Tattooing, piercing, henna art . . . these are all forms of what we call ‘body art’. Artistic expression in the form of body art is less shocking than it was a decade ago.. less shocking than it was 5 years ago… and becomes less and less shocking to the ‘mainstream’ as time goes on. Society has begun to accept body art as a form of artistic expression - - the body as the canvas.

Acceptable art has over the years evolved from being on paper, to canvas and even on walls, through to being on the human body.

Once associated with mean bikers on mean machines, jailbirds and hardcore gangsters, tattooing is now a fashion must-have and has lost its dodgy edge.

Messages of love or hatred for your mother-in-law, drawings of insects and sentences describing your private fantasies can adorn any part of the body.

Letting your body be your canvas - Independant Online News

Tattoo and body-piercing shops must meet health and safety regulations under a measure signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich Friday that also aims to increase the number of potential blood donors in the state.

Under the law, tattoo and body-piercing shops must follow state health and safety requirements for sterilization and sanitation techniques.

They also must register annually with the Illinois Department of Public Health and be open for inspection.

Because Illinois did not previously regulate the facilities, blood banks had to turn away potential donors for a year after they had gotten piercings or tattoos, said Margaret Vaughn, government affairs coordinator for the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers.

The new law takes effect for all of the estimated 425 tattoo and body-piercing facilities in the state July 1, 2007. - Chicago Tribune