02-12-2015

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ThuRsDay, fEb. 12 - suNDay, fEb. 15, 2015 • VOLumE 101 • IssuE 42

PhOTO by mONIca LINzmEIER, EDITOR IN chIEf; DEsIgN by kaTE LEONaRD, aRT DIREcTOR

FEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: NICK KNOTT • [email protected] Body Art Issue

INK AND AZTECSTHE BODY ART ISSUE

NICK KNOTTENTERTAINMENT EDITOR_______________________

Throughout the years we have seen tattoos carve their way out of hiding spots behind clothes and into mainstream society. Television shows such as “Miami Ink” and the subsequent spinoffs pushed tattoo culture in the living rooms of many households across the nation.

Naturally, the surge in tattoos can be seen on young people everywhere. Here at San Diego State, a simple walk to class shows students with beautiful forms of body art all around us.

This year, The Daily Aztec is taking a new approach to the annual art issue; We bring you The Body Art issue, where we mix multiple different mediums that fall under body modification for your reading pleasure — don’t worry, there’s nothing too gruesome.

San Diego has a strong community of tattoo shops all around town and even close to San Diego State. Full Circle Tattoo (page 9) and Left Hand Black Tattoo and

JENNA MACKEYPHOTO EDITOR_____________________________

A San Diego State instructor visited the USS Midway earlier this week to be welcomed as the co-director of a national security project recently launched in San Diego.

On Monday Shawn VanDiver, who instructs on international security and trade through the homeland security graduate program at SDSU, gathered with San Diego Rep. Scott Peters and other local elected officials to launch the San Diego chapter of the Truman National Security Project and welcome new members to the Truman Project’s Board of Advisors.

The 12-year Navy veteran joined the Truman Project a year ago and really enjoyed the community, which inspired him to start a chapter in San Diego.

“I went back to D.C. and saw how amazing this community was and I felt for the first time in my life like I was home,” Van Diver said. “I loved it so much, I had to establish a chapter here in San Diego and it seems to be really well received, and we’ve brought some amazing people on to the board and into the chapter.”

San Diego is the Truman Project’s 16th chapter with 15 inaugural members and is led

by VanDiver and co-director Kristen Kavanaugh, who are both veterans.

“We have a group of dynamic professionals who all have passion areas,” VanDiver said. “It’s our job to help make sure that the members of TruSD are armed with the tools and relationships to accomplish whatever policy, political and operational goals they have.”

The organization’s mission is to unite next-generation veteran, political, and policy leaders to develop and advance strong, smart and principled solutions to the global challenges Americans face. Through the new chapter, local San Diego veterans will work together with policymakers to better national security and influence national debate on a variety of topics.

“The foreign policy establishment in Washington, D.C. needs insight from San Diego’s best and brightest, and decision-makers in San Diego need locally-tailored foreign policy and national security expertise,” Executive Director of the Truman Project Michael Breen said. “The members of Truman Project’s San Diego chapter will be that central resource.”

Supporters of the chapter’s launch included Councilmember Todd Gloria and Councilmember David

#TRUMANPROJECT

SDSU instructor embarks on SD national security project

Alvarez as well as former California Assemblyman and veteran, Nathan Fletcher, who was one of three San Diegans appointed to the Truman Project’s Board of Advisors.

VanDiver is currently working to develop courses in critical infrastructure protection, corporate enterprise risk and security management with regard to international security and trade.

He says his involvement with the Truman Project means bringing a wide range of knowledge back to SDSU and into the classroom for his students.

“I’ll be able to bring back perspectives from leaders that are working on issues all over the world — Asia, Africa, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, the White House,” VanDiver said. “I’ll be able to bring guest speakers and their perspectives back to San Diego State.”

Looking into the future, VanDiver sees the San Diego chapter focusing on issues such as cybersecurity, border and immigration issues, clean technology, and military defense affairs in the region, and he hopes to broaden discussion at all levels of government, as well as non-profit and private industry.

Local elected officials convened on the USS Midway to launch the San Diego chapter of a national security organization.JENNA MACKEY, PHOTO EDITOR

Art Gallery (page 5) are two South Park shops that are paving they way for the up-and-coming part of town. Sailor’s Grave (page 8) holds down Hillcrest as one of the best shops for traditional tattoos in town.

But body art is not merely limited to tattoos. Apogee Body Piercing (page 8) pierces its clients right by the waterfront in Ocean Beach. Artist Ariel Gomez (page 5) uses tattoo style designs as inspiration for his artwork while exploring new mediums.

Getting a tattoo can be a confusing experience, but knowing the steps (page 6-7) can easily help you avoid putting overly done and cliché tattoos (page 10) permanently on your body.

Tattoos and piercings aren’t for everyone, but reading about them can be enlightening, or at the very least visually enticing. Enjoy The Body Art issue, and be sure to check out our online edition for this week’s regular content.

Thanks to Kriss Otto for modeling on the cover of this issue.

• High frequency• Limited stops• All day, every day• Connects to Rapid 235

and all Trolley lines

Plan your trip at

between SDSU and Downtown

EMILY BRENNANSTAFF WRITER____________________________

A new study conducted by a San Diego State biologist revealed that baleen whales are able to hear through their skull.

SDSU biologist Ted Cranford and University of California, San Diego structural engineer Petr Krysl showed through research that whales are able to detect low frequency sounds through the vibration of their skull.

It was previously thought that the whales would hear through a pressure mechanism, meaning sound would go through the water and through the head to then push on the ear, similar to how toothed whales hear.

But Cranford and Krysl found that these whales have two mechanisms for hearing, both the pressure mechanism as well as through bone conduction, which is the process of low frequency sounds causing the skull of the whale to bend, making the ears wiggle.

Cranford said through bone conduction the whales are between 4 to 10 times more sensitive to sounds, depending on the frequency.

“That wiggling of the ears is

Skull bones allow whales to hear#RESEARCH

primarily how they hear low frequency sounds,” Cranford said. “They are a lot more sensitive to the sounds that they hear by bone conduction than by pressure mechanism.”

