomas Edison was wrong 1,800 times before getting the light bulb right. Edison’s greatest strength was that he was not afraid to be wrong.
    SO IF YOU ARE WONDERING HOW THE GUYS IN THE MAGAZINES ARE GETTING ALL THOSE IDEAS , HOW TO LOSE YOUR SELF CRITIC, HOW TO ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR SELF? THEN JOIN IN
    “THE CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN”
    FREE-- AT THE Fresno CA \
    convention EugeneOr CONVENTION
  16. Shotsie Gorman
    Bad Excuses
    THE FOLLOWING IS A PARTIAL LIST OF ACTUAL WRITTEN EXCUSES GIVEN TO TEACHERS IN THE ALBURQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BY PARENTS OF STUDENTS
    1. Dear School: Please excuse John from being absent on Jan. 28, 29,
    30, 31, 32, and also 33.
    2. Please excuse Dianne from being absent yesterday. She was in bed
    with gramps.
    3. Please excuse Johnnie for being. It was his father's fault.
    4. Chris will not be in school because he has an acre in his side.
    5. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face.
    6. Excuse Gloria. She has been under the doctor.
    7. Lillie was absent from school yesterday because she had a going
    >over.
    8. My son is under the doctor's care and should not take fizical ed.
    Please execute him.
    9. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He
    was hit in the growing part.
    10. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She
    spent this weekend with the Marines.
    11. Please excuse Joyce from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday she fell
    off a tree and misplaced her hip.
    12. Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.
    13. Maryann was absent Dec. 11-16, because she had a fever, sore
    throat, headache, and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever and sorethroat, her brother had a low-grade fever. There must be the flu going around, her father even got hot last night.
    14. Please excuse Blanche from jim today. She is administrating.
    15. George was absent yesterday because he had a stomach.
    16. Ralph was absent yesterday because he had a sore trout.
    17. Please excuse Sara for being absent. She was sick and I had her
    shot.
    18. Please excuse Lupe. She is having problems with her ovals.
    19. Please excuse Pedro from being absent yesterday. He had
    diah(*crossed out*), diahoah(*crossed out*), dyah(*crossed out*) the shits.
  17. Shotsie Gorman
    "A CONVERSATION WITH
    SHOTSIE GORMAN"
    "Only the most mnd blowing seminar I have ever atended"
    "I left there so inspired I couldn't wait to apply the ides to my work"
    " My third eye was pulled open"
    " I had no idea a tattoo seminar could be this exciting"
    These are the quotes from people who have spent on hour of their time in "A CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN"
    What is this conversation?
    This seminar is unlike anything you have ever experienced. During the discussion Shotsie seems to unravel the mysteries surrounding the creative life and put them back together in a manner that you can actually use in your daily life!
    Shotsie covers so much ground it feels like a roller coaster of thought.
    Visually a feast for the eyes the slide show is accompanied by a dialogue with the source of all creativity.
    You can leave this experience knowing you have new tools to work with in your persuit of the best quality art work you have always deisred to make.
    Tap into the 32 years of creative experience with one of the tattoo communites legends.
    This is not a technical or mechanical seminar, although new creative techniques are passed over and
    the mechanics of the creative process revealed before your very eyes.
    The most often heard statement from other tattooist who have attended is." I never thought I would experiance something like this at a tattoo convention seminar!"
    at Blue lake Convention and Tattoos and Blues Santa Rosa!
  18. Shotsie Gorman
    Shotsie Gorman via Maureen Bailey
    I will be working and display new paintings at this show book appointments now! 707-299-0882
    The 19th Annual Tattoos and Blues Arts Festival
    worldtattooevents.com
    The 19th Annual Tattoos and Blues Arts Festival February 25th - 27th 2011 LOCATION Flamingo Resort Hotel 2777 4th Street Santa Rosa, CA 95409, United States HOURS Friday 12.00 - 2
  21. Shotsie Gorman
    “THE SAD THING ABOUT THIS WORLD IS;
    EVERYBODY HAS THEIR REASONS”
    August Renior
    “Some people put the best inside. Some people put the best outside “ Bob Marley
    I’m sure he had many of them, I do
    People do -- have lots of them.
    Secret ones that destroy others
    like stealth bombs of desire.
    After the scatological shrapnel slices you apart
    They line their hearts, as armor.
