We're The New York Public Library and we're here to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.
Michael “Kaves” McLeer, an acclaimed graffiti artist turned tattooist will be at the Library to discuss his inspirational book Skin Graf: Masters of Graffiti Tattoo.
Come visit the landmark branch on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 6:00 pm as Kaves and other guests introduce masters of graffiti tattoo art, personal stories, and their diverse handiwork.
This circus performer sports a strong-man mustache and a chest full of tattoos.
We don’t know who he is, but his photo was taken by Charles Eisenmann, a German immigrant who established a photo studio on the Bowery in the 1870s (229 Bowery, to be precise – today part of the Bowery Mission). According to Syracuse University Library, which houses The Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs, he focused on a clientele of dime-museum “freaks and curiosities,” who needed cartes de visite to help market themselves to side shows and circuses.
This image is stored in our Billy Rose Theater Division, which has a whole photograph file on the circus, for your viewing pleasure.
What was the first thing Mexican tattoo artist Dr. Lakra did when he got to The Big Apple in preparation for his upcoming show at The Drawing Center? He went straight to The New York Public Library, of course. C’mon, where else would a tattoo artist go? As the NY Times explains, “He began researching some of the subjects that fascinate him, like 19th-century medical instruments, witchcraft and anthropology. ‘When I travel, I always go to public libraries,’ he said in a recent interview. ‘I’m always hungry for images.’” In honor of this very cool story, below is an image of a “Man With A Tattoo” from our Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs.