These low frequency sounds allow for whales to communicate at a much farther distance, but man-made noise is making it increasingly difficult for these whales to communicate.

Energy exploration, military exercises, wind farms and commercial shipping all contribute to the man-made noise in the ocean.

“Since commercial shipping noises and the whale noises are in about the same frequency range, it might be difficult for the whales to hear each other over longer distances like they could 50 years ago because now there is a lot more noise,” Cranford said.

Because of this man-made noise, scientists and advocates have been trying to implement a policy restricting the amount of human noise through the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The act was put into place in 1972, creating policies to protect endangered marine mammals.

“The government was trying to come up with some

regulations and limitations to how much sound these animals could legitimately be exposed to,” Cranford said. “The problem with making those sort of regulations is that we didn’t know how whales hear or how sensitive they are.”

In order to put limits on the amount of man-made low frequency noise in the ocean, scientists needed to figure out how the whales hear and how sensitive they are to the noises.

The scientists have not yet pinpointed whether the whales may be having a difficult time hearing another whale due to the presence of ocean noise or whether it may be because of the “directional characteristics of the whales’ hearing systems.”

Cranford said they don’t know too much about the directional characteristics of the hearing systems just yet, but the next step in understanding whale communication and hearing is to figure out whether the direction of the sound makes any difference.

Using a scanner for rocket motors at the Hill Air Force Base, Cranford was able to scan a whole baleen whale, a minke whale.

The whale was provided by the

Researchers prepare a whale’s head to be frozen and sent to an X-ray scanner.COURTESY OF TED W. CRANFORD

3NEWSFEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: DAVID HERNANDEZ • [email protected]

Smithsonian Institution Natural Museum of Natural History and took five days to scan.

“For the first time we now have a scan of a whole whale,”

Cranford said. “We now want to use that scan to answer the question of how sensitive a whale might be to a sound that comes from behind them.”

feb. 12 - 15, 2015 • THe DAILY AZTeCeDITor: nick knott • [email protected] Body Art Issue

Who’sWho?editor in chiefMonica Linzmeier

managing editorMadison Hopkins

news editorDavid Hernandez

asst. news editorCamille Lozano

sports editorKristian Ibarra

asst. sports editorMatthew bain

opinion editorelpin Keshishzadeh

asst. opinion editorAnthony berteaux

entertainment editorNick Knott

asst. entertainment editorryo Miyauchi

features editorKelly Hillock

asst. features editorolivia Litsey

photo editorJenna Mackey

video editorWesley beights

digital content editorKelly Gardner

art directorKate Leonard

production designerCameron Salce

volunteer writersemily brennan

Courtney brownLilly GlenisterSarah Tanori

Nany KirkKC Stanfield

Josselyn MolinaStephanie Saccente

volunteer photographersChad CaddyMegan WoodJosselyn MolinLilly Glenister

Kristian Carreon_____________________________

advertising directorTony Disarufino

sales managerAdam Zabel

senior account executiveradbeh rabaz

account executivesAlfonso barajas

Jordan DennisonPeyton fedorka

Sarah richardson

accounting & contractsMichael bratt

Kalie Christensen_____________________________

street teamemily AlvarengaShelby Snyder

Conor NordbergPaige Plassmeyer

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graphics specialistChris blakemore

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Courtney BrownSTAff wriTer____________________________

The 21st century brought about many changes and challenges to social norms. The growing popularity of tattoos, for instance, is challenging the public taboo of visible tattoos in the workplace. There was a time when a visible tattoo was the kiss of death for employees. Managers and CEOs of Corporate America viewed tattoos as unprofessional. In today’s day and age there is much more diversity and acceptance in the workplace, however it’s still legal for employers to turn away candidates for having tattoos. Just how much has professional perception changed?

Just like all generations, Millennials have a distinct personality. They are confident, open-minded and hopeful for the future. So when it comes to self-expression, many young people view tattoos as a way to openly display their identity. About 40 percent of Millennials, those born between the early ‘80s and the early 2000s, have tattoos according to Pew Research Center.

However, visible tattoos are still a red flag to some employers. Bobbie Gray, interim associate director at San Diego State Career Services, weighed in on the issue and reminds students that more experience with different employers leads to

a more enriched work ethic. That means understanding that people have different stances on tattoos in the workplace and the appearance of tattoos may prevent certain job opportunities from happening.

“It depends on what and where it is,” Gray said. “And what kind of message you’re putting out there.” She said the same goes for the way a person is dressed; it all depends on how one wants to present themselves.

Gray said the biggest thing employers are looking for in individuals today is attitude. Those thirsty for experience and a willingness to put in extra effort will be successful in finding jobs.

“Students need to spend more time with career services and employers,” Gray said. In doing so, they would learn necessary and helpful skills and ultimately learn what employers are looking for.

Perhaps those with enough drive to spend time gaining work experience might come to the conclusion that tattoos are too much of a burden. But then again, should free expression be compromised to please employer expectations?

Gray said yes — rather, it’s not a compromise or sacrifice when an employer has something an employee wants. Even coming out of the recession, Millennials should still have the mindset of doing whatever it takes to get a job and gain experience.

According to Career Services, 78 percent of the SDSU student

body is employed. That statistic alone is a testament to the drive college students have to work for job experience and get an education. The huge wave of young people entering the work force makes the tattoo taboo extremely relevant. If tattoos are becoming more mainstream in general, especially among the younger demographic, is tattoo discrimination a problem of the past?

According to Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work, 76 percent of employees feel tattoos and piercing hurt your job interview chances. However, 73 percent of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos.

Despite how much the perception of tattoos has changed in the past decades, people are still afraid their tattoos will prevent them from being hired.

It all seems pretty outdated. Employers need to be hiring based on the performance, qualifications and attitude of an employee. Although the status quo regarding tattoos has evolved, it’s too common to hear about overly qualified candidates being turned away from a job because of their individual right to be tattooed.

However cliché it sounds, the character of a person should be judged by what’s on the inside and not what’s tattooed on the outside.

