The Tripod

Can I redraw this? If you've ever gone to get a tattoo you've probably heard this oft-uttered statement. With some artists it's a hesitant question; with others it's more of a rhetorical question. It's in your best interest to work with the artist - after all, they've been doing this a lot longer than you have. As they press the stencil onto your skin you're wondering if you're doing the right thing, you're wondering if it's going to hurt like hell, you're wondering if your mother is going to kill you, you're wonder - OW … it's not that bad?

Tattooing's history often surprises people: it used to be popular among wealthy society types. It was only when the electric tattoo machine was invented that everyone else, both rich and poor, was able to get inked and the fad traveled from London to New York. Then, like most cool things, tattooing was banned.

As far back as Michelle Myles can remember, tattooing was illegal in N.Y.C. When she moved there in 1989, tattooing was a health code violation. A Parsons the New School graduate, Myles tattooed customers for eight hours a day underground while the ban was still in act, and attributes her unrivaled skill to her training days.

Myles came to Trinity on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to speak on behalf of Visiting Lecturer in the American Studies Graduate Program Ann Fitzgerald, who specializes in tattooing and other forms of body art, and also worked as a curator at the Body Art exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. This is also where the two met. Fitzgerald introduced Myles as one of the most successful tattoo parlor owners and a brilliant artist.

Naturally, getting to the top of the tattoo game wasn't easy. Myles brought up the prevalence of sexism within the industry. She recounted an episode of Tattoo Wars that she was featured on, where she competed against a rather chauvinistic male artist. It was appropriately named Battle of the Sexes. Michelle won (hands down).

Michelle talked about the changing nature of the art. Tattoo machines, tattoo styles, parlors, and clients will always change. "It's kind of cool to see how everything's going back to the beginning … When I first started tattooing I couldn't give away classic tattoos," said Myles. She favors the classic Americana and circus style tattoos and will always be game for tattooing a pin-up girl.

"I can't believe the clients that come into my shop. You don't know who's going to walk through the door," said Myles in reference to a hedge fund big wig that just paid her shop a visit. It has become the norm for parents to bring in their children for tattoos. Tattoos have been made popular by celebrities like Angelina Jolie, which Myles disapproves of. "Part of me is sad that it's been so absorbed into popular culture," she said. Clientele used to be teens sneaking out and getting one done with whatever money you had in your pocket - hence her first tattoo done at the age of 17 of a $25 small, black cat. "I wanted a panther," reminisced Myles.

Michelle has come a long way from her black cat. No longer visible, the feline has been covered up by a multitude of artwork done by various artists who she looks up to. She also owns two parlors and is the only female parlor owner in New York City. Daredevil, her original shop, and Fun City, her recently acquired shop, are both staffed by excellent artists. Before we parted ways, she told me to visit her shop whenever I was in New York and I nodded eagerly, envisioning nautical stars, skulls and daggers, and panthers. My mother is going to kill me.

Article Tools