Most of the tattoos that grace my winter ravaged skin were inspired by old-school tattoo legends Sailor Jerry (aka Norman Keith Collins) and Bert Grimm. I’ve been fascinated with the Hawaiian-based tattoo artist’s Japanese influenced art for the better part of the last 5 years and was psyched to see that Philly filmmaker Erich Weiss will be premiering his Sailor Jerry documentary, Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry this year at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival.
Read some more about the tattoo legend and check out some of his flash at Philly’s very own Sailor Jerry Store. Synopsis below. Trailer here.
Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is a feature length documentary exploring the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Considered by many the foremost tattoo artist of all time, Collins is the father of modern day tattooing, whose uncompromising lifestyle and larger than life persona made him an American legend. Through rare interviews, photographs and hours of archival footage, Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins, explores the past, present and future of the global tattooing phenomenon.
[MP3]: The Ruby Suns ”There Are Birds”
Sea Lion, Lil Chief/Sub Pop; 2008