Tattoos etch into workplace#WorKINK

thinkstock

WE ASKED YOU: AztEcS, DO YOU hAvE AnY tAttOOS?

28.78%YES AnD i lOvE it/thEm

25.18%nO, bUt i WAnt OnE

25.18%nO, AnD i DOn’t WAnt OnE

16.55%i DOn’t hAvE AnY YEt, bUt mAYbE

4.32%YES, bUt i rEgrEt gEtting OnE

COMMENTARY

the daily aztec received 156 responses to its online poll.

The Body Art IssueFEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: NICK KNOTT • [email protected]

LILLY GLENISTERSENIOR STAFF WRITER_____________________________

For the past few years, one of the most hip places to be in San Diego has been the up-and-coming, eclectic neighborhood of South Park. With an influx of people flocking to the prime location each day for good eats and unique shopping, it’s no wonder why property values have also been on the rise. Some of its popularity needs to be accredited to the neighborhood’s unique local business scene, and one business that should not be overlooked is Left Hand Black Tattoo Studio and Gallery.

Originally a private studio in North County, Left Hand Black is a full custom and professional tattoo studio nestled on Fern Street in the heart of the South Park neighborhood. Since its

founding by artist Adam Turk and his wife Crystal in July 2012, Left Hand Black has created a buzz regarding its distinct approach to the tattoo industry.

Upon entry to the shop, it’s easy to see why. With a far-from-average décor that incorporates the couple’s personal style, Left Hand Black focuses on an aesthetic that caters to the bizarre. The tattoo shop piques visitor’s curiosity with its variety of antiques, taxidermy and a full-fledged art gallery.

Left Hand Black also oozes artistic appeal with its talented artists, who specialize in different styles from black-and-grey portraits to sacred geometry and dot work.

Turk, who has been tattooing professionally for more than 15 years, specializes in large-scale pieces with bold and dynamic illustration, putting a twist on

traditional style tattoos. Before going out on his own and opening Left Hand Black, Turk worked at the well-known Guru Tattoo in Pacific Beach. He also has been featured in world-renowned tattoo publications and won multiple awards for his artwork.

Although there are several other tattoo shops in the South Park area, Turk says the businesses don’t interfere with each other.

“Nobody is really stepping on anyone’s toes,” he said. “Everyone’s doing something different.”

Left Hand Black has been doing its own thing since its conception. The husband-and-wife team executed its unique vision by carefully choosing everything from the location to the artists.

Another distinct feature of Left Hand Black is the

bimonthly art exhibits held in house. Crystal Turk, who handles much of the shop’s business aspects, has organized numerous shows in the past, including the intriguing Horror Business art show that featured paintings on meat cleavers from top artists from around the world.

Starting tomorrow it’ll be a busy weekend for Left Hand Black as they will have special Friday the 13th tattoo designs from pre-set flash sheets for $13 and $31. On Saturday, Feb. 14, the shop will be hosting its third annual Till Death group art show from 6-10 p.m. in honor of Valentine’s Day.

“Every Valentine’s Day is boring: you go to dinner, you get flowers,” Crystal said. “It gives people the perfect thing to do in the neighborhood for Valentine’s.” With the theme “romance, love or lack thereof,”

the Till Death show will feature works such as tattoo art, fine art, sculpture and taxidermy from over 50 artists, local and abroad. The Left Hand Black owners have taken copious amounts of time, care and effort in order to organize which artists and artwork would be chosen.

“This show is always a surprise because everybody has their own way of interpreting the theme,” Crystal said.

Left Hand Black will also be serving free specially brewed Till Death beer with a valid ID and will be giving away free giclee prints made by Turk with any art show purchase.

Instead of simply blending into the neighborhood, Left Hand Black Tattoo Studio and Gallery stands out, staying true to a vision of individuality with a one-of-a-kind ambiance and high standards of professionalism.

SARAH TANORISENIOR STAFF WRITER____________________________

While many artists explain their emphasis as painting, sculpting or drawing, Ariel Gomez is a tattoo flash painter. Gomez primarily paints American traditional and neo-traditional with watercolor paint, India ink and calligraphy pen on paper.

Tattoo flash mixes both the world of tattoo style and art on paper ... It is a tattoo on paper rather than real-life skin, and the art style has many sub genres within it, Gomez said.

Gomez’s Instagram (nogoodmr.holden) feed

displays a variety of different designs, ranging from skulls and roses to many musical references. Gomez draws inspiration for his paintings from his imagination, other artists, movies, tattoo artists

and especially music.“Sometimes, I’ll listen to

a song and get totally be inspired to draw something or someone,” he said. “Most times, the drawing will be completely irrelevant to the song. Just yesterday I painted a demonic-looking nun and I got the inspiration from a KISS song called ‘Lick It Up’.”

Gomez has not always been an artist. He says that his experience with art was minimal growing up, limited to “Dragon Ball Z and X-Men doodles.” However, he began to take his artwork to new heights beginning in 2014 after unforeseen events. In January 2014, Gomez broke one of his

hands skateboarding. For that reason, he had to take a leave of absence from work and had a lot of time on his hands. The accident meant about half a year of no work, so in March, he decided he would take up drawing.

Though his will to learn drawing and painting techniques mostly came from boredom and an inability to do much else, a visit to Sailor’s Grave tattoo parlor also inspired him to pick up art. He went in for a tattoo and came out with wisdom from artist Gary Koblis. Koblis spoke to Gomez about triumphs and tribulations that come with being an artist in the tattoo

Left Hand Black links art and ink#LEFTHANDBLACK

Local artist takes artistic talent to new level#HASHTAGKICKER

field and gave him one of his books full of flash for free, which inspired Gomez to pursue his passion for art.

Nowadays, Gomez continues to paint his tattoo flash and is ready to pursue higher ground in the tattoo industry. He wants to begin to find a tattoo apprenticeship to learn the trade of tattoo artistry and meet other artists passionate about tattooing and art. All the while, he wants to continue his tattoo flash paintings for as long as he is physically capable. He hopes to one day collaborate with other artists in order to create greater projects of both the art and tattoo world.

