Don Ed Hardy - ART 032A

Check out the KQED-SPARK profile of Don Ed Hardy at:  Don Ed Hardy Video

Don Ed Hardy has a great mind. He has reinforced the idea that one can follow ones passions and be glad one did. Looking back at this plunge into the hurricane of life and still riding it; What a great life. This is especially inspirational to a twenty-nine year old student, such as myself, whom turned down a full scholarship to San Jose State University to pursue his passions in the art form of architecture. I opted out to come to West Valley ten years ago and still no signs of a degree. However, working in the industry has allowed to me to gain skills and experience with a point of view of wonderment and appreciation for the profession.

Hardy obviously went head first into the water and has managed to not only stay afloat but to excel in the industry. His passion for art for its own sake is what it is all about for me. That "therapeutic art" as he calls is it is what attracts me to it and gives me that drive. I am filled with an electric energy and sheer joy; I feel alive.

Tattoos as fine art is incredibly difficult to define as the piece itself is not able to be hung in a gallery unless that person has died and allowed his or her skin to be removed and preserved, but that gets kind of creepy so it is seen mostly in private collections. However, the argument can be made that living art is accepted as fine art. Even installations are accepted as such as well. On top of that with the caliber of quality that tattoo artists are able to reach, tattooing is most certainly fine art.