David Hale (AR7)

     Since the birth of internet, online news articles, and social media, artists have been able to show their artwork to people from all around the world. While searching for a tattoo artist that could fulfill the dream tattoo someone has always wanted, the internet has become the best way to promote and discover the artist that would do the job. Without the help of this, finding David Hale and his artwork in Georgia while living anywhere else in the world would have been very unlikely. Although it is hard to find many articles online that dive deep into his artwork, the few that exist (as well as many small articles and comments) all praise his creations and admire his "mindfulness and wisdom far beyond his chronological age" [literacyhead.com]. 

     In Hale's drawing 'Song of the White Deer' (collaboration with Kris Davidson, 2012), a variety of animals all connect with one another while surrounding a head of deer. A male human head is split in half, both sides of the face surround the animals in a way that seems as if the head had encapsulated them but are now free. Deer, birds, turtle, snakes, butterflies, a flower, and a human; all the organisms within this piece are entwined within triangular designs and geometric patterns that form mandalas. This forms a sense interdependence... a reminder of the web of life. Hale states on one of his websites that he dedicates his work
"to Father Sky and Mother Earth in hopes of a generation that will heal our relationships with that which brings us Life"[davidhale.org]. 'Song of the White Deer' is a piece of art that more than adequately portrays his love for nature and his understanding that all things are connected, one organism cannot exist without the other.

     A horned skull that greatly resembles one of a bull is the main subject of a tattoo Hale did in 2011. The top of the skull and horns are decorated with a 'tribal' star mandala design made from heavy and light contour lines, as well as small dots and circles. The base of the skull's horns are wrapped in beaded twine with feathers hanging from them. Only black ink was used to tattoo the skull, but the flowers surrounding it are vividly colored with orange to red petals with aqua-green leafs. The skull looks as if it could be an object of spiritual significance. Perhaps a shaman's sacred tool, a decorated skull of an animal totem who's spirit would rise from the ground and the flowers that grow from it to dance along with it's human relatives in ritual.

     Tattoo body modification has existed for thousands of years, it is one form of art that has had true spiritual importance in rituals; whether it's a part of a youth's wright of passage into adulthood or a way of showing respect for spirits that watch over an individual. Skin is not just a canvas to hold a design, tattooing is about connecting to something deeper than skin, or something far outside from it. Back in 2006 David Hale had an interview with Hybrid Sessions, an online artist blog, to talk about his art, tattooing, skateboarding, and music. In a question regarding his unique tattoo work he mentions opening his first tattoo studio and said, "I feel tattooing is all too often thought of as a commercial art form, and this sacrifices its nature as a sacred art form. By working on my own terms, I am able to focus on the aspects of tattooing I feel are significant to our growth as a collective" [hybridsessions.com].