COURTESY OF ARIEL GOMEZ

LEFT AND TOP RIGHT: Left Hand Black Tattoo Studio and Gallery provides a unique experience in South Park. BOTTOM RIGHT: Owners Adam and Crystal Turk opened the studio in July 2012.LILLY GLENISTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST

TATTOO

Not sure what steps to take when getting your first tattoo? Anthony Adamo, a tattoo artist who has worked for more than four years at San Diego State’s most local tattoo shop, EC Tattoo, has some suggestions. Adamo describes his tattooing style as neo-traditional and is passionate about working toward producing the best tattoo possible for his clients.

To have a stellar first tattoo experience that results in a body art masterpiece, Adamo suggests a few simple steps:

1

NANCY KIRKstaff writer

Pick one idea and stick to it. If you are unable to make up your mind, you may not be ready to make a lifelong commitment. Once you’ve selected the general artwork you want, consider its size and location. “We suggest smaller tattoos for your first time

so you can get a feel for the process,” Adamo said. “But take it upon yourself to decide where you want it.” However, Adamo admitted some spots hurt

more than others, such as the ribs, feet and hands, which hurt “tremendously.”

figure out what you are

going to get

Do some research

about the shop anD

artistsEvery artist is different, so each artist’s interpretation of the symbol or image you provide will vary. “There are so many different styles, so clients

should check out our artists’ portfolios to see who they’ll be happiest working with,” Adamo said.

set up a consultation with

the artist of your

choiceUnless you already know the exact tattoo you want, bring photo references to your consultation so artists can more easily interpret what your vision is. “The more the better,” Adamo said about how

many references to bring. The artists can then use those images to create an original piece of artwork for your tattoo, which you can ask to alter if needed.

maKe an appointment anD

go to your first

tattoo sessionDepending on your tattoo’s size, it may take more than one session. For larger tatoos, it may take a few single sessions lasting up to six hours each. Splitting up this time can be important, especially for first timers who may not be able to tolerate the pain for a lengthy period of time.

“We suggest smaller tattoos for your first time so you can get a feel for the process.”

- Anthony Adamo, artist at EC Tattoo

“there are so many different styles, so clients should check out our artists’ portfolios to see Who they’ll be happiest Working With.”

- Anthony Adamo, artist at EC Tattoo

thanK your

artist anD let the

healing process

begin

The tattoo artist will suggest which ointments to use and how to properly care for you new tattoo, which is technically an open wound. Adamo suggests lightly applying an ointment for the first three days, and then switching to a fragrance-free lotion until it fully heals. “Never use any strong antiseptics,”

Adamo said. “The skin basically starts rejecting your tattoo and can literally push out ink, so it’s important only use what we prescribe.”

for the next

few weeKs avoiD

swimming anD

Direct sunlight

enjoy the tattoo

for the rest of

your life!

Submerging yourself underwater suffocates your pours, which hinders your skin’s ability to heal. Water can also have contaminants that pose the risk of infection. A sunburn-turned-scab can grab hold of the ink as it heals and may alter your tattoo.

Adamo stresses the importance of thinking thoroughly about your tattoo because the ink is permanent, though its richness may fade overtime. If that happens it, you can easily schedule a touch-up appointment.

PHOTOS FrOm THINkSTOCk

HOW TO GET YOUR FIRST

TATTOO

Not sure what steps to take when getting your first tattoo? Anthony Adamo, a tattoo artist who has worked for more than four years at San Diego State’s most local tattoo shop, EC Tattoo, has some suggestions. Adamo describes his tattooing style as neo-traditional and is passionate about working toward producing the best tattoo possible for his clients.

To have a stellar first tattoo experience that results in a body art masterpiece, Adamo suggests a few simple steps:

1

NANCY KIRKstaff writer

Pick one idea and stick to it. If you are unable to make up your mind, you may not be ready to make a lifelong commitment. Once you’ve selected the general artwork you want, consider its size and location. “We suggest smaller tattoos for your first time

so you can get a feel for the process,” Adamo said. “But take it upon yourself to decide where you want it.” However, Adamo admitted some spots hurt

more than others, such as the ribs, feet and hands, which hurt “tremendously.”

figure out what you are

going to get

Do some research

about the shop anD

artistsEvery artist is different, so each artist’s interpretation of the symbol or image you provide will vary. “There are so many different styles, so clients

should check out our artists’ portfolios to see who they’ll be happiest working with,” Adamo said.

set up a consultation with

the artist of your

choiceUnless you already know the exact tattoo you want, bring photo references to your consultation so artists can more easily interpret what your vision is. “The more the better,” Adamo said about how

many references to bring. The artists can then use those images to create an original piece of artwork for your tattoo, which you can ask to alter if needed.

maKe an appointment anD

go to your first

tattoo sessionDepending on your tattoo’s size, it may take more than one session. For larger tatoos, it may take a few single sessions lasting up to six hours each. Splitting up this time can be important, especially for first timers who may not be able to tolerate the pain for a lengthy period of time.

“We suggest smaller tattoos for your first time so you can get a feel for the process.”

- Anthony Adamo, artist at EC Tattoo

“there are so many different styles, so clients should check out our artists’ portfolios to see Who they’ll be happiest Working With.”

- Anthony Adamo, artist at EC Tattoo

thanK your

artist anD let the

healing process

begin

The tattoo artist will suggest which ointments to use and how to properly care for you new tattoo, which is technically an open wound. Adamo suggests lightly applying an ointment for the first three days, and then switching to a fragrance-free lotion until it fully heals. “Never use any strong antiseptics,”

Adamo said. “The skin basically starts rejecting your tattoo and can literally push out ink, so it’s important only use what we prescribe.”

for the next

few weeKs avoiD

swimming anD

Direct sunlight

enjoy the tattoo

for the rest of

your life!

