“Tattoos are trashy.”
“You wouldn’t put a bumper sticker on a Maserati.”
“How’s that going to look when you’re eighty?”
Some people still have hangups about permanent body art, despite tattoos having longstanding cultural significance and increased popularity. Take a closer look and you may realize tattoos aren’t just skin-deep. The practice is inextricably linked to Ocean State history (see: tatted Newport sailors and Navy officers), and captures a wide range of meaning: art, skills, passions, memorials, cultures, pride, joy and healing. Keep reading to see for yourself, and maybe even get some ink-spiration for your own canvas.
