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In defense of ‘tattoo artists’
To the Editor:
My name is Richard Freeman, but most people know me as “Crazy Richard, tattoo artist.” I’ve been tattooing for about 35 years. I just read Mr. Kenneth Lee’s letter, “Sad to see tattoo parlors in Sylva.”
In the first place, Mr. Lee, “tattoo parlors” went out in the 1960s. It’s a studio, an art studio. Actually, tattooing is the oldest art form known to man. I don’t know the people that own Mean Machine Tattoo, but I have seen some of their work and thought it excellent.
Tattooing is considered a public service. To get to the point of opening your own shop takes a lot of dedication, money and patience. Artists are constantly having to contend with people such as Mr. Lee.
I don’t think that “stimulating growth for the community” wasn’t on their mind when opening. Moreover, I think it is providing good, clean and informative art.
There are many things Mr. Lee could channel his energy towards instead of something that he knows nothing about. Nothing. Believe me, many businesses could open that would be a lot worse than tattooing.
“Religious freedom” means a lot of things. It’s a shame Mr. Lee does not understand that. it’s narrow-minded people like him that give religion a bad name. Call me or come by Crazy’s House of Tattoos and I will enlighten you.
Richard Freeman
Cherokee
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