Your body's blank canvas

Got a tattoo?  There are plenty of Youniverse users who proudly display their skin art - check out snowboarderjohn's arm or tdjma's back for some examples.  This self-expression joins poetry in being among the top forms of artistic expression on this site - photography is still by far the most popular creative output here, but hey, this is a visual site.

If you're in the Philadelphia area, why not head over to see "Skin and Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor"?  This exhibition at the Independence Seaport Museum showcases the culture and history of skin art in America, focusing primarily on sailors' roles in promoting it and transporting it around the globe.  

The New York  Times' review highlights the breadth of the exhibited objects and archival pieces, as well as the balance struck between showcasing the sensationalist aspects of tattooing (something always to be expected with any controversial art) and a carefully documented historical journey.

Inspired? Curious? Got some unanswered tattoo questions keeping you awake at night? Then I recommend you check out that exhibition, or just start on Youniverse by paying a visit to tattoo artist irishroadtrip...