Submerging yourself underwater suffocates your pours, which hinders your skin’s ability to heal. Water can also have contaminants that pose the risk of infection. A sunburn-turned-scab can grab hold of the ink as it heals and may alter your tattoo.

Adamo stresses the importance of thinking thoroughly about your tattoo because the ink is permanent, though its richness may fade overtime. If that happens it, you can easily schedule a touch-up appointment.

PHOTOS FrOm THINkSTOCk

FEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: NICK KNOTT • [email protected] Body Art Issue

#SAILORSGRAVE

#BODYPIERCING

Traditional shop anchors in HillcrestKC STANFIELDSTAFF WRITER____________________________

Sean Huston goes to work like everyone else. Specifically, he’s manages a small shop. The only difference is instead of using a keyboard or pencil as his daily tool, Huston uses a machine that pokes the skin at 90 to 150 timers per second to etch his work into another’s skin, lasting a lifetime.

Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Gallery, located in Hillcrest, is where Huston works to perfect his skill as well as make ends meet.

SGTG has been tattooing for five years, but the shop itself has been in the tattoo business for more than 20 years. Right now, the shop’s walls are covered in more tattoo designs — 50 percent which are custom — along with trophy animal heads wearing sunglasses, chains and hats. Even the trash cans are covered in more stickers than a 13-year-old girl’s binder.

The air vibrates with the buzzing of the multiple tattoo machines and music from the ‘50s all the way to modern rap. Variety would be the correct label for SGTG’s atmosphere.

However, you’d be visiting for the tattoos, or possibly for the occasional piercing. And while SGTG can do all styles and sizes, every artist there specializes in some form of traditional style.

“We’re a staple in San Diego for our American traditional Sailor Jerry style tattoos,” Huston said.

Traditional style tattoos are identified by their black, bold lines and solid colors, which contrast and pop. The style is also designed to stand the test of time by preventing the tattoos from fading and bleeding.

However, no matter what the customer wants, Huston says

the staff does its best to inform and educate everyone who walks through the door.

“With an idea, any [idea], not just a bad one, we try to coach them for a tattoo that lasts the test of time,” Huston said.

Even in a highly competitive market where people can easily walk out and go somewhere else, SGTG will push for the best quality tattoo for the sake of the customer

and the store. Huston says with the Internet and Yelp, poor tattoos have the potential to go viral and make the entire store look bad.

It’s important to remember that artists aren’t photo copiers. Each artist has his or her own unique style, so six people can do the same tattoo a little differently.

“Giving the artist some freedom will definitely get the

Hillcrest shop, Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Gallery, displays traditional designs in their shop. The style is the shop specialty.MEGAN WOOD, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

better tattoos,” Huston said. “We’ve been doing this for years.”

But a tattoo artist’s work is never done. For Huston and all the artists at SGTG, doing good tattoos, traveling to other states and learning from other great artists will continue their efforts in perfecting their skills.

“We want to be the premier tattoo shop not only in San

Diego, but all of California,” Huston said.

SGTG has a $60 minimum for any tattoo. However, Huston says they can run deals for multiple smaller tattoos if they’re done in the same sitting. It took a University of San Diego student only 10 minutes, and it only hurts as much as a cat scratching a sunburn — depending where you get it, of course.

Apogee cures customer’s piercing woesJOSSELYN MOLINASTAFF WRITER____________________________

It was a hot day in the summer of 2013 when a close friend stabbed a 16-gauged hollow needle into the thin layer of skin inside my nose called a septum. A month shy of being an adult, a do-it-yourself project led me to the slow-healing process of a slightly deviated piercing. A year and a half later, my quest for a second chance led me to Apogee Body Piercing, one of San Diego’s most professional body piercing shops.

Located in the heart of Ocean Beach, the beautiful shop leaves the customer feeling connected with

their own unique reasons for their modifications with its decorations of various collections of jewelry, pictures

of indigenous people depicted with traditional piercings, and representations of ancient tribal statues.

Apogee’s ideals in customer care and the use of high quality materials explain the rationale for paying more its professional service, Apogee employee Luis Pingarron said.

“Regretfully, most of the time we end up helping people because they got messed up somewhere else,” he said. “What I try to do is get people on the right track to choose quality service that will be more beneficial to their healing process.”

Instead of following traditions, Apogee tries to get people to create a journey of their own, Pingarron said.

“A lot of the times we get people who think, ‘I think it’ll look cute but I’m scared,’” he said. “They’re worried that

it’ll hurt and I tell them: f--k yeah it hurts, but that’s what freedom feels like. Make it a reminder to yourself that you’re trying to learn how to deal with challenges.”

Pingarron’s 16 years of experience as a piercer encouraged me to fix an amateur job which I had been waiting to let go of. Visiting Apogee showed me the importance of professional advice and experience needed when modifying your body. I went into Apogee carrying a mistake from the past and came out with a better understanding of piercing practices and a culture that is sometimes given little notice by other shops — or in my case, a close friend.

Luis Pingarron helps Apogee customers make bad experiences into clean piercings.JOSSELYN MOLINA, STAFF WRITER

South Park shop

owner circles back to

San Diego

The Body Art IssueFEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: NICK KNOTT • [email protected]

NICK KNOTTENTERTAINMENT EDITOR____________________________________

San Diego has the ability to captivate people from all around the country and the rest of the globe. No matter where a person is from, a single visit out to America’s Finest City and next thing they know, they’re calling San Diego home. For tattoo artist Bill Canales, that is exactly what happened.

Canales is the owner of Full Circle Tattoo in South Park.The small shop provides for an intimate connection between tattoo artist and customer. The walls of the shop are adorned with framed pictures of intricately drawn sketches that show the high level of creativity and talent that work at Full Circle.

Canales is not originally from San Diego, but rather born in Mexico and raised in El Paso, Texas for the bulk of his life. Art has always been a skillset in Canale’s repertoire. However, it was never clear how he could make his hobby a profession.

“I always drew, I was always artistic in that way,” Canales said. “But I didn’t know what to do with that.”

