'EMPIRE' ! 'EMPIRE' ! .... MARIO PRAZ "House of Life "

In 1934 he went to live at the Ricci Palace, in the via Giulia. Then, that particular meander of baroque Rome lived tranquilly in a city of provinces. And the book, with a title as suggestive as The House of Life, tells the story of how that gloomy Roman palace, aged but noble, became filled with beautiful things, objects of the past found in European antiques markets. Empire-style furniture and small artefacts that the history of art with a capital 'A' considered simply to be 'art mineur' or at the very most decorative art. And there he spent his days in that over-refined setting, surrounded by trinkets, a little bit beyond life itself, like the reflected images of the Empire-style mirrors which decorated his house, and which the writer loved so much. They are, said Praz talking of the mirrors, like the glass of an aquarium which separates our own state from another, populated by silent creatures. Happy in his shipwreck - melancholy is the joy of being sad, said Victor Hugo - his life was blighted by the thought that true happiness was to be found elsewhere, in places never visited or seen, and for which he felt a profound nostalgia. The House of Life was a finalist for the 1958 Strega Prize, awarded to the prince of Lampedusa for The Leopard - a novel which was also made into a film by Luchino Visconti, with Burt Lancaster playing the part of a ruined aristocrat who the old professor in Gruppo di famigita in un inferno would later remind us of. This coincidence in the same literary event signified the meeting of two voices which belonged to the time of reflection during the postwar period, the moral landscape of Europe having changed, where writing seemed to be the only way to immortalize the old ways. The Majorcan writer Llorenç Villalonga, soul brother to the Sicilian Prince, was also have been tuned in to that time. Remember that what The Leopard and Beam, two books published simultaneously, have in common is the aristocratic decadence of two Mediterranean islands. To read any of these three authors is to return to a serene, balanced style of writing, that is to say neoclassical, which exudes clear nostalgia for the past, a lack of faith in the present, and curiosity for the future. It could be said that they lived convinced that the only paradise was paradise lost.

DANIEL CID MORAGAS



Mario Praz Memorial House
Museo Mario Praz
Palazzo Primoli
Via Zanardelli, 1

This museum stores over 1,200 objects dating from the late 18th and mid 19th centuries that were owned by the collector Mario Praz, as described in his book La Casa della Vita ("The House of Life").
Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am-1pm and 2:30-6:30pm
Guided tours every hour
Closed on Mondays

On the top floor of the Palazzo Primoli—the same building (separate entrance) that houses the Museo Napoleonico—is one of Rome's most unusual museums. As if in amber, the apartment in which the famous Italian essayist Mario Praz lived is preserved intact, decorated with a lifetime's accumulation of delightful baroque and Neoclassical art and antiques arranged and rearranged to create symmetries that take the visitor by surprise like the best trompe d'oeil. As author of The Romantic Sensibility and A History of Interior Decoration, Praz was fabled for his taste for the arcane and the bizarre; here his reputation for the same lives on. The apartment, prettily done up in Empire style, can only be seen on group tours. (fodor's)

BACK TO THE ANDY WARHOL MANSION

MTV President Splurges on Warhol's 66th Street Mansion
By Deborah Schoeneman and Carmela Ciuraru
January 23, 2000 | 7:00 p.m
Andy Warhol lived at 57 East 66th Street from 1974 until his death in 1987, dwelling there longer than anyone who has since tried to call the town house home–first a Spanish family and then an American gentleman. Maybe they were spooked by the secret trap door in the master bedroom or tales of the sordid findings of the appraisers who scoured the place after Warhol's death: green boxes of wings stacked near a television set, a medicine cabinet filled with makeup tubes and perfume bottles, and women's jewelry nestled in the four-poster canopy bed.
Now it's Tom Freston's turn. The Warhol mansion was purchased by the chairman of MTV for around $6.5 million in early January. Mr. Freston confirmed that he purchased the house, but did not wish to comment.
The 8,000-square-foot house is a hefty piece of memorabilia. Warhol bought it for $310,000 and hired decorator Jed Johnson. Together they merged their tastes in art deco with primitive contemporary paintings (none of his own) and religious emblems. Soon after Warhol's death, someone stole the street number–57–from the facade. (That prompted the Spanish family who purchased the house from Warhol's estate to erect a gate out front, which has since been removed.) On Aug. 6, 1998, in celebration of Mr. Warhol's 70th birthday, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel's Historic Landmark Preservation Center dedicated a plaque to the town house to honor the artist–the first memorial to Warhol in the city. There was, of course, a large gathering in front of the residence for the occasion.
One broker considers $6.5 million a fair price. "It's a great old house," the broker said. "Andy never did a major rehab of it. He left a lot of detail that people appreciate like trade moldings and fireplaces." The Spanish family paid the estate $3 million, but never moved in, and the last owner, who purchased the house in 1993 for $3.35 million, did some upgrading but kept the architecture intact.
The five-and-a-half-story neoclassical house has four bedrooms, a library with Juliet balconies, six fireplaces, central air-conditioning and an elevator.
Vincent Fremont, a friend of Warhol's, remembers house-sitting for the artist while he was in Japan for two weeks in 1974. "Very few people ever got into the house. It was a private hideaway," he said. "It had a nice parlor, a staircase and a formal dining room, which Andy never used after the late 70's because he liked to eat in the downstairs kitchen."
Mr. Freston and Warhol met over Warhol's television show Fifteen Minutes , said Mr. Fremont, who produced the show. Fifteen Minutes ran on MTV from 1986 to 1987. "It's kind of interesting that after all these years he bought it," said Mr. Fremont. "It's kind of terrific."
The fate of Mr. Freston's TriBeCa condominium on the top floor of 39 North Moore Street, which he bought in 1994, is unknown.

