Tattoos In Our Generation

By Memory Camero | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Here at Flagler College tattoos are more than just a trend, but a way for students to express their personalities and share their pasts. In this article you may see your friends, your enemies, or people you do not know, but here are their stories written on skin.

Two and a half years ago Giacomo Gamble got this tattoo in memory of his father’s passing. On the top is his father’s shorthand signature and on the bottom, his father’s date of birth and day of passing.

His ink was done by tattoo artist Allen Rogers at Euphoria in Tallahassee

This tattoo is in memory of Giacomo’s grandfather. The image is a condensed flag of California to commemorate his yearly visits with his family in California.

The piece was done at Spider Murphy’s by Heather Bailey.

What is that through Giacomo’s neck? The Japanese Katana. Giacomo says his parents cut their wedding cake with this instead of the traditional cutting knife.

Cassandra Fernandez’ tattoo is a family tree representing her parents and siblings. It is a friendly reminder that “the secret to having it all is knowing that you already do.” Cassie says that her tattoo is unfinished and she hopes to add to it. Her goal when getting the tattoo was to keep it hidden and keep it professional.

This tattoo was done at Webworks in Naples by an artist named Danny.

Professor Matthew Wysocki was an undergrad when he got his first tattoo. He said, at the time, tattoos were not as common as they are today, but he fell in love with the idea of them, being able to “personalize your body”.

Some of his tattoos represent chaos, change; others represent death and how you only get one chance at life.

This tattoo is his wedding band. He says his wife and him have matching bands and have since lost their rings.

The sunrise was Alexander Barnes’ first tattoo. He was finally of age and was itching to get one. Alex, being an artist himself, drew the tattoo and entrusted his skin and his work to a sketchy tattoo parlor in Middleburg, Florida.

Alex’s sleeve is made up of many stories and meanings. Alex also drew this himself. His forearm depicts the life of a deep-sea diver, taking on the dangerous waters and finding hidden treasures. Since Alex is a diver himself, this tattoo is a representation of something he is passionate about.

Some of Alex’s other ink consists of a flamingo in a snapback and an animated surf board.

Amanuel Fiseha got this tattoo to honor his older brother. It’s Amharic for “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24.

His brother enlisted in the military at the beginning of this month.

Julian Naranjo got his tattoo when he was 19. His parents were incredibly supportive and helped him pay for the piece. The tattoo is an image of two skulls and four lotus flowers to symbolize both art and death. Julian says a lotus flower rises out of the murky waters and it is only then that it blooms. The tattoo is a constant reminder that “this life is not insufficient. That life will end and you have to do something with it.”

On March 5th, Julian will be celebrating the anniversary of his first tattoo.

This piece is in memory of Kayla Hoelzel’s grandmother, who passed away last September due to breast cancer. Kayla got the tattoo two months later.

Before her grandmother’s passing Kayla and her sister took a trip to Disney. While there, they came across a Tinkerbell charm with the word “believe” attached to it. The girls purchased it and hung it on their grandmother’s bed.

Kyle Dansereau tattoo was a symbol of coming of age. The image was drawn by Kyle himself. He took a picture of his back and drew the design over it. He wanted the tattoo to be in a location where he would not see it all the time and where it could be covered if needed.

He considers the tattoo unfinished and hopes to add on each birthday.

Tattoo artist Melissa did the piece from Altered Images in Rhode Island.

“Before this I was totally against tattoos,” Jordyn Barrett said. Over a year ago Jordyn Barrett lost her uncle to cancer. She described him as a very private person who seemed quiet and alone. He even signed all his messages “J.P.” But why? She found out after his passing that her uncle was once held hostage by a wounded criminal who he was taking to get medical help. Both him and those he loved were threatened and ever since then, he decided to keep his lives separate; work, friends, family, etc.

When he died, Jordyn explained it was as though his pain “flew away”, like a flock of birds.

When she attended his funeral, it turned out Jordyn was wrong. J.P. was incredibly private, but he wasn’t alone. Separately, he touched the lives of hundreds of people. And there they were, honoring their friend.

Roger Manduro got his tattoo on halloween of 2009. The tribal work is a scorpion and in the middle is the Chinese symbol for the year of the dog. When he got the tattoo, his father reminded him, “some decisions stay with you for the rest of your life”. But that did not stop him.

After Roger got his tattoo, it took his mother a week to adjust. It took a month until he was able to get back into competitive swimming. Roger does not regret it one bit.

Joseph Green’s tattoo is an image of pisces, his zodiac sign. He said he got his tattoo because “pisces not only represents me and my personality, but it makes me reflect on all the great memories during the month of my birthday. Good things always seem to come my way in March and creates constant good vibes in me and the people who surround me. I take pride in this tattoo and always will.” Joe believes that it is important for his ink to mean something now and in the future.

The Butterfly – this is the first tattoo Cassie Stanley ever got at age 18. She had waited a year to make sure this was exactly what she wanted to do. She found a photo of a detailed black and white butterfly, printed it out then colored it in. Cassie says a butterfly’s life span is about three weeks. She wears the tattoo to remind herself to get the most out of life, and not sweat the small stuff.

Cassie has had the tattoo for three years now.

Cassie got this tattoo in the middle of this past summer. As opposed to her last tattoo, Cassie only waited two weeks before getting this one. She says she likes seeing this one all the time. It reminds her that she likes to wear her heart on her sleeve, but wants to keep herself guarded.

This piece was done at Inksmith and Rogers in Jacksonville, Florida.

This tattoo was done in the beginning of last semester. Cassie and her friend both got tattoos together during orientation week. Cassie says this tattoo is symbolic of the first movie that made her want to get into film. Peter Pan. She fell in love with the idea that you can escape into your own reality.

This piece was done at our very own, Deborah’s Fountain of Youth

“Don’t Borrow Worry” — these words repeated in her head as Elle Figueroa tried to get her life together.

“I was 15 when I moved out of my parents house” Elle said “I was just in a really bad spot”. She had been working at bars for a while when she decided it was time to better her life. She remembered her mom’s friend telling her “Don’t Borrow Worry”. She also remembered him always being there for her. As a result, four to five years later, she made a phone call to him that would ultimately turn her life around. He sent her to college. Since then, she has excelled in her academics and is light to the people around her.

Lia Dalpini got her tattoo about two and a half years ago. The piece is a bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11. This was the first tattoo Lia ever got and she says it gives her peace for what is to come. “Sometimes I forget I have it…When I panic, I look down and remember that I don’t have to be anxious. God’s going to take care of it and I don’t have to be in control,” Lia says.

This piece was done at Naked Art Tattoos in Odenton, MD.

In times of self-doubt, Tyler Lunsford looked to journal writing as a kind of healing process. On the cover of her journal, was this bird. Tyler thought it was so beautiful and so significant to her life that she decided to get it as a tattoo. No matter what happens to the journal, her thoughts and feelings will remain.

The piece took three hours in which Tyler could not move. The artist even told her to not take deep breaths. No pressure.

This tattoo she got on her forearm, “You are beautiful”, to share with others. Tyler, with an uplifting heart, reminds the world that everyone is beautiful.