letters to the editors - Rochestermn.com

October, 2007 EXPOSED 15
‘Everything has a meaning to it’
By Renee Berg
Brian Grover has caffeine at the ready, heavy metal blaring and a needle in his hand.
It’s a crisp, sunny Saturday afternoon and at Infinity Tattooing customers are coming
in one after another, just as they did the previous night and as they do pretty
much every day or evening of any week.
Perhaps it’s the influence of reality TV shows such as Miami Ink or the Angelina Jolies
of the world sporting visible tattoos. Or maybe tattooists are finally getting the
recognition they’ve long deserved as genuine, bona fide artists. Whatever the cause,
the result is that area needle wizards are busy.
In Grover’s chair is Etienne Nkoghet of Austin, with girlfriend Ana Douangmala at
his side. She went first, having her beau’s name tattooed near her hip, and now it’s
Etienne’s turn –- her name is being inked into his forearm.
“It’s perfect, it’s just what I wanted,” Nkoghet glows when Grover finishes. It’s his
first tattoo, but Douangmala is a veteran – she has her name tattooed on her upper
arm and a butterfly and tiger adorn her back.