Rib Cage Tattoo

Rib cage tattoos are considered to be private as the area is not always exposed for all to see, hence it opens the doors to some unique and personal tattoo designs. Some say getting a tattoo was one of the best experiences they have ever had with art, going through a little pain to create something beautiful felt like a spiritual journey for some. Using your body as a canvas for rib cage tattoos is a great idea because the artist gets a large space to work with. Tattoos have been used since time immemorial and nowadays are quiet popular with many celebrity endorsements. 'Transformers' star Megan Fox has 'Those who danced were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music' inscribed on her right rib cage.

A tattoo is forever and if you want to remove it you will have to under go expensive cosmetic surgical procedure. It is imperative that you think before you choose a tattoo design for your rib cage, generally big and expansive designs look good in this region. If you are going to get a colored tattoo then choose colors that will complement your skin tone and the tattoo design. If you have decided to get rib cage tattoos then be ready to bear a little rib cage tattoo pain as the area has many underlying bones.

Getting a tattoo on an area which has bones underneath like the ankle or rib cage is slightly more painful than fleshy areas like the biceps. In ancient times tattoos were used to express loyalty to the tribe or to mark the rank of a warrior. Tattoos are not only trendy but are also used to express your views and beliefs.

Rib Cage Tattoo

Rib cage tattoos are considered to be private as the area is not always exposed for all to see, hence it opens the doors to some unique and personal tattoo designs. Some say getting a tattoo was one of the best experiences they have ever had with art, going through a little pain to create something beautiful felt like a spiritual journey for some. Using your body as a canvas for rib cage tattoos is a great idea because the artist gets a large space to work with. Tattoos have been used since time immemorial and nowadays are quiet popular with many celebrity endorsements. 'Transformers' star Megan Fox has 'Those who danced were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music' inscribed on her right rib cage.

A tattoo is forever and if you want to remove it you will have to under go expensive cosmetic surgical procedure. It is imperative that you think before you choose a tattoo design for your rib cage, generally big and expansive designs look good in this region. If you are going to get a colored tattoo then choose colors that will complement your skin tone and the tattoo design. If you have decided to get rib cage tattoos then be ready to bear a little rib cage tattoo pain as the area has many underlying bones.

Getting a tattoo on an area which has bones underneath like the ankle or rib cage is slightly more painful than fleshy areas like the biceps. In ancient times tattoos were used to express loyalty to the tribe or to mark the rank of a warrior. Tattoos are not only trendy but are also used to express your views and beliefs.

REMEMBERING ..."CAVENDO TUTUS" 20,000 objects for Sotheby’s Chatsworth: The Attic Sale

This autumn the auction house Sotheby’s will hold a unique sale in the English stately house of Chatsworth in Derbyshire, which is probably best known as the home of Mr Darcy in the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Chatsworth: The Attic Sale will be a three-day auction and, according to Sotheby’s, will offer an Aladdin’s cave of items at all price levels, with estimates ranging from £20 to £200,000.

Estimated to realise a sum in the region of £2.5m, the sale will comprise some 20,000 objects in around 1,400 lots.

Among these sale items will be a number of rare architectural fixtures and fittings, such as carved fireplaces, architraves, doors and shutters, which were once part of the many great houses that have featured in the Devonshire family’s history, including Chatsworth itself, Chiswick House, Hardwick Hall, Lismore Castle, Compton Place, Bolton Abbey and Devonshire House on Piccadilly in London.

Also included in the sale will be a number of pieces chosen by the Georgiana, the 5th

Duchess of Devonshire - most recently portrayed by Keira Knightley in the film The Duchess - for her personal rooms, such as a set of eleven George III painted and caned chairs.

“When we moved into Chatsworth several years ago we found the attics filled with the contents of other family homes from generations past. With Sotheby’s, we embarked on the lengthy process of selecting a group of items for sale that would allow us to create much–needed space in several rooms throughout the house,” explained the current Duke of Devonshire.

