‘My body is a journal in a way. It’s like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself, whether you do it yourself with a knife or with a professional tattoo artist”. —-

Johnny Depp

Tattoo Stories Coffeetable Book…By Marvin Malzahn

“The book is associated with a great charity, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and, anything that I can do to give back is always something that I’m interested in.”(Chester Bennington) of Linkin Park.

“Our goal is to have the opportunity to excel in fulfilling projects while dedicating resources to a worthy cause” ~ Marvin Malzahn

By Tom Wright

Hollywood,Ca(Hollywood Today)4/14/2010—The purpose is that a portion of the processes benefit seriously ill children through the Starlight Children’s Foundation. A minimum of $4 will be contributed for every copy of Tattoo Stories produced on or before December 21, 2011, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $10,000. “Working with Marvin CEO of  Smart Imagination has opened a new creative avenue and demographic for Starlight that we couldn’t be more excited about.” (Paula Van Ness, CEO, Starlight).

Marvin Malzahn was asked to share his experiences to an audience of over 5,000 people about time he spent helping various children’s organizations in Ukraine. He recounted his fear that the Ukrainian children would see his tattoos and view him as a bad person, so he decided to cover his tattoos while working with them. One day some of the children noticed tattoos on his arm. The children were very inquisitive and then preceded to find sharpies and draw on themselves too. Foolishly branding his mind with the stereotype he lives to fight everyday, the children surrounded him cheering and teaching him a lesson because all they knew of Marvin was his heart, and his passion to help them. Marvin thought the one barrier in volunteering with children was his tattoos, but it took the innocence of children who didn’t even speak his language to show him that his heart was actually his strongest attribute. The children didn’t see the tattoos anymore. As an enthusiast for the art of tattoo and a life-long volunteer to secure children’s well-being, Marvin arrived at a natural decision to combine tattoos, photography and helping children into one idea, and thus began the realization of Tattoo Stories the book.

The book features a foreword written by Chester Bennington, front man of Linkin Park and Dead by Sunrise. Chester has seen the transformation of the tattoo industry over the past 15 years while growing the Club Tattoo franchise. The entrepreneur, producer and vocalist shares intimate views and experiences in a short story that reads as captivating as any of his lyrics. “The book is associated with a great charity, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and, anything that I can do to give back is always something that I’m interested in.” (Chester Bennington).

We are over coming those negative societal views on tattoos strike a question, why would anyone permanently mark themselves? Tattoo Stories by Smart Imagination (SI) reveals personal decisions made by a wide selection of people who have made tattoos a part of their life. Corporate and medical professionals, students, artists, lawyers, and many more break the taboos of ink in a way that hasn’t been done before. Marvin’s photography carries the storyline of this 5-year project on paper, video documentary and through an online community for those who are interested in tasteful photography, cultural aspects and human stories.

http://www.tattoostories.org/index2.php#/home/

Smart Imagination releases its first publication in the Tattoo Stories book series

To purchase Tattoo Stories:

USA Book rate $35.00 USA $7.00 S&H

International Book rate:: $35.00USD  $24.00 S&H

Tattoo Stories  Book Store; http://shop.smartimagination.com/

The five-year documentary depicts the stories behind tattoos while progressively raising funds for seriously ill children served by Starlight Children’s Foundation.

According to  Smart Imagination, which is a creative house and publisher with a focal point of serving humanitarian efforts, today announces it’s debut book in the Tattoo Stories series benefiting Starlight Children’s Foundation. The art of tattoos has intrigued many people in various cultures around the world. Tattoo Stories not only addresses taboos plaguing the art form, but draws readers in for an intimate look at journeys, experiences and cultures, through spoken word paired with stunning photography by Marvin Malzahn.

Smart Imagination was fortunate enough to have the foreword written by front man Chester Bennington of Linkin Park and Dead By Sunrise who is co-owner of Club Tattoo, one of the largest tattoo-associated brands in the world. Bennington comments on Tattoo Stories, “The book is associated with a great charity, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and, anything that I can do to give back is always something that I’m interested in.” Smart Imagination has gained generous support by collaborations with Club Tattoo and leading tattoo shops and artists from around the world who are featured in the publication.

Corporate and medical professionals, students, artists, lawyers, and many more open their lives to readers in this coffee table book whose mission is two-fold: 1) To create awareness, break stereotypes and prevent controversy surrounding the art of tattoos, and open the doors to breaking judgments of people by their skin and not by their words; and 2) To benefit an A-rated charity working to help seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

The combined efforts of Smart Imagination and Starlight Children’s Foundation is the driving force behind Tattoo Stories, the partnership has created a baseline in the philosophy of work for future Smart Imagination projects. “Our goal is to have the opportunity to excel in fulfilling projects while dedicating resources to a worthy cause,” describes Marvin Malzahn, president and founder, Smart Imagination, of how Tattoo Stories embraces the vision of the company. Paula Van Ness, CEO, Starlight Children’s Foundation, says, “Working with Smart Imagination has opened a new creative avenue and demographic for Starlight that we couldn’t be more excited about.”

