Artist Irene Peterson reports that the Neolithic man, the Ice Man whose frozen remains were discovered in the Alps, had several tattoos on his skin. Nicknamed Otzi, he was an adult male between 25 and 40, who lived 5,300 years ago. That’s how old tattoos are. Tattoos were related to ritual and religion first. They helped beautify the human body just like lipstick, feathers and jewelry, only on a more permanent basis. In recent decades tattoo were associated with a rough lifestyle attributed to drunken sailors, jailbirds, gang members and ordinary criminals. Today however, tattoos underwent a converting; they traveled up the social ladder. According to Sergio an apprentice at Tony’s Tattoo parlor the bored, privileged kids are his clients. 
Tattoos went up in the world. Gregg Carvalhal introduced his take on the subject at Access Gallery. Using his own body as canvas he designed some vertebras, a tree and assorted doodles to spread over his masculine shoulders, all in the name of Art. It’s encouraging to see a young artist exhibiting his work, with mom and dad and family friends cast as supportive critics. The light boxes are interesting, so are some of the larger paintings. The blue woman is reminiscent of the Maggy’s logo, says Shamila Oduber. I met Annie de Veer at the opening catching up with the local scene. Eleven years in Boston didn’t dim her love and appreciation of things-Aruban, especially her good friend, super woman Joseline Croes-Heronimo . . .