“The proceeds from the sale will be used to further some projects both at Chatsworth and on our other estates,” he added.(BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP)

Sotheby's Chatsworth: The Attic Sale

Lip Plate

Lip plate is a surface piercing mouth. Such a modification is obtained by stretching the lip piercing. Stretching the lips appeared in ancient times, is especially popular lower lip. and there are still tribes and nations that adhere to its old tradition (stretching the lips) and refer to this with all seriousness and respect, such as the Suya (Brazil), Botocudos (Brazil), Sara (Africa), Mursi (Africa) , Lobi, etc … in these nations people stretched his lips almost from infancy through old age. they do this almost all my life. and so their lips could reach enormous proportions. If you ask any of them, “why and from where it went?”, then they will not tell you the exact answer to this. it is their tradition and their ancestors have been doing this too.

Lips can pull almost indefinitely, because the lips are very different from the tissues of other body parts are capable of such an extension. diameter holes in the lips, and accordingly the size of the lips can reach 400 mm or more … in this case the sensitivity of the lips and saved all across its surface, even at large sizes. Stretching lip treat modifications of the human body. and you will not find a single animal with these dilations lips. this particular distinction between man and animal. man at his birth is physically given only his own body, which he uses to further his life and how he uses it – the case of each person, since it is a personal physical body, without which he could not physically exist. but I’m talking about stretching the lips. Extensions to your changing shape of lips, and every form of lip varies, and facial features also vary in parallel, so your face gets a “new”, I would have called body modification. First the incision in the lip and stretched. Someone is trying to reduce the time stretching their lips and enjoy this event with a scalpel. It is better to stretch from the lip piercing. All this time dilation can be compared with the moment of conception until its subsequent development, growth and learning.

Healed or fresh hole you made, you can stretch the ballroom pianist (stretching as long cone) to a diameter, with whom you feel that you can wear jewelry and to suffer the pain of stretching. But the pain – it is only temporary, because Your tissues are under tension. Over time, this tension is reduced and the pain goes away. Inside the cluttered with fabric, as in an ordinary puncture. If you are afraid of pain, then you can pull quite a bit on the shares of a millimeter, it could be the addition of 0,5 mm. But where, then, to take so many ornaments that would be inserted each time, increasing the diameter of the hole? Then you can use for this tape. This may be teflon tape / PTFE tape, or bondage tape. This is done as follows: you take out a Labret and pulls on it a layer or several layers of tape, so – as you can then paste back into your lip, but do it all on the healed hole. Next you have to wait until you feel that the tension was gone and no pain.

Your lip is completely healthy and ready for further extension. Then again, you can also pull at your discretion. but, at the sizes of more than 10 mm is recommended not to use now, or a better use of the tape. It’s much cares for lips, to the tissues inside the hole, and does not cause such pain. Teflon tape can be a long time, unlike the bondage tape, which does not stick to the skin and not dry. You need to do step by step .. In no case do not stretch your lips, when a hole has not healed. You have to completely cure it for a further step in tension. this will take time .. may be a week .. may 2 .. maybe more .. But in any case, do not pull your lips quickly. no need to hurry up with it. In order that would grow huge lips takes years.

Lip Plate

Lip plate is a surface piercing mouth. Such a modification is obtained by stretching the lip piercing. Stretching the lips appeared in ancient times, is especially popular lower lip. and there are still tribes and nations that adhere to its old tradition (stretching the lips) and refer to this with all seriousness and respect, such as the Suya (Brazil), Botocudos (Brazil), Sara (Africa), Mursi (Africa) , Lobi, etc … in these nations people stretched his lips almost from infancy through old age. they do this almost all my life. and so their lips could reach enormous proportions. If you ask any of them, “why and from where it went?”, then they will not tell you the exact answer to this. it is their tradition and their ancestors have been doing this too.

Lips can pull almost indefinitely, because the lips are very different from the tissues of other body parts are capable of such an extension. diameter holes in the lips, and accordingly the size of the lips can reach 400 mm or more … in this case the sensitivity of the lips and saved all across its surface, even at large sizes. Stretching lip treat modifications of the human body. and you will not find a single animal with these dilations lips. this particular distinction between man and animal. man at his birth is physically given only his own body, which he uses to further his life and how he uses it – the case of each person, since it is a personal physical body, without which he could not physically exist. but I’m talking about stretching the lips. Extensions to your changing shape of lips, and every form of lip varies, and facial features also vary in parallel, so your face gets a “new”, I would have called body modification. First the incision in the lip and stretched. Someone is trying to reduce the time stretching their lips and enjoy this event with a scalpel. It is better to stretch from the lip piercing. All this time dilation can be compared with the moment of conception until its subsequent development, growth and learning.