Before making tattooing in San Diego his full-time job, Canales spent many years working regular jobs in El Paso not knowing that one day the artist inside him would soon shine through. However, that all changed when he

picked up a tattoo magazine. What he saw in the magazine was

different than the crude and traditional tattoos he’d seen in El Paso.

“I saw this magazine and it was amazing stuff, amazing,” Canales said. “I had never seen anything like it before.”

After that, pure inquisition lead Canales to the path he’s on today. The magazine sparked an interest in him and he pursued it.

Before Full Circle Tattoo came to be, Canales opened multiple shops of his own in El Paso. After many trials and tribulations, Canales opened Flying Panther Tattoo with a partner. Eventually

Canales felt the need to step out on his own, and that’s when Full Circle was born.

Canales originally opened Full Circle in Ocean Beach, but the mix of the people, lack of shop foot traffic and the overall environment was not good for business.

“OB is a total other planet,” Canales said.

In 2011 Canales moved the shop to its current location at 2312 30th

St. in South Park. The dynamic of the surrounding community is almost the polar opposite of the shop’s last home.

“South park is great,” Canales said. “It’s a nice little community. It’s a kind of hidden gem. You got to want to come here if you want to find it. It’s unique in it’s way.”

Currently Full Circle hosts five resident artists other than Canales, all of which cater to different clientele with their unique styles. All the artists are focused on the same goal, providing great tattoos for every customer, and just one bad review can lead to a drop in business.

“There are so many shops out there now,” Canales said. “You know, with Yelp and Facebook, if we do one wrong thing then you get one bad yelp and then customers go somewhere else.”

Canales does not anticipate moving to a third location for Full Circle. He’s found his spot and he and his team want to keep it that way.

“We put a lot of money into it, a lot of

#FULLCIRCLETATTOO

CHAD CADDY, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

love into it,” Canales said. “It’s a pretty big investment, I want to try and stick it out as long as we can. There’s not a better place i can find, you know.”

Other than keeping his shop in South Park, Canales plans to be a San Diegan for the rest of his life as well.

“Hopefully I’ll die here,” Canales said. “Or in El Paso.”

Full C

ircle Tattoo ow

ner Bill Canales has travelled all over tattooing professionally. N

owadays h

e call

s Am

eric

a’s

Fin

est C

ity

hom

e.

Sophomore Mai-Li Miller urges students to steer clear of getting their significant other’s name

permanently engraved on their bodies. Of course unless it is in their loving memory.

The Body Art Issue FEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: NICK KNOTT • [email protected]

We are at an age where dumb things do happen, mistakes are

made and one day you wake up with a misspelled named tattooed on your arm and that is okay. However, amid a drunken action or a spark of spontaneity at a

tattoo parlor, reconsider these cliche tattoos or you might make someone or even

yourself cringe for the rest of time. Always be

wary of what permanent ink you are going to stamp

on your body.

#BADINK

Bad tattoos put the ‘ink’ in ‘stink’SARAH TANORISENIOR STAFF WRITER

LILLY GLENISTERSENIOR STAFF WRITER____________________________________

In college, distraction is inevitable. Big lecture halls with 500 students? Of

“Unless they’re dead, don’t do it.”

Mija Pritchard, a freshman, remembers an encounter with someone flaunting a

tattoo of the four-letter acronym coined by Canadian rapper Drake. We take it that this is probably a tattoo that should be phased out of existence.

“I saw a girl with a YOLO tat awhile ago, that was

an experience...”

Freshman Max Troja advocates for the utmost discretion when deciding to get Chinese lettering

or symbols tattooed, especially if you have no prior knowledge about the language.

“Might say ‘peace,’ might say your order

from Panda Express.”

In Sophomore Madison Blum’s opinion, getting your last name tattooed across your back is highly

unnecessary. (Sorry Ryan Sheckler).“The worst!”

Stephany Barajas, a freshman, doesn’t recommend getting these overplayed tattoos,

especially in unison.“I know people that have dream catchers and

barbed wire.”

Sophomore Caroline Hoskins, states that although the Infinity sign was originally

coined as a math symbol, it slowly progressed into a way of life, a concept per say, for mainstream kids all around. It’s a trend that symbolizes forever, but forever what? Forever stamped on your body? Forever regretful? Take it as you will.

“Infinity tattoos are great because in a couple years

you can just tell people it’s a sideways 8.”

Junior Jordon Boswell states that tribal tattoos are common for primarily males on the SDSU

campus. Originally derived from indigenous cultures, these styles hold meaning to relationships, whether it be family and friends to clans and organizations. Although the intention is there, Boswell believes SDSU students cannot stand tribal tattoos as they are solely seen as a fad and most people really aren’t impressed with the patterns people choose to ink their bodies with anyway.

“Oh hey man nice line with triangles that’s real

tight.”

Karen Huie, sophomore, says that anchors are a way to symbolize being down to

earth and remembering your roots, but to her she cringes at the thought of it, as it reminds her of all the bad that has held her down, rather than the positive to come.

“When I see people with anchor tattoos I see it as a

way of symbolizing that I’m held down on this terrible earth in this flesh prison called my body.”

Madison Blum, a sophomore, warns students to not get any little crosses tattooed on one’s

body as it does not complement ones looks whatsoever.

“The WORST!!!”

Senior Mario Barajas states that students are done with Ed Hardy style tattoos, expressing

that the tattoos have lost their artistic value to its rising popularity among the bro culture.

“It’s kind of okay, until you see bros rocking

them 6+ times a day.”

course our minds will start to wander, and we’ll start to look for any way out of our two and a half hour lecture. We’ve all been there, struggling to stay awake and focused, and it can pose even more of challenge, of course, when that guy or girl with a tank top in front of you is flashing their unsightly tattoo. “Wow,” you think to yourself, “what made

them think that was a good idea?” And that’s how it starts, two hours fly by and you’re still thinking about why that person decided to get that tattoo.

Stemming off this idea, The Daily Aztec went around campus and asked their peers what types of tattoos make them cringe and which ones students should maybe think twice before

getting in the future. With a general consensus taken, these are the Top Ten Cringe Worthy Tattoos of 2015 (and beyond).

