Body Art: The Human Canvas -- Ink and Steel [Hardcover]

Gary Lee Heard (Author), David Cultrara (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Throughout time, numerous cultures have used body markings to signify status or enhance beauty. In Western society, during the early part of the 20th century, tattooing was primarily limited to military personnel and fringe communities such as bikers. However, the last 10 years have seen a mainstream acceptance of body art, in large part due to the high visibility of pro athletes and musicians. BODY ART is a photographic essay on what has become one of the main components of pop culture in America today. Gary Lee Heard has the uncanny ability to capture not just the ink on the subjects, but a glimpse into their personalities through the more than 200 striking images. These powerful portraits are accompanied by quotes from the individuals who have decided to express themselves in this dramatic art form.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GARY LEE HEARD has operated a photographic art studio in Rochester, New York, for the past 20 years. Combining photography, darkroom manipulation, airbrushing, and computer techniques, he has created a hybrid illustration style called "Leetype." Heard’s images have appeared on the pages of Architectural Digest, Esquire, and Rolling Stone. He has also produced CD cover art for Jeff Tyzik, John Ellison, Donny Gerrard, Doug Flutie Gang, and Metallica.

DAVID CULTRARA started out pedaling body jewelry from his van in 1998, going door-to-door across 35 states. By 2002, Cultrara was the owner of four tattoo and body piercing shops in New York State and the co-owner of 10 other shops in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. He has experienced everything there is in the world of body art—and has the scars to prove it.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Collectors Press; 1St Edition edition (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888054840
• ISBN-13: 978-1888054842
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,812,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Art Form Well Presented, December 31, 2004

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Body Art: The Human Canvas -- Ink and Steel (Hardcover)

One of the aspects of contemporary art that is most striking is the choice of matrix on which artists elect to create art: Goldsworthy us the earth's surface, the Christos wrap buildings, graffiti has been considered art since Basquait brought it to our attention in the 1980s, animal skins, streets, etc - the list is endless. In this very handsomely photographed book of richly colored images, authors Gary Lee Heard and David Culturra celebrated the ever-growing fad of tattoo and piercing as an art form n this country. And in this volume not only is the art well documented, but the 'matrix' talks: the various models who posed for these fascinating photographs are given some space to comment on their motivations and beliefs in what they have chosen to do or have done to their bodies.

Not that tattoo and piercing are new elements of body decoration: Heard is quick to demonstrate that many tribes of peoples other than whose whom he elects to photograph have been using these techniques as ritual adornment for centuries. But the point of the book is to display the at times extraordinarily beautiful compositions that use the human body as canvas, using the popular techniques available in every city of the USA.

This is basically a picture book, but one that bears repeated viewing to absorb all the intricacies of the art of tattooing and piercing. A valuable addition to the art library literature. Grady Harp, December 2004

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent enough., May 31, 2004

By 

ulcerative (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Art: The Human Canvas -- Ink and Steel (Hardcover)

I was/am strongly considering getting a Tattoo and I picked this book up in the local Borders. One thing I'll say is don't pay the full $35 price.

It's got a lot of neat and interesting pictures along with quotes from the owner of the tattoos. It's a good book to look at a couple times, but you'll go through it quick (Making it not worth the price).

One plus: It's definitely a good conversation piece. Some of the pictures in this book will stun people, make them laugh, or cause genuine interest.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Page 65 rocks!, August 17, 2004

By 

Janietatt "Jane Sibary" (Greeneville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body Art: The Human Canvas -- Ink and Steel (Hardcover)

You are going to see the true art of tattooing. Not everyone gets their whole body done, but you will see different aspects of it. I especially like Trevor Sibary on page 65 as he is my son and has not only received beautiful work by his dad, Falcon Fred, but also did 3 of my tattoo's (mom specials, lol) and he far exceeded anything his father could have taught him. They tattoo out of Columbus, GA at Falcon's on Broadway.