Tattoo is a collaborative performance/life-art piece by Krista Grecco, Heath Hanlin, and Tassy Thompson. It started early in 1998, but is permanently installed on our bodies. This page contains a statements by the artists, photos of the event, and some of the email correspondence between us as we tried to figure out what to do.


We wanted to do something permanent, like a marriage, or adopting the same middle name. Something that would be a marker in time that would unite us, but at the same time allow us to spread out from the moment. Marriage was out as I was already married. The name change was nixed as Tassy is from Scotland and can't legally change her name in the United States. Krista suggested tattoos. The thought made Tassy and I nervous as we didn't have any (Krista had a small one on her neck/shoulder area). The fact that none of us had been marked much previously made the idea sound better and better. It seemed perfect, a permanent mark on our bodies coming from the same impetus, allowing us to move forward from that moment.

-Heath Hanlin

To: grecco.1@osu.edu, thompson.764@osu.edu
From: Heath Hanlin
Subject: vowels/consonants
Cc:
Bcc:
X-Attachments:

thinking about releasing. social experiment. do something, carefully gauge responses, study and document 5 million ways. then release the birds. they've been restrained long enough. release those big beautiful birds.
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X-Sender: grecco.1@pop.service.ohio-state.edu (Unverified)
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:59:17 -0500
To: hhanlin@cgrg.ohio-state.edu
From: grecco.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Krista Grecco)
Status: RO

Heath, We need to get tattoos that say ORIGINAL. I am not kidding, It will be a collaboration piece to last until death. The idea of Original, will signify how no new art is really original anyway. Obviously just tattooing that we are original is not even original because three of us have it.

If you cant make the commitment to art and tattoo yourself, I am still really interested in adding a new name to my name. Are you still interested? Do we have to meet on friday or Saturday night to come up with an idea?
Love, Krista

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X-Sender: grecco.1@pop.service.ohio-state.edu
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 16:08:32 -0500
To: Heath Hanlin
From: krista grecco
Subject: Re: your mail
Status: RO

heath and Tassy,
I love it, the more I think of a life long collaborative tattoo, the more I love it. I am into the helmet idea but where would it go? Could it go anywhere? I also think that the viking idea is hot.

So Are we three in agreement that we are going to do a lifelong art collaboration tattoo? If we could at least resolve that today, we will be in business. Take care all.
Love-Krista
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To: krista grecco , thompson.764@osu.edu
From: Heath Hanlin
Subject: Re: your mail
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I'm wondering if we all get the same image put on us. I was assuming before that that would be the way to go but I'm wondering if it would be more interesting to get different images that are derived using the same criteria or ideas. I'm thinking something that symbolizes current personal work or current frame of mind, something to act as a time-marker, a spot where we come together and drop the marker and move out from it as time passes.

-Heath

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X-Sender: grecco.1@pop.service.ohio-state.edu
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 13:48:24 -0500
To: Heath Hanlin
From: krista grecco
Subject: Re: your mail
Status: RO

HEath baby I love it,
I am so game, where is tassy?

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X-Sender: grecco.1@pop.service.ohio-state.edu
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 03:11:44 -0500
To: Heath Hanlin
From: krista grecco
Subject: Re: your mail

Heath,
Hey, where the hell is Tassy? I am ready to talk more about exactly what we are going to do.
Love Krista

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To: thompson.764@osu.edu, grecco.1@osu.edu From: Heath Hanlin Subject: pics Cc: Bcc: X-Attachments: Hey Guys, Put pictures on web, use Netscape to go to http://www.cgrg.ohio-state.edu/~hhanlin/tattoo click on the names to see the pics. I'm so full of glee I can hardly contain myself. -Heath

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X-Sender: grecco.1@pop.service.ohio-state.edu
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 16:48:52 -0500
To: Heath Hanlin
From: krista grecco
Subject: Re: pics
Heath, I tried to see our pictures but the computer said it was too unstable and wouldnt let me see. I am dying to see on the computer. Does this mean that friends from all over can see?? I have the video. Tassy wants us to get together for breakfast tomorrow but lunch is better for me. We can all look at it. I am getting a cold but mt tat is rocking the house. Got to go now call me tonite? I need to know when we can all get together, we have to set the show up tomorrow. Can you print the photos today? we will help you with the cost of the paper for the die sub pictures.
Take care. call me. Ill be home after 8.
KG