THINKSTOCK

“MIGHT SAY ‘PEACE,’ MIGHT SAY YOUR ORDER FROM PANDA EXPRESS.”

- Max Troja

Don’t agree with the comments below? Visit thedailyaztec.com and comment on one of our articles.

THINKSTOCK

11SPORTSFEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: KRISTIAN IBARRA • [email protected]

CROSSWORDS

ACROSS1 Popular6 Scale syllables9 Drives away14 Simple-living sect15 Guitar attachment?16 Pope John Paul II’s given name17 Warm-water ray18 Ziegfeld with follies19 Donald Jr.’s mom20 One of the deadly sins21 What a flap may cover22 Four-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Drama Series23 Longtime Lehrer partner26 __ spoon

29 Coniferous secretions33 “The imperious __ breed monsters”: Shakespeare34 New England food fish36 Goes bad38 Edible pockets40 Sign before Virgo41 Canadian bottle size42 Computer text code43 Sturdy tree44 Bond’s car starter?45 Pi-sigma link46 “Life Is Good” rapper48 Pig’s digs50 Lacking a mate51 Broadway songwriting team __ and Ebb

53 Starts from scratch55 Urban centers, and what this puzzle’s circles represent59 Start of a spell61 Dome openings62 Melville’s Billy65 China neighbor66 Fabric information spot67 Ruse68 1953 Caron film69 Helps with the dishes70 Michaelmas mo.

DOWN1 Priest from the East2 Mogadishu-born model3 Wenceslaus, e.g.4 Acapulco-to-Oaxaca dirección

5 Greg’s sitcom wife6 Series of biological stages7 C.S. Lewis lion8 Shelf-restocking sources9 Résumé essentials10 “__ Nagila”11 Unwritten12 Chaplin granddaughter13 Diner side24 Animal in some of Aesop’s fables25 Mil. roadside hazard26 Teahouse hostess27 Certain exterminator’s concern28 Morales of “La Bamba”30 Pupil controller31 Having second thoughts32 Took steps33 Bit of inspiration35 Baha’i, e.g.: Abbr.37 Ships39 Strength41 Cake section47 Composer Schoenberg49 Gets behind52 “__ say!”: parental warning54 Results of getting behind56 Dueling memento57 Android media console brand58 1997 Fonda role59 The whole lot60 Chinese-born actress __ Ling63 Fist bump64 Combo vaccine, for short

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Condos for Rent

1/1 furnished condo.Beautiful 1 bedroom 1 bath furnished condo available for rent; 1 yr lease, in quite El Cajon neighborhood. Perfect for Student. Email [email protected]________________________________

Summer Camp Counselor!SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE! CAMP WAYNE FOR GIRLS - Children’s

summer camp, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania 6/20 - 8/16. If you

love children and want a caring, fun environment we need Counselors, Instructors and other staff for our

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your paper.

2.19.15

OUR NEXT SPECIAL ISSUE:

STUDYABROAD

STEPHANIE SACCENTE STAFF WRITER ___________________________

Nothing is certain as the San Diego State baseball team enters its 2015 season. But if there’s one thing they do know, it’s that the Aztecs are not going to take their eyes off that College World Series prize.

The Aztecs will host the University of Valparaiso this weekend in a three-game series to start off the regular season. This will be the 79th season of play for the Aztecs who finished last season 42-21. In addition, the team also earned a Mountain West Tournament title and made an appearance in an NCAA Regional Tournament. After having time to process where they fell short last season, the Aztecs made sure to use the offseason as a time to prepare both mentally and physically for this spring. With every school vying for the same end-goal, junior outfielder Spencer Thornton said the Aztecs will have to work hard if they want to win against Valparaiso this weekend.

“There are no easy wins in

college baseball,” Thornton said. “Every game our team has to go out there and play to our best ability. If we play like we should, we should also be a tough team for Valparaiso to beat.”

Valparaiso finished the regular 2014 season 12-12 in conference and 25-28 overall.

Thornton said that although the Aztecs have set high standards for themselves, he believes they have the ability to achieve their goals.

“I haven’t head much about Valparaiso, but just like any other team we have to respect them,” junior outfielder Seby Zavala said. “That being said, I believe if we play to our ability the way we should there is no doubt that we will come out on top of all three games.”

The Aztecs added 11 freshmen to their 41-man roster this season. Additionally, two members of the SDSU football team, defensive back Trey Lomax and linebacker Calvin Munson, will also play on the baseball team this season.

“We have a lot of new guys that may have played a lot but haven’t play everyday,” first-years head coach Mark Martinez said. “I think that’s the biggest challenge and now that they’re in an everyday role they’re going to have to learn how to manage the successes and the failures.”

The first game of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs will spend this week honoring the late Gwynn with a series of events including a pre-game ceremony where they will retire his jersey.

RECORD

PITCHING

HITTING

COACHING

OVERALL

VS.

WHEN: FRI. (6 P.M.), SAT.(1 P.M.), SUN. (12 P.M.)WHERE: TONY GWYNN STADIUM

0-0

0-0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Junior right-handed pitcher Bubba Derby went 8-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 2014.KRISTIAN CARREON, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

#AZTECBASEBALL

Aztecs to host Crusaders at Tony Gwynn Stadium

HOROSCOPEHAPPY BIRTHDAY (2/12/15) - Fortune smiles on group endeavors this year. Take on something together so big it seems impossible. After 3/20, financial flow increases. Divert some to savings. A new focus in your research sharpens after 4/4. Collaborate to grow your family nest egg, especially after 10/13. Feed your heart: talk about beloved people, pastimes, flavors, sights, and experiences. Share your love.

