Inked. 1.
Inked. by
Matt McGraw
Inked.
Copyright © 2015 Matt McGraw All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or in any means – by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written permission.
Artwork by Matt McGraw Design by Matt McGraw Edited by Matt McGraw & Kathryn Stellato Text Composition by Matt McGraw Digital Transcription by Matt McGraw Hosted on www.issuu.com Printed by Fireball Printing 3237 Amber St Box 3 Floor 5, Philadelphia, PA 19134
To all the contributers that made this book possible. May your canvases never be full.
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Inked. Introduction.
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Stick & Poke.
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Stories Personified.
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Conclusion.
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About.
80. 9.
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Introduction.
Tattoos. They are something that have always
an image. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a
defined the people they adorn. Young or old. Male
thousand words. Often, tattoos are a conversation
or female. Rich or poor. Tattoos transcend all of
starter between strangers. How often do we ask a
the other differences that seperate people. They
person with tattoos where they got that, or what it
go beyond cultures and ethnicities, ideologies and
means? More often than not, the tattoed individual
poverty lines. They span continents and cross oceans.
is pleased to be asked and responds with a tale about
They are as global as humanity itself.
themselves that would otherwise never have been
told and thus, a connection is made.
People tattoo ink into their skin for countless
reasons. Some do it as a cultural right of passage.
Some do it as an initiation. Some do it simply for
brought together by them. They are conduits through
fun. Some do it to remember, others to forget.
which a person can share things about themselves
Whatever the reason may be for getting inked, these
that they perhaps would not, or could not, otherwise.
living works of art become a permanent piece of the
This book, and the photographs within, are my way
individual that they inhabit, and often say as much
to share some of the incredible meanings and stories
about a person in a second, as they could say about
that tattoos have allowed me to discover, and in the
themselves in a lifetime.
process, learn things about myself as well.
Perhaps what makes tattoos so universal, is
that they have a story to tell. We are social creatures
This is what draws me to tattoos. People are
- Matt McGraw
after all, and what better way to tell a story than with
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Stick & Poke.
Harrison Brink, a 20-year-old journalism major at Temple University, is about to get his very first tattoo.
Rather than go the traditional route and get inked at a parlor, Harrison has chosen to have his first tattoo done by his friend, Alisa Miller, in the method of stick and poke. The concept of stick and poke is relatively the same as your average
parlor tattoo: an ink
laden needle is
repeatedly jabbed into
a person’s flesh,
injecting the ink into the
dermis level of that
individual’s skin in order
to permanently
change the pigment.
The difference
between the two, is that
while most parlor
tattoos are done with a
tattoo machine, a
stick and poke is done
with an average
needle and has no
electromagnetic
power, making it much
easier to do at
home. Harrison, a lover
of music, chooses
to have the symbol from
alternative rock
band Thrice’s collection
of four albums, The Alchemy Index, tattoed on him. On top of symbolizing one of his favorite album collections, the symbol also represents the four elements of nature: fire, water, air, and earth. As Harrison embarks on the journey of his first tattoo, he will earn a piece of art that will without a doubt be unique to him as it is done by
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hand, and will definitely be a story to share with his friends and family one day (although maybe not his parents.)
Alisa Miller, 23, snaps on her latex gloves in preparation of the task ahead. She has done stick and poke tattoos in the past.
Harrison Brink, 20, is enthusiastic about getting his new tattoo and is excited for the process to begin.
Alisa has set out the necessary supplies: a bowl of water, extra gloves, a pattern to reference, her ink jar and sterilized needle.
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2.
21.
Stories Personified.
The main portion of this book focuses on a multitude of tattoed individuals who have a story to tell.
There is a wide range of people, many from different backgrounds and different walks of life, all joined in the simple fact that they all have had a chunk of themselves inked into their skin. Some stories are simple, some aren’t. Some
are comical. Some are
heartbreaking.
Some are inspiring. Yes,
the focus of this
section is to appreciate
the tattoos the
person has obtained, but
even more so, to
appreciate the reasons
behind the tattoo,
the reasons the person
felt so strongly
as to have something
permanently
inserted into his or her
own skin. These
tattoos are more than
just works of art;
they are representative
of pieces of the
people that they bedeck.
The art demands
acknowledgement. The
stories demand even more from us: respect. The tattoos tell the story, but it’s the person behind the ink that really brings everything to life. After all, a tattoo is nothing more than a portion of its owner and without that human face behind the art, there really isn’t much to tell.
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James Alpha, 47.
James is a true patriot. At 19, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served for 20 years before retiring in 2007. During his time in the military, he did multiple tours of duty in the Middle East, gained the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, was a drill instructor for seven years, and now that he’s retired, does ROTC at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel.
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All of James’ tattoos, including his latest of an exceptionally detailed battleship, are by Jesse Provus who works for Sick Ink Studios. Jesses’ newest masterpiece takes over ten hours of work, but James says it’s well worth the time. He plans to enter it in contests in the future.