    The way you’d put gray flannel pants in the winter,
    red wool over your eyes,
    or sing an old Bob Wills tune.
    “Can’t pull it over my eyes” he’d say,
    before she smoked him.
    Lit up and burned
    like and old butt he found weeks later
    under a small stack of love letters piled up
    to burn for heat while living on the street.
    Everybody has them.
    Often they spread them thickly
    like a protective coating of lard over their lives.
    Even though tallow can be carved into fine art,
    it has to be left in the dark and cool.
    A place like your subconscious basement apartment.
    Seductive they are,
    once neatly spread to catch the flies
    and well supported by Nietzsche, Shoppenouer or Jesus.
    You pull them in.
    Like knowing the right card in a three card Monte game.
    Of course they can be slid to you via higher levels of consciousness
    by Swami Snatchenyoudownah’s tantric yogic practice.
    Taoists say the sage butcher never
    has to sharpen the blade while crudely slicing - often into anyone near by.
    “Look you just gotta’ get it!
    It’s my destiny to move on now.
    I have to get a new shape,
    a new karma, a new lover with a better car,
    a new line at the five and dime”
    Many times reasons are made like fine Chinese papercuts.
    You become so mesmerized by the art-
    you don’t ever see the message coming
    until it’s scissors slice through your open eyes.
    You know, the way you would cut paper
    for your kitchen drawers.
    I mean, they always starting out bright yellow
    with the idea of keeping those things neat
    and available for your everyday use.
    Every piece measured carefully
    until the third drawer where you stop measuring.
    Reasons build up like clutter.
    The most expensive clutter, paid for with the pain
    you have in your now gashed heart.
    Breakdowns in a sobbing fetal mass despite the hot shower.
    When you are alone and all of it comes.
    Drawers get stuck.
    Only the same one opens again and again.
    “Don’t fixate she said !
    Don’t obsess!”
    Small swarms of blackened shadows buzz round at three am.
    More like 3:33 blinking red now.
    Their like assholes.
    Everybody has em.
    Reasons are piled up like cigarettes
    along the curb at the stop light.
    Like the lint that forms in your pockets
    and the dust mites settling from nowhere
    on everything you hold dear.
    The tattoo marks you collect on your body
    It’s a changing world
    See it change.
    Walking away, she said.
    “I am sorry you don’t get it--it’s nothing personal.
    I mean if you were me you would understand
    I had to go! Things just got out of hand.
    I had a new job offer, friend, lover,
    a chance to get all new clutter and form new horizons--
    bigger ones with brighter linings--I--I have to go!
    Wasn’t like I wanted to be disloyal,
    dishonest or lack character.
    Those ideas are old, like you-- piled up in a back alley’s in the lower Eastside.
    It’s not just me-- I know you had your own!
    Just because you called them honor and loyalty high and mighty bullshit.
    Next, you’ll be telling me why it’s called love and forgiveness .
    Like you have some insight as to the influence you have in--my--world.
    It is mine-- you know.” She said
    Her reasons;
    poured out like so much paper toweling
    falling out of an over stuffed public toilet trash can
    that no one ever picks up.
    No one ever picks them up.
    Because
    they have
    their
    reasons.
  22. Shotsie Gorman
    SPOOKY
    What I loved, really was
    my memory of him.
    Francis, was my mothers youngest brother.
    But reflecting now I realize
    I knew Butch more by the artifacts of his life.
    My feelings were almost archeological
    After twenty years of separation
    As the facts of his death were
    related to me- by his sister sobbing
    over a crackling phone connection.
    “The prison lost his ashes in transit.”
    missing the irony, she wept.
    “It was UPS they said, those bastards!”
    bruised out on the static connection
    Butchy’s
    ashes
    to be dusted over the
    race track
    like his life lost in transit.
    Spooky, Casper the Ghost’s comic,
    bad boy other self-was India ink etched into his
    right bicep.
    First e mano by an old South Paterson Gumba
    Who owed Butch a gambling debt
    Settled as he carved him a
    Spooky tattoo.
    Jabbed in by three sewing needles tied
    together with thread one poke at a time.
    “Fuck you!” Butch said each time
    keeping the rhythm
    of
    the
    blood
    beaded
    jabs.
    Spooky was to be
    sharpened black
    and reshaped,
    It’s fedora cocked off kilter
    by me.