HOW IT WORKS: 10 is good, 1 is bad.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19) - Today is an 8 - Travel conditions look excellent today and tomorrow. An adventure calls. Postpone a social engagement. An opportunity arises that can't be missed. Take advantage of a whirlwind of productivity, and take notes for later.TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) - Today is an 8 - Complete tasks for satisfaction and peace of mind. Pay the bills today and tomorrow. Orders arrive fast and furious. Changes could necessitate budget revisions. You can surmount a formidable barrier. Get expert advice.GEMINI (May 21 - June 21) - Today is a 9 - A conflict between partnership and adventure requires negotiation. You may not have the same priorities as your teammate. Talk it over, with special consideration for the finances. You can devise a scenario that works.CANCER (June 22 - July 22) - Today is a 9 - It's extra busy today and tomorrow. Things may not go as planned. Get facts before arguing. Your partner shares goals. Friends make a connection. Wheel and deal. Don't get charmed into abandoning your principles.LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22) - Today is an 8 - Play a part in someone else's game. Offer time and talents. Go for fun today and tomorrow. Take advantage of creative enthusiasm and a fiery collaborative spark. Keep communications channels open. Call if you'll be late.VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) - Today is an 8 - Domestic responsibilities call to you over the next two days. There's plenty to manage. Can you work from home? Otherwise, keeping late hours could keep you away longer. Save energy by traveling less.LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) - Today is a 9 - Your enthusiasm carries far and wide. It's easier to concentrate for the next few days, which is lucky. There's plenty of buzz around your project, requiring focus and action. Get feedback from family and friends first.SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) - Today is a 9 - Invest in efficiency, especially at home. Conserve energy and save money. Today and tomorrow could get quite profitable. Others offer practical ideas. Try some of them out. Not everything works as suggested.SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) - Today is an 8 - Inspire action, rather than demanding. You're becoming more confident. Enjoy the spotlight today and tomorrow. Use your megaphone to incite passion. Stir up the enthusiasm level. Monitor feedback and adjust to suit.CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) - Today is a 7 - Set lofty goals. Consider your spiritual purpose or course. Go for your heart's desire. Action and chatter interrupts your solitary contemplation. Balance emotion with reason today and tomorrow. Learn to delegate (again).AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - Today is a 9 - Enjoy the company, and make more money together. Group input matters today and tomorrow. Old assumptions get challenged. Strike out in a new direction. Follow the path before you. Get tools and supplies together.PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20) - Today is a 9 - Take on new responsibility and leadership today and tomorrow. A new source of funding arises. Balance emotions and logic to pass the test. Keep passion tuned to practicalities and logistics. Think before speaking.

HOW TO PLAY: Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box contains every digit 1 to 9.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3 / 4

CROSSWORDS, SUDOKU, AND HOROSCOPES COURTESY OFTRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC., ©2015.

GAME SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE ATTHEDAILYAZTEC.COM

SUDOKU

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec. Express your concerns by emailing [email protected]

#DASNAPSHOTS

THE PLAGUE DOCTORFreshman Matt Argyelan shows off his tattoo of a black plague doctor mask for this special issue. Photo by Monica Linzmeier.

#MYFIRSTTATTOO

Kid tattooed, mother disapproved

NICK KNOTTENTERTAINMENT EDITOR___________________________________

Iwas 21 when I got my first tattoo. Three years ago

I had just received news that I had been accepted to San Diego State as a transfer student. Being that it was the

middle of the week, and I had nobody to celebrate the glorious news with, I decided to treat myself to a tattoo.

Being a tattoo virgin at the time, I had so many questions. What do I get? Where do I get it? Where do I place it one me? How much is it going to cost? How much is it going to hurt?

I had watched plenty of Miami Ink, so clearly I was a home-school tattoo expert. But the countless hours I spent online researching tattoo designs, shops and artists quickly proved to me that you just couldn’t learn about an art form from watching reality television.

Fortunately I had a coworker who also worked at a tattoo shop downtown. The decision became clear as to where I was going to go to get ink jabbed into me with needles.

The shop was walking distance from the community college I was attending downtown, so in between classes I

meandered on over to the shop. I was greeted by hand drawn flash all over the walls and, of course, my buddy who worked there.

Since I was an even more broke college student than I am now, I was looking to spend the minimal amount and still get a quality tattoo that I liked. I pitched my idea to the artist and the very next week I was nervously sitting in the chair waiting for the needles to carve up my skin.

I didn't know what to expect as far as the pain goes. I have never broken a bone, never been in a fight nor ever had any sort of insane bodily harm. Getting the tattoo was going to be a test of sorts, granted not a hard test because I was getting the artwork jabbed into the side of my leg – almost a copout to the pain.

In less than an hour I had my first tattoo. I was incredibly happy. However, getting the tattoo was the easy part. Deciding whether to hide it from my old-school parents or be upfront and tell them I got a tattoo was the hard part.

Society as a whole has become more accepting of visible tattoos, but my parents’ beliefs are very hit and miss when it comes to social norms. Considering that we live in San Diego

and I was bound to wear shorts very soon, I decided to go ahead and tell my parents what the deal was. My mother’s reaction was nothing like I expected.

“Oh,” she said. “I wish you would’ve came to us earlier so you could’ve got something we all liked.”

Yes, because I want to compromise my liking of the art going on my body so that my mother can be happy. I’m not normally speechless, but at that point in time that was a comment from my mother I had not prepared for.

Soon there after my mother was thinking about getting a tattoo as well, and I was on board. When the time came to think of designs we pondered many and the one where my mother landed was a barbed wire armband

tattoo. Thankfully I was there so we could establish a tattoo for Mom that every one would enjoy.

Since she was upset that she was not there for the consltation on my tattoo, I felt that it was necessary for me to give her the same input. I don't think any 20-something is ready for their parent to be walking around sporting an barbedwire armband tattoo.

So, I said no armbands. And that was that.

12 THE BACK PAGE FEB. 12 - 15, 2015 • THE DAILY AZTECEDITOR: KELLY HILLOCK • [email protected]

“I WISH YOU WOULD'VE CAME TO US EARLIER SO YOU COULD'VE GOT SOMETHING WE ALL LIKED.”

- Mrs. Knott,Tattoo critic

You can't always please mom, even if you get a tattoo.