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Lindsey pedicone, 19.
Lindsey is an ex-American Idol contestant who currently works at a music venue in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
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Lindsey’s first tattoo is in remembrance of a friend who committed suicide. It is an excerpt from Mary Elizabeth Frye’s famous 1929 poem.
Lindsey got a tattoo of her own design of a songbird. It represents her love of music, which is a staple in her life.
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Johnny Kelly, 28.
A tattoo artist at Moo Tattoo, a popular parlor on South Street in Philadelphia, Johnny shows off his own ink.
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“I think my favorite tattoo is the one on my neck that says ‘Hopeless Romantic’ because that’s what I am. Aren’t we all?”
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Meghan casey, 20.
Meghan is a student at Temple University who is working towards a B.A. in therapeutic recreation.
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“It actually didn’t hurt as bad as you’d think.”
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Chelsea Schmidt, 31.
Chelsea gets a tattoo from Harry’s Tattoo Shops at the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention on February 13, 2015.
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“I had too. I respect fellow artists and saw his art and was inspired.� 35.
Mike Saga, 37.
Mike a.k.a. Mighty Mike Saga, is a DJ in Philadelphia who believes in 80s music, kryptozoology, and looking badass.
36.
“When I see something badass, I want it on my body.” Artist: Dave Fox
Artist: Corey Kruger
“Yetis could be real. There’s something out there, it just doesn’t want to be found.”
Artist: Aaron Bell
Artist: Justin Weather Holtz
“I love art for art’s sake.” 37.
Kayse Cain, 3o.
Kayse is a professional model from Oklahoma City who enjoys designing and modelling her own clothing.
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Kayse makes an appearance at the 17th annual Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention to show off her ink.
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Kristina Amato, 27.
Kristina gets a tattoo from artist Adam Aguas of an “Indian party woman.�
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“It’s symbolic, I’ll let you guess what I like to do.”
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Tony Lafianza, 60.
Tony is a family man with a whole lot of tattoos, and nearly every one of them has a story behind it.
42.
“I got this cicada for my wife because she likes them. She calls them the sexiest bugs.”
“The sun and moon represent me and my daughter, we have matching tattoos.”
“I’m a locksmith, so I figured I’d get a tattoo of it.” 43.
Casey Kallen, 21.
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Casey, a journalism major at Temple University, has tattoos that have deep philosophical meanings to her. On her left arm, she has a mandala (the flower of life) which is representative of her spirituality. On her right, she has an excerpt from the epilouge of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.�
“I am a part of everything, and everything is a part of me. The mandala reminds me of my place in the universe.”
“This script helped me deal with family issues I had freshman year.”
“We might not be able to control the past, but we have the power to shape our own destiny.” 45.
Dylan hilsley, 40.
Dylan is a long time musician from London, England who has been “lucky enough to always be able to do what I love.�
46.
“Most of my tattoos are from silly, drunken nights.”
“I like cats.” 47.
Holli Stephens, 20.
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Holli got her first tattoo at age 16, of a holly leaf (appropriate.) She then went on to get one on her hip, which commemorates her childhood, and particularly the Bob Marley album Legend. Her shoulder tattoo is an Adinkra symbol from the Akan people for humility and strength.
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Cory Ray, 20.
Cory is a man who enjoys music, as is apparent in his tattoos. This is a passion that was shared by his late brother Erich better known as EJ. When his brother died, Cory had his ashes tattoed into his own arm so that he could always carry a piece of him with him wherever he goes.
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From the Day of the Dead, to a heart, to the classic anchor tattoo with a twist, Cory has a varying range of tattoos.
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Illyria jade, 29.
Illyria is a professional model from Houston, Texas who has made a name or herself as a heavily tattoes model.
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“My chestpiece was my first large, highly visible piece that kinda launched me from being a ‘chick with few tattoos’ to being eye-catching in the heavily tattooed sense.”
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Soyoon mirro, 20.
Soyoon is a native of Japan who is visiting Philadelphia for the annual Tattoo Arts Convention.
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Soyoon’s butterfly tattoo was done by one of her favorite artists: Dan Santoro.
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Kyle, 25.
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Kyle is a native of Los Angeles, California who currently resides in Philadelphia and volunteers at the Wooden Shoe anarchist bookstore on South Street.
When asked about his tats, Kyle states that he is really into music and that he is from L.A. When asked about Betty Boop, he says “That one’s a long, long story.”
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Brianna spause, 20.
Brianna is a journalism majot at Temple University in Philadelphia who “grew up around music. It was always something that surrounded me, cushioned me when I fell, and always seemed to have just the right answers.” On her right foot, Brianna has lyrics from The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Scar Tissue” and on the left, she has lyrics from Dave Matthews Band’s “You Might Die Trying.” “I have a habit of keeping my head down, so now I have two lovely reminders to pick my head back up and keep trying.”