Healed or fresh hole you made, you can stretch the ballroom pianist (stretching as long cone) to a diameter, with whom you feel that you can wear jewelry and to suffer the pain of stretching. But the pain – it is only temporary, because Your tissues are under tension. Over time, this tension is reduced and the pain goes away. Inside the cluttered with fabric, as in an ordinary puncture. If you are afraid of pain, then you can pull quite a bit on the shares of a millimeter, it could be the addition of 0,5 mm. But where, then, to take so many ornaments that would be inserted each time, increasing the diameter of the hole? Then you can use for this tape. This may be teflon tape / PTFE tape, or bondage tape. This is done as follows: you take out a Labret and pulls on it a layer or several layers of tape, so – as you can then paste back into your lip, but do it all on the healed hole. Next you have to wait until you feel that the tension was gone and no pain.

Your lip is completely healthy and ready for further extension. Then again, you can also pull at your discretion. but, at the sizes of more than 10 mm is recommended not to use now, or a better use of the tape. It’s much cares for lips, to the tissues inside the hole, and does not cause such pain. Teflon tape can be a long time, unlike the bondage tape, which does not stick to the skin and not dry. You need to do step by step .. In no case do not stretch your lips, when a hole has not healed. You have to completely cure it for a further step in tension. this will take time .. may be a week .. may 2 .. maybe more .. But in any case, do not pull your lips quickly. no need to hurry up with it. In order that would grow huge lips takes years.

A 16 Inch Penis

This is the kind of incident no one wish to go thru. Trusting an artist and ending up with a huge penis tattooed on. Something like this happens often, not only when it comes to going for a bootleg tattoo. For some reason unprofessional artists tend to mess with their customers in such a messed up way. It is unacceptable to see this kind of things happening and unfortunately affects those who take their job seriously while others get a kick out of it. I believe if an artist does not want to perfom their duties or simply don't wish to tattoo someone then they simply can refuse to do it instead of doing some screwed up job especially when they have a full knowledge of their profession.

***From a news source: A 21-year-old Australian man has been charged with assault after allegedly tattooing an image of a penis on his friend's back, according to the Courier Mail.
The 25-year-old victim was visiting the amateur tattoo artist at the man's home last week when he was talked into getting a tattoo, according to the paper.

The man wanted a yin and yang symbol tattooed on his back, but allegedly got a 16-inch tattoo of a penis with an obscene gesture instead.
Australian authorities said the incident followed an argument between the two.

The victim also says he was punched and thrown out of the man's house.
The 21-year-old tattoo artist has been charged with two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and is due to appear in court next month.

A 16 Inch Penis

This is the kind of incident no one wish to go thru. Trusting an artist and ending up with a huge penis tattooed on. Something like this happens often, not only when it comes to going for a bootleg tattoo. For some reason unprofessional artists tend to mess with their customers in such a messed up way. It is unacceptable to see this kind of things happening and unfortunately affects those who take their job seriously while others get a kick out of it. I believe if an artist does not want to perfom their duties or simply don't wish to tattoo someone then they simply can refuse to do it instead of doing some screwed up job especially when they have a full knowledge of their profession.

***From a news source: A 21-year-old Australian man has been charged with assault after allegedly tattooing an image of a penis on his friend's back, according to the Courier Mail.
The 25-year-old victim was visiting the amateur tattoo artist at the man's home last week when he was talked into getting a tattoo, according to the paper.

The man wanted a yin and yang symbol tattooed on his back, but allegedly got a 16-inch tattoo of a penis with an obscene gesture instead.
Australian authorities said the incident followed an argument between the two.

The victim also says he was punched and thrown out of the man's house.
The 21-year-old tattoo artist has been charged with two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and is due to appear in court next month.

