"Tattooed New York" at NYHistorical Soc-An Exhibit that Thankfully Disappears

I was anticipating the "Tattooed New York" exhibit at the NYHistorical Soc but was disappointed by a dull compilation of artifacts, photos & "significant" diatribe that didn't suffice to drill interest.  I won't  waste much ink on this show.  I think it failed to hit its mark for several reasons.  First, the mission of the NYHistoric Soc was poorly met.  There was very little tie(dye) in NY history.  I surmised that native American tribes were the 1st to inscribe their bodies with markings using sharp implements (branches, bones) & pigments made from plants & soils.  There were documents showing Native American insignias on documents "signed" by the Iroquois matching body "tattoos" identifying  their tribe.  The insignia was noted with minimal explanations as to the content of the "agreements." Fur trade deals with the Iroquois had the tribe's insignia - the fairness of the fur trade business was not mentioned.  These did date back to the late 17th C.  "Good Peter" was an Iroquois Chieftan who aligned with the Americans in the Revolutionary War.  After the War, "Good Peter" fought federal laws trying to protect lands belonging to his people.   Sailing ahead, sailors coming into NY ports in the 1700's often got tattooed with markings of their travels, talismans, personal names/portraits.   Tattoos were also a safety measure preventing the British from encrypting men into their militia.  "Supposedly" Theodore Roosevelt had his family coat of arms tattooed on his chest.  That would be interesting if it were corroboratted rather than conjectured.  Tattoos were chic among the British aristocracy but no mention was made of the Nazi's branding tattoos. The 1st electric pen invented in 1890 was on display.  What was unnecessary was the inclusion of live tatoo  demos.  One of the few who financially benefitted from the business of tattoos, early 20th C was "Lew the Jew."  There were arresting photos of individual whose bodies were colorful canvases.  I was most taken with photos of women with masectomies who tattooed their chests.  Tattooing was outlawed in NY in 1961 in a clean-up operation pre 1964 World's Fair.  The legal ban remained until 1997.  Like prohibition, it didn't inhibit the illicit market.  The summation of the curation, "In short, the story of tattooing in the US is complex, fascinating & still evolving."  It's a relief this exhibit is temporary & not permanent.  It's fleeting & frivolous folly.