    In an attempt
    to revisit
    our family connection.
    Buzzing my heavy tattoo machines in the dim light
    of a sleazy Florida pool hall and beer joint.
    Listening to do-wop.
    Watching the blood drop.
    I dreamed
    in the still
    of that night
    splashed with his red Neapolitan
    feverish with the knowledge
    that it ran in my veins.
    Slurred me to sleep
    with tears for
    his suffering.
    Kneeling
    before the image of him
    Impaled on the x of his life
    And his faux tortoise shell
    hair brush, left behind,
    filled with stands of
    brillcreamed black hair
    and dandruff.
    Sitting on his
    high boy
    blond dresser
    with the loose change
    of his life spilling out
    Like an offering
    below the spooky plaster Jesus head
    with the concave eyes that followed
    my every move.
    END
    Let me know what you think!

  23. Shotsie Gorman
    MEASURING CUP
    I considered that,
    life is measured.
    Like in a sweet recipe.
    One teaspoon of cinnamon,
    after another.
    Not the rough bark to be rubbed
    over a small toothed grader,
    But more like the soft pungent powder.
    In the smell I have seen and know,
    from my travels
    there are Grenadian women,
    hunched over rolling wet bark into small cigars.
    Their sweaty palms turning rusty red.
    Hear them gossip on passion, or lack of it.
    Soulfully singing songs from childhood.
    Bountiful breasts held in flowered material.
    Spending their days hewing cinnamon cigars stuffed into large burlap bags filled to near bursting, like their skirts.
    Coarse brown bags stacked to ceiling in a huge dusty red warehouse go off into infinity behind them.
    Nothing deters their hands.
    More cinnamon than could flavor every dish
    ever served by all mankind.
    Still they work in a red fever.
    In their day, is the architecture of madness.
    Like Sisyphus’ toil, and immense passion.
    An abundant joy of life.
    Measured, one level tablespoon at a time.
    Over and over.

    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2920018862_cab1fc1b3d.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/29196838%40N00/2920018862/&usg=__s88bzLU-m_NiBnCutwojlS7ULvE=&h=500&w=333&sz=128&hl=en&start=140&zoom=1&tbnid=jXPiC98eLZuc_M:&tbnh=159&tbnw=97&ei=I18-Tb7cC5P2tgPuqNzDBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCinnamon%2Bin%2BGrenada%26hl%3Den%26c lient%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1085%26bih%3D823 %26tbs%3Disch:10%2C5880&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=481&oei=EF8-TYfAGpK-sAP5wN36BA&esq=11&page=9&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:140&tx=55&ty=113&biw=1085&bih=823
  25. Shotsie Gorman
    First North American Serial Rights
    About 1146 Words
    Copyright 2011 Shotsie Gorman
    HOUSTON TATTOO CONVENTION 1996
    The Astrodome is the world’s first posh air-conditioned sports arena--a true testament to the crass cash available from the oil industry.
    In its shadow another first was being remembered this January day a twentieth anniversary of the first-ever US Tattoo Convention, This one hosted by Lyle Tuttle and Dave Yerkew.
    The tattooed crowds were certainly causing a stir in Houston. “You boys in a rock’n’roll band or something?” stuttered out a dumbfounded policeman swarmed by tattooed types shopping in the boot store directly opposite the convention site. Actually, considering what there was to do in Houston in January, a loud fart from one of The Papa Johns Restaurant chain outfits called (about the only place reachable on foot from the hotel) could've caused a stir.
    Across from us loomed the Astrodome, like this anniversary of first Texas meeting of the inked, has contributed its own important cultural influence. It suddenly felt the two histories have overlapped in some perverse manner. Both surrounded by used car lots and pawnshops.
    Once the Astrodome’s dome construction was complete and the field was playable, the Athlete’s complained they could not see the ball through the magnification of the sun in the glass dome. The answer was to tint the glass. It worked fine. The ball could be
    seen--but golly, surprise, cut the sun and the grass dies. Hence the plastic grass ASTRO TURF IS born. It immediately contributed to more shredded knees and damaged backs and deaths in football history, large chemical poisonings of those who made it overseas The high-dollar fans were cool and comfortable, like the Caesars and Romans in their forums before them.
    By the way “Arena” is the Latin word for the sand that was spread on the floor of the Coliseum to absorb all the blood!