In Memoriam Sir Alec Guiness

Alec Guinness Tribute

Interview with Alec Guinness (BBC's Film Extra program 1973) Part 1

Alec Guinness as King Charles I - Execution Scene

4,500 + at Portland Tattoo Expo

Until recently, it was nearly impossible to hold national tattoo gatherings in Oregon -- a paradox for Portland, given its robust and growing tattoo industry. But about six months ago, the legal landscape changed. And one figure emerged as the leader in efforts to amend the state's rigid license rules for tattoo conventions. Fittingly, his full-time job now includes planning an annual tattoo expo, which was held Friday through Sunday in Portland. "Every tattoo artist in the world wants to do work in Portland," said Brandon Ingram, 42, publisher of Northwest Tattoo Magazine. "We wanted to make that possible, so we were very persistent with Salem. The result was huge." The Portland Tattoo Expo, held over the weekend at the Oregon Convention Center, is a testament to Ingram's tenacity. More than 4,500 people turned out over the three-day event, which was organized by Ingram and his business partner, Kevin Rasmussen, both of Eugene. The event, in its second year, featured exhibits, seminars and contests. "Winter is a hard time for tattoo artists, so coming to expos keeps me inspired," said Jeremy Justice, 33, an artist from Seattle-based Apocalypse Tattoo. "I've done the same tattoo on four different continents. I'm traveling a lot. And Portland has a lot of talented tattoo artists. A lot of big names here. You don't find that everywhere." Ingram agreed that Portland has a certain panache in the tattoo world. He estimated that the region has roughly 100 shops, twice the number that existed five years ago. Local artists at the Expo confirmed the expanding market. "The past couple of years there's been a whole lot of new people tattooing in Portland," said Craig Brown, 31, an exhibiting artist from Portland. "It's a double-edged sword because you get a bigger audience along with oversaturation." Several artists explained the growing number of tattoo shops in Portland by pointing to the popularity of tattoo schools. The schools, held in tattoo shops and state-regulated, serve as a fast-track to becoming a state-certified tattoo artist. Since 1993, tattoo artists in Oregon have been required to have state-issued licenses. A departure, many artists say, from the days when the craft was mastered through long and rigorous shop apprenticeships. But whatever the reason, tattoo shops are cropping up all over. And it's not just local artists who understand the booming demand. But state law had to change for outsiders to tap the Portland market. Before April, a tattoo artist had to obtain an Oregon license with the Oregon Health Licensing Agency to do work -- even short-term -- in the state. After two years of lobbying the state agency, Ingram helped change the rules: Out-of-state tattoo artists can now obtain a 15-day permit to do work at "settings such as fairs, carnivals or bazaars," according to the new regulations. Thus, the turnout for this year's expo. "People come from around the world now. And they come for different reasons," Ingram said. "Sometimes to make money, as a social thing, to network, to get guest spots, to trade tattoos and ideas. We'll keep this going for as long as we can."

4,500 + at Portland Tattoo Expo

Until recently, it was nearly impossible to hold national tattoo gatherings in Oregon -- a paradox for Portland, given its robust and growing tattoo industry. But about six months ago, the legal landscape changed. And one figure emerged as the leader in efforts to amend the state's rigid license rules for tattoo conventions. Fittingly, his full-time job now includes planning an annual tattoo expo, which was held Friday through Sunday in Portland. "Every tattoo artist in the world wants to do work in Portland," said Brandon Ingram, 42, publisher of Northwest Tattoo Magazine. "We wanted to make that possible, so we were very persistent with Salem. The result was huge." The Portland Tattoo Expo, held over the weekend at the Oregon Convention Center, is a testament to Ingram's tenacity. More than 4,500 people turned out over the three-day event, which was organized by Ingram and his business partner, Kevin Rasmussen, both of Eugene. The event, in its second year, featured exhibits, seminars and contests. "Winter is a hard time for tattoo artists, so coming to expos keeps me inspired," said Jeremy Justice, 33, an artist from Seattle-based Apocalypse Tattoo. "I've done the same tattoo on four different continents. I'm traveling a lot. And Portland has a lot of talented tattoo artists. A lot of big names here. You don't find that everywhere." Ingram agreed that Portland has a certain panache in the tattoo world. He estimated that the region has roughly 100 shops, twice the number that existed five years ago. Local artists at the Expo confirmed the expanding market. "The past couple of years there's been a whole lot of new people tattooing in Portland," said Craig Brown, 31, an exhibiting artist from Portland. "It's a double-edged sword because you get a bigger audience along with oversaturation." Several artists explained the growing number of tattoo shops in Portland by pointing to the popularity of tattoo schools. The schools, held in tattoo shops and state-regulated, serve as a fast-track to becoming a state-certified tattoo artist. Since 1993, tattoo artists in Oregon have been required to have state-issued licenses. A departure, many artists say, from the days when the craft was mastered through long and rigorous shop apprenticeships. But whatever the reason, tattoo shops are cropping up all over. And it's not just local artists who understand the booming demand. But state law had to change for outsiders to tap the Portland market. Before April, a tattoo artist had to obtain an Oregon license with the Oregon Health Licensing Agency to do work -- even short-term -- in the state. After two years of lobbying the state agency, Ingram helped change the rules: Out-of-state tattoo artists can now obtain a 15-day permit to do work at "settings such as fairs, carnivals or bazaars," according to the new regulations. Thus, the turnout for this year's expo. "People come from around the world now. And they come for different reasons," Ingram said. "Sometimes to make money, as a social thing, to network, to get guest spots, to trade tattoos and ideas. We'll keep this going for as long as we can."

