by 
I’m not going to go on a rant about Miami Ink, LA Ink, NY Ink, Ink Master, Tattoo School, TLC or any of the other mainstream outlets slowly picking away at tattoo culture. Not yet anyway. Instead I’ll show you what you should be watching (but really, fuck those other ones).
Though slightly off and not incredibly well produced, Gypsy Gentleman hits on the right points and keeps it down to Earth. The apparent brain child of tattoer Marcus Kuhns, Gypsy Gentleman highlights some intregueing aspects of tattooing and mingles with both interesting and important characters in tattoo culture. Episode 1 brings you to NYC where some familiar Boston names are brought up and Marcus visits, among other places, Daniel Santoro of the ever great Smith Street Tattoo as well as Virginia Elwood and Thomas Hooper. It is worth checking out, however, Episode II is so far my favorite. Highlighting renowned sign painter Gary Martin and tattooers Steve Byrne and Tony Hundahl, The Gypsy Gentleman travels with them as they study military tattoo’s from the Pacific Arena of WWII.
The important underlying theme of each episode is best described on the official website:
“Human interaction is the most important point; it is that moment together that is most important. Too often we miss the real highlights of being here.”
Take a peek and see for yourself why you shouldn’t be wasting your time on reality TV tattoo bullshit.
View episode 2 Here, and episode 1 below:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-YCQMqV4iQ&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLD79E46F8CDA6D9C9[/youtube]
