A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Rhythms for Bears to Dance to


No.

Who are these people? I don’t know. Can you ever really know a person? But from left to right, we’ve got “Silly Girl,” “Go Fuck Yaself,” “Pig Fucker,” “Beer” and “Bag o Donuts.” Reminds me of my prom night! If only there were a “tear-soaked blazer” …

(Tattoos credited to “Chip, Jonny Mudbug, and don’t know the rest” at True Blue in Austin and I-45 Ink in Houston, Texas.)

Comments

128 responses to “Rhythms for Bears to Dance to”

  1. kim Avatar
    kim

    I think they look trashy (the tattoos and the people they’re on) and I would never get anything remotely similar but it’s not my body. The tattoos don’t offend me, so um… more power to you?

  2. kim Avatar
    kim

    I think they look trashy (the tattoos and the people they’re on) and I would never get anything remotely similar but it’s not my body. The tattoos don’t offend me, so um… more power to you?

  3. Lares Avatar
    Lares

    All I see is a girl touching another girl’s butt.

  4. Lares Avatar
    Lares

    All I see is a girl touching another girl’s butt.

  5. Skank Avatar

    Go Chip and Karen! You trashy sons of bitches! haa!

    For those that think the quality is lacking, its still healing you putz. 🙂

  6. Skank Avatar

    Go Chip and Karen! You trashy sons of bitches! haa!

    For those that think the quality is lacking, its still healing you putz. 🙂

  7. Al Avatar
    Al

    I don’t like any of them .
    the fish is cool.

  8. Al Avatar
    Al

    I don’t like any of them .
    the fish is cool.

  9. nyne Avatar
    nyne

    I miss the days when simply having a tattoo made you hardcore. Now you’re not edgy unless your ink uses profanity in font size 500. Siiiigh.

  10. nyne Avatar
    nyne

    I miss the days when simply having a tattoo made you hardcore. Now you’re not edgy unless your ink uses profanity in font size 500. Siiiigh.

  11. nyne Avatar
    nyne

    Speaking of which, I think I’m getting “fuck the world” tattooed on my forehead.. what do you think, guys ?

    Hah.

  12. nyne Avatar
    nyne

    Speaking of which, I think I’m getting “fuck the world” tattooed on my forehead.. what do you think, guys ?

    Hah.

  13. Sabre Avatar
    Sabre

    What happened to the images? Were they taken down, for some reason?

  14. Sabre Avatar
    Sabre

    What happened to the images? Were they taken down, for some reason?

  15. Mememanci Avatar
    Mememanci

    ok something you goona wake up and regret in the next 10 yrs

  16. Mememanci Avatar
    Mememanci

    ok something you goona wake up and regret in the next 10 yrs

  17. RiNK Avatar
    RiNK

    Nyne @ 29: “I miss the days when simply having a tattoo made you hardcore. Now you’re not edgy unless your ink uses profanity in font size 500. Siiiigh.”

    Agreed.

  18. RiNK Avatar
    RiNK

    Nyne @ 29: “I miss the days when simply having a tattoo made you hardcore. Now you’re not edgy unless your ink uses profanity in font size 500. Siiiigh.”

    Agreed.

  19. hailstorm Avatar
    hailstorm

    The Beer belly one makes me laugh!

  20. hailstorm Avatar
    hailstorm

    The Beer belly one makes me laugh!

  21. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    I’d be forced to raise my shirt at least 10 times a day just to express my thoughts to the general public ( I work in retail ) and I’d lose my job =(

  22. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    I’d be forced to raise my shirt at least 10 times a day just to express my thoughts to the general public ( I work in retail ) and I’d lose my job =(

  23. 5am Avatar
    5am

    bag o donuts WINS

  24. 5am Avatar
    5am

    bag o donuts WINS

  25. PC Avatar
    PC

    If there was ever a time to say “WTF”

  26. PC Avatar
    PC

    If there was ever a time to say “WTF”

  27. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    I completely agree with #21.

  28. Evan Avatar
    Evan

    I completely agree with #21.

  29. nadia Avatar
    nadia

    definitely a fan of bag’o’donuts. Not so much the other ones.

  30. nadia Avatar
    nadia

    definitely a fan of bag’o’donuts. Not so much the other ones.

  31. Almaxaquotal Avatar

    “I’m not so much concerned with the seemingly “pointless” or obscene tattoos lately as the elitist attitude.:/”

    What is wrong with being elitist? Forgive me for having a brain, but I think the increase in volume of this sort of trash is an insult to the intelligence of BMEzine readers and seems to be geared towards attracting the lowest common denominator rather than people genuinely interested in the art of body modification / tattoo.