Tattoo Machines Then and Now

With all of the people every year heading to a tattoo parlor, getting inked it is no wonder why there is a market of different types of tattoo machines that are able to be used in getting a person the look that they desire. Many of these tattoo machines are advanced and are able to give a better overall result to the person looking for a tattoo. The invention of the tattoo machine or gun as it is known these days, has allowed a person better control and more precision than previous models. There is a lot more detail that can be placed into a tattoo when a person makes the decision to get inked and not go with another symbol of pride in their life. These guns or machines, whichever you chose to call them, have made the process a lot quicker, and often times a lot less painful. Imagine had the machine not been invented, there would be a tattoo carved by hand into your skin, sounds fun right? Thanks to this invention, things are quicker and a lot less painful. As more and more places to get inked pop up, this leads to there being a need to see many of the different machines that were used needing to be replaced with new machines. This is a cost that many places have to pass along to the customers as a result of this. This cost many of the customers are willing to pay simply for the fact that they are able to ensure that they will get a quality product from a person that knows what they are doing. While these advances are giving the power back to the artist, there are some parlors that are passing the increase that they had to pay in an effort to get new machines on to their customers. Unlike many other services, there is little argument when it comes to this as a way to get a quality tattoo. This has also led to the designs having more life to them and a person even being able to go 3D with their ink. All of these advances are made within the last several years and has given rise to more possible advances in the coming years. Regardless of if it is the first or tenth tattoo, the tattoo machines of today are a lot more friendly and simple than their previous ancestors. Keep these facts in mind when you head to have your ink done on your body. Just relax and enjoy the experience, it is better than what your parents probably went through.

Tattoo Machines Then and Now

With all of the people every year heading to a tattoo parlor, getting inked it is no wonder why there is a market of different types of tattoo machines that are able to be used in getting a person the look that they desire. Many of these tattoo machines are advanced and are able to give a better overall result to the person looking for a tattoo. The invention of the tattoo machine or gun as it is known these days, has allowed a person better control and more precision than previous models. There is a lot more detail that can be placed into a tattoo when a person makes the decision to get inked and not go with another symbol of pride in their life. These guns or machines, whichever you chose to call them, have made the process a lot quicker, and often times a lot less painful. Imagine had the machine not been invented, there would be a tattoo carved by hand into your skin, sounds fun right? Thanks to this invention, things are quicker and a lot less painful. As more and more places to get inked pop up, this leads to there being a need to see many of the different machines that were used needing to be replaced with new machines. This is a cost that many places have to pass along to the customers as a result of this. This cost many of the customers are willing to pay simply for the fact that they are able to ensure that they will get a quality product from a person that knows what they are doing. While these advances are giving the power back to the artist, there are some parlors that are passing the increase that they had to pay in an effort to get new machines on to their customers. Unlike many other services, there is little argument when it comes to this as a way to get a quality tattoo. This has also led to the designs having more life to them and a person even being able to go 3D with their ink. All of these advances are made within the last several years and has given rise to more possible advances in the coming years. Regardless of if it is the first or tenth tattoo, the tattoo machines of today are a lot more friendly and simple than their previous ancestors. Keep these facts in mind when you head to have your ink done on your body. Just relax and enjoy the experience, it is better than what your parents probably went through.

Tribal Chest Tattoos

There are so many different types of tribal chest tattoos that it's impossible to say anything bad about the design in general They have lot of black ink that holds up the tattoo very well and does not fade like other colors. The designs of tribal tattoos are popular and it is easy to design one They have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. This is really an up and coming thing and it is not huge yet Many tattoos include Maori designs, Eskimo totems and Aztec sun clocks and so on Other types of these rely more on the use of heavy lines and colors to create an image. They are extremely popular if not the most popular tattoo style currently These type of tattoos have their origin the the ancient tribes of Polynesia, New Zealand(Maori tattoos), Hawaii and many other early cultures. Tribal Tattoos recounts the history of body decoration, explains the meanings and myths behind the symbols, and offers many patterns that can be combined into new motifs All the designs included can be enlarged and traced to decorate any part of the body. They were used by ancient cultures as a means by which the young become adults, but some have made it into a fashion statement A few words of advice to those people: fashions are seasonal, tattoos are not Tribal tattoos have existed for thousands of years in numerous cultures around the world. Tribes in Africa used to tattoo the bodies of their warriors with crocodile teeth and handmade ink with simple images and symbols in order to mark their place in the tribe and scare their enemies with the strength of their warriors Tribal tattoos symbolize membership in a group, family, social, or whatever At least they used to, nowadays anyone with a cool design in their mind can get one, which makes them more a decorative thing, I suppose Tribal chest tattoos are possibly one of the most sought after tattoo designs and the most popular are based on the Maori, Haida, Polynesian and Native American designs Of course the term tribal has so many different meanings and an almost limitless amount of variations and combinations These tattoos were originally used as a form of permanent tribal identification. Therefore putting on the wrong tattoo will jeopardize your chances of being one of the tribe and might just permanently mark you as an outsider They have a simple appeal: we like the way they look on us, It reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us some how to an element of mystery and ancient activity.

