bodyartist
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Apr 11, 2003, 11:44 PM
Post #1 of 1
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Bodyart.com is changing again - Round 2.
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We hit a bit of a slow down in the reorganization, due to illnesses and other events, but in the end it was a "good" thing.
Over the years, BODYART.COM has changed several times, each time not quite picking a totally unique identity, because it tried to both embody the founders' vision of what 'bodyart' is, and means, and the fanatically skewed version touted by the general mass of "tattoo artists."
I finally had an epiphany when, on another forum, a message was sent out about their new gallery, for people to show off their bodyart, but unless they put the name of the artist and studio, they were not allowed to submit their photos -- because if they couldn't remember that information, they were not worthy.
Those who know me, can imagine the flames that came out of my fingers in response to that! Why should a person promote a studio, or person, or anything they do not want to in order to show off their art?? GREED. ARROGANCE. Oh, a host of other words came to mind. Not only how listing the studio and artist could help locate, and identify the person, and subject them to stalkers, invasions of privacy, and other intrusions -- all for the benefit of the "tattooists." <sigh>
At that point, it became crystal clear what was wrong with BODYART.COM. We had been trying to please everyone, including this arrogant group, which, frankly, we could not stand (as a whole, that is, since there are some wonderfully spiritual tattoo artists, though far too few IMHO), and began to see the error in our ways.
We had always tried to play nice with the tattoo artists, despite their abrasive, arrogant and apparently greedy motives for "claiming" the "bodyart" as theirs, not the property of the wearer. We had tried to over look the non-spiritual nature so many of them had when it came to putting ink on (into) a person, and how what mattered was their own ego on completing the work, *NOT* the ego (Freudian meaning here) of the person who was now wearing it. We tried to reconcile our like for symbolic blackwork, that followed the harmony of the body and soul, to the multi-colored, stunningly shaded portraits that were slapped on to an open area of skin for the glorification of the artist.
Most importantly, we tried to overlook the insensitivity they, and convention organizers, had for the well being of the people attending the conventions. (I posted one specific thread to the Usenet groups several years ago when it happened. It's probably still available in Deja News.)
We have now stopped.
We like what we like, and we, as Americans, have that right, and the right to ignore that which we don't. Our troops are fighting to give the Iraqi’s that right; those of us here at home already have that right. Far too few exercise it -- the right to stand up and be different. (ooooohhh.... ).
SO.... Forget the tattooists COMPLETELY. In fact -- BAN THEM from the site! Concentrate only on the art of the wearer, the TRUE artist.
The new Bodyart.com will pretty much ignore completely the tattoo artists, and not even try to placate them, or accommodate them. Tattoo artists tend to claim the "bodyart" as theirs, while the "body" -- the actual art -- is ignored, or used as a canvas, and tossed away. Bodyart.com is about the BODIES, not the painters.
I've come to realize that Bodyart.com HAS to be DIFFERENT. It is not the place for images or galleries which list the only name of the person who put the marks on the skin, but do not mention anything about the model or canvas, the photographer, or anyone else. In fact, Bodyart.com *IS* a place for everyone who has looked at a tattooed or painted body, AND NEVER ONCE wondered -- or cared -- who the artist was. It is also a place for those who wondered "What the story is" behind the design or placement, why it was placed, not who placed it there.
When one looks at a garden, they don't wonder about the person who dug the holes, or put the seeds in the ground, or even Nature who let it grow, but rather the visionary who put it all together. In most bodyart cases, this is the body-owner. They chose the designs. They chose the artists/technician to apply it. They chose the spot to apply it. The time of day, point of their life, and everything else about it.
And yes, I'm picking on tattoo artists, because in the past they have picked on me (and this site) -- and many others. I have archives of totally arrogant emails about why should I have this domain, and not a "true" bodyartist (meaning tattooist, scratcher, or skin impigmenter). There have even been emails demanding I turn it over to a "true" bodyartist. That email newsletter mentioned above was just the final straw (oh, another cliché.).
BODYART.COM is about the BODY and the BODY AS ART, not the artist. We had attempted to make that distinction in the past by using "flash" vs. "art", but it didn't work. We defined "flash" as a disembodied image, that only showed the 'art' without any relation to the body, or the wearer, or how the wearer wore the art. This sort of art can be seen in magazines, on walls in galleries, in the pages of the trendy comic book, or just about anywhere people put color to paper or other media (even skin). There is nothing to distinguish 99% of tattoo work (especially the photos of tattoo work) from "flash" other than it has been applied to skin, rather than paper. Because of that, it really isn't BODYART, but just art applied to a body. Meaningless. Disembodied. Without spirit or soul.
BODYART is the harmony of pigment and skin. Of skin and steel or concrete. Or of any combination where the BODY is the primary element of the "art". It's a spiritual blending of skin and nature, skin and man, skin and _____. (You fill in that blank. The possibilities are endless, and do not include an artists name.)
If this pissed you off, good! That's pretty much how we've felt for almost a decade, in retrospect, trying to placate you and yours. There are dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of sites out there for you, starting with: http://tattoos.com. Join their guild, interact with other guild members, but go away. You really are not welcome here. Or, actually, you are as welcome here, as I have been made to feel at any number of "your" conventions.
On the other hand, if this intrigued you, got you excited, or maybe had you laughing your ass off, or jumping up and down in your chair, then you are the ones we are looking for. The few, the proud, the ones who can't remember (or care) where their last tattoo is from -- only that you enjoy it, it means something to you, and you like looking at others who apparently feel the same way.
This messages was 10 years in coming. We registered this domain in 1993 (a few months later in the year, but 1993). Look for BODYART.COM to be a mix of links to the best BODYART sites, as well as a gallery site, with places for individuals to highlight their art, and photographers to showcase their figure work.
Tattoo Artists: Show me your spirituality, and I'll gladly list you. You do a service to those who seek your help and guidance.
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