    It seems that the tattoo growth over the last twenty years has produced its own share of the tinted dark tone as well. Far from it’s secretive small community of tattooers it has turned darker Multiply the growth in commercial large scale tattoo events in the last 20 years and see what you get.
    I overheard a businessman talking. He had popped into the Sheraton Astrodome hotel with some business clients to have a power lunch unbeknownst to him, smack dab in the middle of the 2oth Anniversary Tattoo Convention and Reunion. On the very day there was a water main break outside the hotel. These two events causing a distinct deterioration in the lackluster personal hygiene of the tattooed and pierced participants. A startling eyeful for our Houston businesman. He glanced around with his mouth agape and exclaimed, “Say, Am I crazy, as he sniffed the air around him, or are we in the basement of the world?”
    He sort of summed up many of the mixed feelings that people had there. With him, we watched a sea of youthful, cherubic faces sporting slashes of protruding metal, boiled-up burn scars with weak tribal connections, arms, necks, and torsos (mostly exposed)covered with demons composed of garish stripes of subconscious fears and unrecognizable blurs of color.
    “ Am I crazy, or are we in the basement of the world.”
    At first I thought I should set him straight. I should give him the ass whipping historical tour of tattooing as an art form. Instead, I laughed out loud.
    Frankly, I don’t know where the next stop is on the in the elevator of the convention cult or where my beloved art form was headed in the commercial world.
    While pondering this question, I looked outside the window of the hotel, at a large looming billboard across the highway from it that read: WHO’S IS IT?” DNA TESTING CALL 1-800-DNA-8888 and thought, Maybe all of our collective scars and fears are not so far from the surface, tattooed or not. Or yes we are in Texas.
    I stood in my 10’X10’ Over priced booth and watched the swarm of humanity go round and round the show, looking for something. All wanted to be looked at and afraid of what everyone will see. On the stage they were shaking and hyperventilating when their wish is finally granted. All eyes on me.
    Along came the stories of how Enigma, was having his skull drilled and steel bolts screwed in for a later fitting of steel horns. I guess I'd never considered if the envelope of the avant guard would be the blood brain barrier. I wondered aloud if the body manipulators had considered how Astroturf could be added in.
    Another story came off the assembly line of passers-bys of suffering the pain of a surgical insertion (done in a musty mold ridden hotel room I might add!) of a plastic prosthetic under a flap of skin on his forehead. All of this blood and gouging apparently, so he could frown and form a Tim Curry devil legendary look-alike demon brow. I guess the sewing kits they provide at these hotels have some use after all.
    Sorry, I guess I am suppose to say “cool dude” and be hip, but I am well more old school and a bit revolted, not by the manipulation of the body in this manner (because that is understandable in the context of ritual but for all the angst, struggle, and suffering of pain merely to portray a trite Hollywood perversion of horror, a demon created for consumer consumption. I think a sad and dangerous interpretation of a powerful metaphor of the human struggle for understanding of what dark forces lie within.
    Or maybe I just don’t get it like I used to say to my old man. Yes, the entire cult of piercing and tattooing conventions is heading us fast somewhere but I don’t have a fucking clue where.
    I am sure there are those who could spin logical defenses for such insertions of plastics in both playing fields just to piss off the local parent groups and conservative Christians or to enjoy the felling and damaging of an athlete.
    Alas, I suspect the youth culture, and cognoscenti will interpret these comments as evidence of my totally un-hip perspective.
    This road will dead-end sooner than later. In the end I can’t help but wonder what will become of those who have chosen it.
    I am admittedly confused by my participation in this strange convention cult and by my mixed feelings toward the evolution of it. It was in many ways like a Hollywood horror film, or like a religious one, all of this is after all is said and done a commercial property not some profound statement on the inner life.
    I was beginning to identify where the real horror was. The well heeled air-conditioned fans of the astrodome watching their prize gladiators being led across the Astroturf of the modern coliseum the rest of us to be manipulated with plastic worlds and six burner stoves their blood splashed across the world for granite counter tops in the new kitchen. All while their souls are ripped to shreds by fear.
    Eventually I did turn away from the astrodome looked around me. I just felt I wanted to put my arms around some of the younger people parading by, despite their stink , praise their scratchy tattoos, pat them on the back and say it’s all right.
    But that would be totally uncool…
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