Tribal Chest Tattoos

There are so many different types of tribal chest tattoos that it's impossible to say anything bad about the design in general They have lot of black ink that holds up the tattoo very well and does not fade like other colors. The designs of tribal tattoos are popular and it is easy to design one They have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. This is really an up and coming thing and it is not huge yet Many tattoos include Maori designs, Eskimo totems and Aztec sun clocks and so on Other types of these rely more on the use of heavy lines and colors to create an image. They are extremely popular if not the most popular tattoo style currently These type of tattoos have their origin the the ancient tribes of Polynesia, New Zealand(Maori tattoos), Hawaii and many other early cultures. Tribal Tattoos recounts the history of body decoration, explains the meanings and myths behind the symbols, and offers many patterns that can be combined into new motifs All the designs included can be enlarged and traced to decorate any part of the body. They were used by ancient cultures as a means by which the young become adults, but some have made it into a fashion statement A few words of advice to those people: fashions are seasonal, tattoos are not Tribal tattoos have existed for thousands of years in numerous cultures around the world. Tribes in Africa used to tattoo the bodies of their warriors with crocodile teeth and handmade ink with simple images and symbols in order to mark their place in the tribe and scare their enemies with the strength of their warriors Tribal tattoos symbolize membership in a group, family, social, or whatever At least they used to, nowadays anyone with a cool design in their mind can get one, which makes them more a decorative thing, I suppose Tribal chest tattoos are possibly one of the most sought after tattoo designs and the most popular are based on the Maori, Haida, Polynesian and Native American designs Of course the term tribal has so many different meanings and an almost limitless amount of variations and combinations These tattoos were originally used as a form of permanent tribal identification. Therefore putting on the wrong tattoo will jeopardize your chances of being one of the tribe and might just permanently mark you as an outsider They have a simple appeal: we like the way they look on us, It reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us some how to an element of mystery and ancient activity.

Jason from Capricorn Body Art

Tattoo artist Jason stands as a body of art among his inked designs at his Nunawading studio. His body is 95 per cent covered in tattoos from his feet to scalp with just his knees and one thigh a clear canvas. Tattoos have become the latest fashion accessory on Melbourne streets whether it is marking an anniversary, a sentimental proverb or football premiership. Jason said the city had become one of the most heavily tattooed places in the world. “There are more tattoo shops per capita in Melbourne than anywhere else, it’s just flooded with tattoo shops,” he said. Over the past 20 years Jason has shared in those memories at his Capricorn Body Art studio where he has become a minor celebrity. Jason even met his partner, Jane, after she wandered through his doors to get a tattoo of a dragon done nine years ago. They are now part-owners of the studio and she has since added to her tat collection. Jason said tattooing sparked his interest from a young age, having grown up in a household of oil painters. He received his first tattoo at 14 of a bulldog on his leg to acknowledge his English heritage and the Western Bulldogs Football Club. “I remember being a kid and just being fascinated by them but by the time I was 17 I was pretty much covered,” he said. Jason said he could not count how many tattoos he now had engraved on his body. “I tattoo myself if I can reach the area,” he said. “A lot of people get used to the pain and you learn to switch off from it. “When people get tattoos it’s more a postcard of that era of their life. “It’s a life-changing moment for them.” Jason said he was surprised to find the number of women and men asking for tattoos had become even with the arms and legs the most common spots to be inked. The professional engraver said he regularly came across people wanting their tattoos fixed after dealing with shady artists. Jason said more unhygienic shops and home parlours had propped up as the art form became mainstream. “There is nothing to stop someone who wants to become a tattoo artist from doing it out of their own garage,” he said. “There is no legislation to stop someone from opening a shop. People have to make sure that it’s a registered tattoo studio and should do some background history.”

Jason from Capricorn Body Art

Tattoo artist Jason stands as a body of art among his inked designs at his Nunawading studio. His body is 95 per cent covered in tattoos from his feet to scalp with just his knees and one thigh a clear canvas. Tattoos have become the latest fashion accessory on Melbourne streets whether it is marking an anniversary, a sentimental proverb or football premiership. Jason said the city had become one of the most heavily tattooed places in the world. “There are more tattoo shops per capita in Melbourne than anywhere else, it’s just flooded with tattoo shops,” he said. Over the past 20 years Jason has shared in those memories at his Capricorn Body Art studio where he has become a minor celebrity. Jason even met his partner, Jane, after she wandered through his doors to get a tattoo of a dragon done nine years ago. They are now part-owners of the studio and she has since added to her tat collection. Jason said tattooing sparked his interest from a young age, having grown up in a household of oil painters. He received his first tattoo at 14 of a bulldog on his leg to acknowledge his English heritage and the Western Bulldogs Football Club. “I remember being a kid and just being fascinated by them but by the time I was 17 I was pretty much covered,” he said. Jason said he could not count how many tattoos he now had engraved on his body. “I tattoo myself if I can reach the area,” he said. “A lot of people get used to the pain and you learn to switch off from it. “When people get tattoos it’s more a postcard of that era of their life. “It’s a life-changing moment for them.” Jason said he was surprised to find the number of women and men asking for tattoos had become even with the arms and legs the most common spots to be inked. The professional engraver said he regularly came across people wanting their tattoos fixed after dealing with shady artists. Jason said more unhygienic shops and home parlours had propped up as the art form became mainstream. “There is nothing to stop someone who wants to become a tattoo artist from doing it out of their own garage,” he said. “There is no legislation to stop someone from opening a shop. People have to make sure that it’s a registered tattoo studio and should do some background history.”