    I do have a sense of humour, believe me, but this type of stuff may be funny once a month at most, lately it is getting to be every few days and its wearing a little thin.

  32. Almaxaquotal Avatar

    “I’m not so much concerned with the seemingly “pointless” or obscene tattoos lately as the elitist attitude.:/”

    What is wrong with being elitist? Forgive me for having a brain, but I think the increase in volume of this sort of trash is an insult to the intelligence of BMEzine readers and seems to be geared towards attracting the lowest common denominator rather than people genuinely interested in the art of body modification / tattoo.

    I do have a sense of humour, believe me, but this type of stuff may be funny once a month at most, lately it is getting to be every few days and its wearing a little thin.

  33. kaylah Avatar
    kaylah

    amen #21!

  34. kaylah Avatar
    kaylah

    amen #21!

  35. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Reasons why some people still think tattoos are trashy…
    Hm.

  36. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Reasons why some people still think tattoos are trashy…
    Hm.

  37. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Whats wrong with elitism?! I don’t even know where to begin….

    For the record, I don’t think anyone has a problem with you having a brain (at all!) Almaxaquotal, but there are probably a few people who would take issue with you suggesting that you’re so much smarter/better than everyone else…

    we shouldn’t forget that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure 😛

  38. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Whats wrong with elitism?! I don’t even know where to begin….

    For the record, I don’t think anyone has a problem with you having a brain (at all!) Almaxaquotal, but there are probably a few people who would take issue with you suggesting that you’re so much smarter/better than everyone else…

    we shouldn’t forget that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure 😛

  39. katy prost Avatar
    katy prost

    i agree strongly with 42.

    also i feel like people are to ready to say how much they think peoples tattoos are cool, even though they dont think that at all. were all adults (or mature enough to be counted as one) and saying how you think someones tattoo looks cheap or trashy doesn’t mean your attacking that person personally.
    people shouldn’t have to say, “i would never get it, but i respect them for getting it.”
    I dont like any of these tattoos, i think there cheap and are looking for shock value. and thats lame. these people are adults and they know im not attacking them, i dont have to say “i respect them” after i give my opinion.

  40. katy prost Avatar
    katy prost

    i agree strongly with 42.

    also i feel like people are to ready to say how much they think peoples tattoos are cool, even though they dont think that at all. were all adults (or mature enough to be counted as one) and saying how you think someones tattoo looks cheap or trashy doesn’t mean your attacking that person personally.
    people shouldn’t have to say, “i would never get it, but i respect them for getting it.”
    I dont like any of these tattoos, i think there cheap and are looking for shock value. and thats lame. these people are adults and they know im not attacking them, i dont have to say “i respect them” after i give my opinion.

  41. LuckyG Avatar
    LuckyG

    I see the word “respect” showing up a lot in the discussion here. I have a strong hunch that none of these people were looking for anybody’s respect when they got the tattoos done. Maybe a few chuckles…

  42. LuckyG Avatar
    LuckyG

    I see the word “respect” showing up a lot in the discussion here. I have a strong hunch that none of these people were looking for anybody’s respect when they got the tattoos done. Maybe a few chuckles…

  43. Random. Avatar

    …Where’s pig fucker?
    I’m blind.

  44. Random. Avatar

    …Where’s pig fucker?
    I’m blind.

  45. speedoape Avatar
    speedoape

    46 i think its the guy in the middle you cant see. all the rest fit the people. im guessing but i think its him.

  46. speedoape Avatar
    speedoape

    46 i think its the guy in the middle you cant see. all the rest fit the people. im guessing but i think its him.

  47. kalista Avatar
    kalista

    They look yuck!

  48. kalista Avatar
    kalista

    They look yuck!

  49. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    I like how 75% of the people commenting are uptight assholes, I agree BME has GONE WAY DOWNHILL recently but for fucks sake have a sense of humor once in awhile. Stop attacking people that are just having fun and finding a reason to smile in life and bitch out the people running this site for not providing us with anything that is up to the old bme/modblog standards

  50. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    I like how 75% of the people commenting are uptight assholes, I agree BME has GONE WAY DOWNHILL recently but for fucks sake have a sense of humor once in awhile. Stop attacking people that are just having fun and finding a reason to smile in life and bitch out the people running this site for not providing us with anything that is up to the old bme/modblog standards

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