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Darien Fillette, 21.
Darien lives in Harrington, Delaware and currently works and goes to college. In February of 2013, Darien lost her father to brain cancer. Since her mother had died at a young age, this was an immense blow to Darien and her siblings. In remembrance of her beloved father, Darien got a tattoo to commemorate her father’s life.
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Darien’s tattoo depicts a dragonfly (her father’s spirit) transcending the binds of brain cancer, along with his date of death. Her tattoo helps her both remember him and celebrate his life.
“Dragonflies represent spirits, so it’s my dad’s spirit.” 61.
Steven Cormican, 21.
Steven, a theater major at Temple University, spent his Spring 2015 semester studying abroad in London, England. while overseas, Steven took the opportunity and got a tattoo of the astrological sign Leo; something that he has worn around his neck for years.
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Sienna Thiem, 19.
Sienna is a college student who lives and works in North Bennington, Vermont.
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“My mother also has a seahorse tattoo.�
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Yuxuan Jia, 24.
Yuxuan is a foreign exchange journaslism student studying abroad from China at Temple University, Pennsylavania.
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“This is a symbol from one of my favorite TV shows.”
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Kathryn Stellato, 22.
Kathryn has a number of tattoos, the first of which was the boat on her hip which was for her grandfather and his service in the Coast Guard. Next was the birds on her wrist after a suicide attempt. Third and fourth came the anchor and the Aries sign which had no deep meeting. On the seventh anniversary of the seventh Harry Potter book, Kat got her ankle tattoo. Finally, following a difficult breakup, she got her first color tattoo on the other side of her hip. “Its a reminder to myself that I can always come back and can grow again. Out of all my tattoos its my favorite.�
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“Tattoos are forever.”
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Phylandra McFaddin, 19.
Phylandra has multiple tattoos, and besides the one on her shoulder which is “just flowers,” all have a deeper meaning to them and display Phyl’s outlooks on life.
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“This means ‘Life is beautiful’ in Arabic. It makes me think of growing up”
“Time and love are all we have in life.”
“Sankofa is a Ghanaian word meaning ‘go back and fetch.’ Never forget where you came from.” 73.
Randi Fair, 33.
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Randi, a graduate of the Temple journalism program, has a number of tattoos that all tell a story about her life. On her left arm, she has a very intricae design that proudly displays her choice to eat vegan, reject animal-made clothing and denounce entertainment involving animals.
On the inside of her left arm, Randi has the three cities she has lived: her hometown of Amarillo, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; and finally, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“My sister and I were going to get matching My Little Pony tattoos but she stopped halfway through so now she only has a half-done one.�
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Conclusion.
After roughly three hours of work, Alisa finally
The main thing that I would hope people take
wipes off the last of the excess ink, snaps off her messy
away from this book is not just a simple appreciation
gloves and tells Harry that his tattoo is complete.
of the art within, but rather, a greater sense of
Harrison gets out of his chair, stretches his legs and
appreciation for those individuals who themselves get
goes over to the mirror to have a look. Despite the
tattooed. Compiled in this book are a vastly diverse
small discrepancies and unevenness between lines,
group of human beings, all with immensely different
Harrison is pleased with his first tattoo. He is happy
reasons for their ink.
with his first ink experience, and he is happy to have
done it in a non-traditional way. He has something
apart, yet, also what draws them together. Tattoos are
that is his own.
like fingerprints; everyones’ ink is different in some
way from any other person’s. These differences; and
Harrison joins the ranks of those among us who
These differences are what sets tattoo patrons
have gone the extra step to not just produce art, but to
the diverse meanings, reasons and stories behind each
become a work of art themselves. He now has his own
ink job, are part of the tattoo community. They are
story to tell.
what makes them so fascinating.
At a first glance, the purpose of this book was to
In the end, tattoos are great to look at and they
simply cover the interesting tattoos that people have
do tell a story, but it’s the people behind them that
obtained. This is certainly a portion of it’s intent but it
make them what they are. Props to those who turn
is without a doubt not the main point in my mind.
their bodies into canvases. We salute you.
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About.
This project was completed over the course of four months, mainly in the city of Philadelphia, but there are also stories from across the Northeastern United States and even as far away as London, England. I set out to meet interesting people and uncover their stories; heading to tattoo conventions, parlors and even stopping people on the street when their ink caught my eye. I found more than I ever expected to and learned a lot in the process. Overall, this was a great experience and I truly hope you as the readers enjoy it. ~ Matt McGraw is a 21-year-old photojournalist who is in the process of graduating from
Temple University in Philadelphia. He has been writing for years and has become enveloped in photography for two years now, falling in love with snapping the shutter. While he doesn’t have any tattoos thusfar, he hopes to one day finally join the honored ranks of those compiled in this book and get his own story inked into his skin. Here’s to the future.
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