Tattoos will tell a story at College of Saint Mary exhibition
- Kim Carpenter, Omaha World Herald correspondent -
Tattoos. They’re an art form that’s been around for at least 1,000 years, but they’ve never really been considered high art until recently.
Once somewhat limited to members of the military, gang members and others with “outsider” status, tattoos have gone mainstream, with roughly one in five Americans sporting at least one.
College of Saint Mary explores the history and cultural relevance of body ink with “Art of the Tattoo,” opening Thursday night at its Hillmer Art Gallery. The exhibition features over a dozen individuals with remarkable tattoos captured by Marc May, who took lush color photographs that include both larger portraits and intimate close-ups that highlight an individual tattoo’s details.
“The true meaning behind tattoos is the stories they tell and the way the images signify and celebrate those stories,” said gallery director Jeff Spencer. “It’s interesting to focus on people who wear tattoos and how they impact their lives.”
As the gallery began curating the show, it sought out people who, Spencer said, have made a commitment to the art of the tattoo.
“We wanted to allow people to be the story,” he said.
One of those stories is a woman who wears a tattoo in honor of her late husband, who served in the military.
“Her tattoo is a tribute to him, and it’s an incredibly meaningful way for her to connect with him and deal with her grief,” Spencer said.
Spencer was struck by the individuality of each subject.
“Some are very private, some are very open,” he said. “But the tattoos are all very much a part of their beings. They are a canvas for their tattoos, and what tattoo artists are doing right now is unsurpassed in history.”
College of Saint Mary Hillmer Art Gallery, 7000 Mercy Road. “Art of the Tattoo.”
Opening reception: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Through March 31.
Gallery hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. csm.edu or 402-399-2621.
