Opening Friday, August 5 and running through December 4, 2016 is something different for the MMAM: Ink & Water: Sailors’ Tattoos. Explore the history of nautical tattoos in an exhibition featuring 19th and 20th century tattoo photographs, tools, equipment, vintage flash designs, advertisements, and more.
According to Curator Jon Swanson, “American sailors’ tattoos are permanent symbols of their hopes, fears, and experiences while at sea. Tattoos remind them of loved ones back on land, the dangers of their profession, and serve as commemoratives of their travels, experiences, and accomplishments. By marking their bodies, sailors and tattoo artists created a uniquely American style of art.