The 2012 Body Art Issue

When TotalBeauty.com released its list of the country's most tattooed cities and San Diego wasn't on it, but Kansas City, Mo., and Flint, Mich., were, we nearly ran out and got WTF tattooed on our foreheads. That way, Total Beauty's editors would have a little clue as to the nature of our hostility when we walk up and head-butt them on the street.

Seriously, though, San Diego is one tatted-up-and-pierced city, and we thought it was time to give body art the attention it deserves. In this issue, you'll find out how San Diego artists passed landmark body-art legislation, why a UCSD scholar is interested in tattoo culture and what to do if you find yourself stuck with a regrettable tribal tattoo. We also profile a few tattoos that grabbed our interest and examine movies where tattoos play a starring role.



Mad props go to Rob Benavides of Flying Panther Tattoo, the cover artist who imagined

what CityBeat would look like inked on someone's back. Click here to visit the Body Art homepage or click on the individual stories below:

San Diegans led the charge for body-art regulation

UCSD fellow studies SoCal tattoo culture

In defense of the tribal tattoo

Tattoo Gary's life in ink

A list of films in which tattoos play a leading role

A wounded warrior wears his traditional hand-tap tattoo as a bad

Breast-cancer survivors' areola restorations

Justin Hudnall's fishhook roundabout tattoo

Bringing back “souvenir” tattoos

'Do not drink and ink'

Hand-tap tattooing in San Diego (podcast).

.

Bringing back “souvenir” tattoos

Ellen Wright opts for ink over keychains and other momentos

This past July, while in New York for work, the 30-year-old stylist who works at Hair Drezzers on Fire in Normal Heights, decided, on a whim, to get a tattoo of the Lower Manhattan subway map.

'Do not drink and ink'

Miles Orff has learned to live by that rule

“and then I realize that I already have a skull with an eyeball in its mouth on my stomach. So, I got the same tattoo twice!”

Justin Hudnall's fishhook roundabout tattoo

How the 'most poetic of road signs' ended up on this guy's arm

Justin Hudnall had just driven 18 straight hours to the South by Southwest music festival to write about local label Volar Records when he passed the sign. “I recognized this fishhook

Breast-cancer survivors' areola restorations

A La Jolla-based permanent-cosmetic center gives women nipple and areola tattoos

A wounded warrior wears his traditional hand-tap tattoo as a badge of honor

Joe Gracia's inked-up leg is a symbol of his soldier story

Gracia rolls up his right pant leg to show his prosthetic leg. Then he rolls up his left pant leg to reveal a tribal tattoo.

A list of films in which tattoos play a leading role

Memento, Cape Fear and more movies with inky plotlines

Tattoos in films are nothing new, but in those listed below, they go further than just making a character look badass.

Tattoo Gary's life in ink

Almost 40 years in tattoo shops will give a guy some stories to tell

When you sit down to get tattooed by Hoag-Corio you will hear plenty of stories, but two are at the top of the list.

In defense of the tribal tattoo

A member of the Tribe of Being 18 makes his case

I hail from the Tribe of Being 18, easily recognized by our butterfly tramp stamps, our Chinese symbols and tribal tattoos.

UCSD fellow studies SoCal tattoo culture

Aren’t you jealous of Todd Honma's research fellowship?

How did a young, black-metal fan with stretched ear lobes and a fascination with corpse-simulating face paint score the prestigious “Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Academic Diversity” at UCSD?