SHINGLEHOUSE – One Oswayo Valley High School senior found a way
to make the lesson in his senior project last a lifetime.

With the help of Bradford tattoo artist George Cabisca, that
is.

Travis Crippen, 19, of Shinglehouse, told The Era Wednesday he
got the idea to do his senior project on the history of the art of
tattoo during the summer before his senior year of high school.

Crippen said he had become fascinated by the idea that in every
culture, in every time era, the individual receiving the tattoo has
a specific, personal reason for each design.

Crippen became familiar with Cabisca after visiting his shop,
the Mad Tatter, on Mechanic Street, Cabisca said Wednesday as he
was setting up to demonstrate in the high school gymnasium. Crippen
asked him to help with his senior project on tattoos and Cabisca
agreed, feeling it was a great opportunity for publicity for his
shop and to gather a new client base from the Shinglehouse
area.

Crippen’s project looks at several aspects of the art, from the
related dangers, demographic statistics for those who get tattooed,
to whether people who have inked themselves regret it.

Cabisca, his apprentice and at least two others from the Mad
Tatter were on hand at the high school early that afternoon to give
an informative demonstration. Later that evening, during the senior
project open house, Cabisca gave a second demonstration -ðthis time
tattooing Crippen as part of the senior’s project.

Crippen and Cabisca also made an informative video for the
presentation, which was the result of filming a full day at the Mad
Tatter, complete with piercing clips.

Crippen is no stranger to the needle, he said, receiving his
fifth tattoo Wednesday. The coy fish on his right shoulder and
upper arm joins the four others he has received since age 17, he
said. He also has stars on each pectoral muscle, an image of
praying hands with the phrase “Father Forgive Me” on his back and
the symbol for his zodiac, Aries, on his wrist.

Each has a special meaning for him, Crippen said, although he
was not particularly forthcoming about the symbolism.

When asked if the radical project was well-received by his
parents, teachers and peers, Crippen said he has received only
compliments on the idea and end result.

“They seem to think it’s a different and new approach,” he
said.

Other senior projects at Oswayo Valley High that night included
ones on fast food, the development of the fetus, sexually
transmitted diseases, the Waco (Texas) tragedy, skateboarding,
hunting, gardening, accounting, cosmetology and others.

Crippen, a son of Carla Brooks of Shinglehouse and Randy Crippen
of Reading, said he plans to enter the U.S. Air Force after
graduation in a few weeks.