A minimum of $4 will be contributed to Starlight Children’s Foundation for every copy of Tattoo Stories produced on or before December 31, 2011, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $10,000. For information on where to purchase the book Tattoo Stories, please visit www.tattoostories.org.

The media is invited to schedule briefings with Smart Imagination and Starlight Children’s Foundation at the Sullen Clothing sponsored book release party for Tattoo Stories from 2-6pm on April 15, 2010 at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

About Smart Imagination

Founded in 2008, Smart Imagination is the culmination of multiple projects with talented individuals operating on artistic expression and projects aiding charitable causes. Smart Imagination serves to attribute works to furthering the advancement of humanitarian efforts in the form of art, awareness, education and compassion. The company demonstrates expertise in photography, video, multimedia, strategic design, brand development, publishing, and collateral. Privately held and headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA. For more information visit www.smartimagination.com.

About Starlight Children’s Foundation™

When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For more than 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org.

History of  Tattoo Body oArt

Tattoos are marks or pictures made on different parts of body to convey certain meaning to others. Tattoo designs reflects the nature and thoughts of that person. Tattooing, a type of body art, is one of the oldest arts preserved and are very popular among youths.

History of tattoos and tattooing
Certain evidences of their practices by early tribal men have been found. Just like some Paleolithic artifacts found, which are classified as tattoo artist tools. Apart from this evidences which show that tattoos were applied to female figurines and human beings, in Egypt, between 4000 and 2000 B.C.E. The Libyon statues from the tomb of Seti show tattoo markings on the arms and legs.

Tribal tattoos and tattoo designs
There were unique ways of doing tattoo designs in old tribes. They used to sharpen a stick, burn it in a fire then after sticking holes in the skin a particular tattoo design appeared on the body. These tribal people had certain principles due to which they were practicing it. They had three major reasons for doing it pain, permanence, and the discharge of the sacred life force, Blood. There every act was related to some strong beliefs such as the ways to keep God happy. They believed it as the way to communicate with supernatural power. Premature tattooing was used to signify the fertility of the earth and of womankind, protection of life after death, the sacredness of chieftainship and other cultural factors.

Different motives of tattooing
Tattoos are used for many different reasons right from the olden days.
1) Tribe markings were done to maintain the identity of that particular tribe. This also helped them to recognize their friends in the midst of fierce wars. Another faith they had was after the death they will remain n contact with their friends.
2) Tattoos were practiced in marriages also. It was a belief that one was able to find his legal spouse or spouses in the afterlife even after separation of many years. Also as a tradition a woman who marries without first being tattooed, in the proper manner, is believed to commit a great sin.
3) Tattooing was used for youths to check for his strength. Boys were tested with the pain of tattooing and those found unsuccessful were considered to be unfit as a warrior. Girls who failed in this test were considered to be unsuitable for marriage because it was not possible for to bear the pains of child birth.
4) To show the identity to which group or gang (criminal group) they belong.
5) Pictures do communicate messages faster. They are used to show the state of mind generally to show their enthusiasm. Most of them use it as a support to their contestant during matches. Also some crazy fans put on the tattoos of their favorite actor or actresses.
6) In recent years tattoos have emerged as a sign of modern youth who puts tattoos to make his external appearance look attractive. They are believed to bring good fortune. In Burma if a person desires good luck he will have a tattoo of a parrot on his shoulder. In Thailand, a tattoo of God is also considered to bring good luck and maintain peace in ones life.

How Tattooing is done?
Generally youths can acquire go for expert or proletarian tattoo depending upon the rule in their state. The pigment used for tattooing is generally not the authorized. Tattoo artists use a vibrating instrument powered by an electrical motor. They then inject the tattoo pigment several thousand times per minutes such that it goes beneath the skin to a depth of approximately 1/50 inch. With the help of a single needle he then outlines the tattoo and then he merges different colors with five to seven needles in a needle bar. Some countries have banned these practices. The severity of rules applied on tattoos varies from imposing fine to full freedom of using them. Another procedure which most teens prefer which is unhygienic is getting their tattoos from friends or done by that youth himself.

Effects of tattoos on health
1) There is a risk of catching a blood-borne disease or infection. Care should be taken that the needles should be sterilized before being used and must not be reused. Dispose the needle so that no one else can use it.
2) The dye remaining after insertion should be thrown and not again reused.
3) The tattooist must wear latex gloves. Care should taken so that no interruption occurs during the process.
4) Some tattoos turn out bad and cause infection. The skin may get swollen and itchy. Avoid getting water on part being tattoo is applied for one or two weeks because it may cause pains. These tattoos can be removed through surgery.

Nothing comes free with every good thing comes a bad thing but its upto individual what he wants. Proper precaution and care if taken can result in making proper use of tattoos. If properly handled from hygienic point of view it won’t be a curse rather a gift for looking fashionable.

By Yogesh Ambekar