Grace Kelly Tribute

GOSH !! Grace Kelly ...

THE INCREDIBLE RESTORATION OF PAVLOVSK PALACE

Pavlovsk Ruins in 1944
On February 18, 1944, a meeting was held at the House of Architects in Leningrad to discuss the fate of the ruined Palaces. The academician and architect Aleksei Shchusev, who had designed the Lenin Mausoleum, called for the immediate reconstruction of the Palaces. "if we do not do this," he said, "we who know and remember these palaces in all their glory as they were, then the next generation will never be able to reconstruct them." [12]. Even before the war had ended, the Soviet government decided to restore Pavlovsk and the other ruined palaces around Leningrad.

First the mines had to be cleared from the ruins and palace and the park. Then the remaining walls were supported with scaffolding, and casts were made of the remaining molding. Fragments of plaster molding were collected, sorting, and casts made. The color of paint still on the remaining walls was carefully noted for later copying. Photographs and early plans of the palace were brought together to help with the restoration.

As soon as the war ended, a search began for treasures stolen from the Palace. Curators collected pieces of furniture, fabric, the legs of tables and pieces of doors and gilded cornices from the German fortifications around the Palace. In the buildings which had been German headquarters, they found chairs , marble statues and rolled-up paintings from the Palace. They found other furniture and objects as far away as Riga, Tallinn, and in Konigsberg, in Germany.

Some precious objects from Pavlovsk left Russia even before the war. Four Gobelins tapestries from Pavlovsk were sold by the Soviet Government to J. Paul Getty, and are now on display in the Getty Museum in Malibu, California. [13]

The restorers used only the original variants of the architectural decoration; those created by Cameron, Brenna, Voronykhin, and Rossi. The only changes permitted were to use modern materials. Columns made of wood were replaced by poured concrete or bricks, and the ceilings of the Italian and Greek Halls were made of steel and concrete so they would be fireproof.

A special school, the Mukhina Leningrad Higher Artistic Industry School, was created in Leningrad to teach the arts of restoring architectural details, furniture, and art objects. This school produced a corps of restoration experts who worked on all the palaces around Leningrad.

The work was meticulous and difficult, and proceeded very slowly. In 1950, after six years of planting new trees, parts of the Park opened to the public. In 1955, the restoration of the facade of the Palace was completed, and restoration of the interiors began.

Fortunately for the restorers, the original plans by Cameron, Brenna, Voronykhin and Rossi still existed. Also, fragments of the original interior molding, cornices, friezes and the frames for the carvings, bas-reliefs, medallions and paintings still remained, and could be copied. In addition, there were twenty-five hundred photographic negatives taken in the early century by Benois, and another eleven thousand photographs taken just before the war. [14]

The chief of the restoration, Feodor Oleinik, was insistent that all the restoration be faithful to the original work: "Pay attention and do not use later details," he demanded. "Only the original variant, only that done by Cameron, Brenna, Vornykhin, or Rossi." Old techniques of artisans of the eighteenth century, such as painting false marble and gilding furniture, had to be relearned and applied. A silk workshop was opened in Moscow to recreate the original woven fabrics for wall coverings and upholstery, copyng the texture, color and thread counts of the originals. In forty rooms of the Palace, painted decoration on the walls and ceilings had to be precisely recreated in the original colors and designs. A Master painter and six helpers recreated the original trompe l'oeil ceilings and wall paintings. [15]

Once the interior walls and decoration had been exactly recreated, the next step was the furnishings. The twelve thousand pieces of furniture and art objects removed from their original places, from paintings and tapestries to water pitchers and glasses, had to be put back where they belonged. Furniture, doors, and parquet floors of many different colors of wood which had been burned or stolen were remade exactly like the originals. The crystal chandeliers of the eighteenth century were exactly copied.

In 1957, thirteen years after the Palace had been burned, the first seven rooms were opened to the public. In 1958, four more rooms were opened, and eleven more in 1960. The Egyptian Vestibule was finished in 1963, and the Italian Room opened in 1965. Eleven more rooms were ready by 1967. By 1977, on the 200th anniverary of the beginning of the Palace, fifty rooms were finished, and the Palace looked again as it had in the time of Maria Feodorovna.[16](wikipedia)

NEO CLASSICAL OBSESSIONS IN RUSSIA "Pavlovsk"