Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Sunday, January 26, 2003
Tattoo you? Lots of people are getting them
All kinds of people get tattoos, and the body art is becoming more popular, says La Crosse tattoo artist Dave Herold.
"It's becoming a lot more socially acceptable to get tattooed, "said Herold, who works at Mind Altering Tattoos on Main Street. "We've done doctors, lawyers, police officers and just about any walk of life.
 Valerie Driscoll shows off her tattoo which took an estimated 60 hours of done done over a years time. Erik Daily |
"It's not as much of a social stigma as it used to be," Herold said. "I don't know. It could be changing societal (mores). It could be people are getting a little looser."
Herold knows what he is talking about if Web search statistics are any guide. "Tattoos" ranked third in a list of the most popular Internet searches in 2002, according to the folks at search engine Lycos.
"Tattoos" was the 11th most popular search term in 1999, seventh in 2000 and fourth in 2001, according to the Lycos 50 list of most popular search terms. The Japanese cartoon "Dragonball" was No. 1 last year.
"Human beings have used body markings in one form or another since human beings have existed, really," Herold said. "The reasons are as varied as the people who are getting them - for the sake of it or to signify a significant event in life. It can be a sign of faith or lack thereof.
"Twenty or 30 years ago, the tattoo industry was seen as a taboo and something that only bikers and sailors did," Herold said. "Today, we're doing a lot of professionals, a lot of college students, a lot of just everyday people."
Roses, barbed wire and dolphins are some of the more popular tattoos, Herold said. "It runs in cycles," he said. "Just like any kind of pop culture."
The most popular body art in the last year have been designs of bold, black lines known as "tribal" tattoos, Herold said.
"Right now, tribal is huge," he said. "These are big, black graphic designs."
Herold, who got his first tattoo as a minor when there were fewer regulations and restrictions, estimated he has worked on thousands of tattoos.
In La Crosse, tattoos range in price from about $30 to "whatever your imagination is, depending on how much area you want to cover," Herold said. One customer paid about $2,000.
"The thing is, it's the one thing you can do to your body that (other) people might know, (other) people might not know," Herold said. "It can completely describe you, and you only have to show it to the people you want to see it."
Barrie Monks, 50, of French Island isn't a biker or sailor, but he does have a tattoo on his left shoulder blade. Years ago, Monks decided he would get one on his 50th birthday, and he remained true to his word while vacationing in his native England.
"It's the club crest of Manchester United (Soccer) Club because that's my favorite (soccer) team," Monks said. "It just seemed a great time to it - a landmark.
"It's a proclamation," Monks said. "(I'm) making a statement I will be a lifelong Manchester United supporter. It's almost like a commitment."
It's difficult to watch a sports event these days without seeing tattoos on players. Pop princess Britney Spears has one, as does actress and talk show co-host Kelly Ripa.
"Yeah, everybody's getting them done," Herold said. "It's not that that uncommon or out of the ordinary."
TATTOO SHOW
The Midwest Tattoo Tour presents the 13th annual Shades of Blue Tattoo Show at the La Crosse Center next weekend. The event features working tattoo artists, body piercing practitioners and tattoo competition. Hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for a day and $25 for the whole weekend.
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