To our May 13th chain letter recipients: The story in our Premier issue entitled “Ink-arcerated: The Story Behind the Homemade Tattoo Machine” has been met with mixed feelings, and while the majority seems to have been both educated and intrigued by the piece, a small minority seems to have been largely misunderstood its direction. The article’s text seems to have been overlooked as many of you have voiced your concerns that it was a “How To” piece, designed to encourage amateur tattooists to make their own unsafe and unclean tattoo machines, and that we in turn are “taking tattoo culture back 20 years” in the process of presenting this piece. This is simply not the case.

We here at Bound By Ink are deeply committed to the integrity of art and tattoo culture, and this can be seen even through the reading of the text in this piece alone, as well as in addition to our profiles on Horiyoshi III, Cherry Dollface, and “The Evil Twins,” specifically. In all of these pieces, we have taken deliberate steps to encourage artistic dialogue and preserve the spirituality, integrity, and passion behind tattooing, all while constantly trying to shatter societies misconceptions regarding the perception of tattoo culture. We feel that this piece was also done with this in mind as it was solely done in the context of prison life, and focused on the parallels between artistic expression and the triumph of the human spirit. Our story actually shows how tattooing completely turned one man’s life around, and gave him a legitimate trade in which he can survive. It should be noted that he now runs an immaculate shop and is well respected within the tattoo community. The purpose of this piece was to provide an insider’s commentary and perspective on how tattoos are done behind prison bars, and how this practice affected his life in a positive way.

In addition, we would like to re-clarify and reiterate that all of the information contained within the INK-ARCERATED piece (at least in regards to the making of the tattoo machine) is information, which is easily and readily available on the net. A simple search on YouTube will produce 418 related posts on “How To Make a Tattoo gun” and a Google search will provide 15 solid pages of the same information. Again, this particular editorial piece was done along the parallels of entertainment with an underlying message, which conveys that art has no limits and no boundaries even if its subject is confined within concrete walls.

Some have also expressed their concern that our piece will encourage “backyard artists” to make their own machine and thus destroy their careers and we find this hardly the case. The inexpensive production of tattoo guns in China hardly makes our editorial a “cheap substitute” for a real unit. Let’s face it, with tattoo guns going for as cheap as $10 dollars – and readily available on eBay – there is absolutely no reason to fear that these homemade machines will become a “cool new trick.” With tattoo guns that cheap, there’s no need to waste time “making one.”

A few have also voiced their concern with sterilization techniques and we couldn’t agree with you more. Sterilization is not only an important issue but also a responsibility left entirely at the hands of the tattoo artist and an issue, which will affect – or infect – regardless if you’re using a homemade tattoo machine or one professionally manufactured. Again, many of you have been misguided by this “chain letter” into believing that we will some how encourage and help spread disease. Now really? Would that even remotely make sense for us to do?

In short, we do not condone the making of crude tattoo guns, nor do we advocate anything that would add to the already negative stigma associated with tattooing. We believe in the sanctity of permanent artwork and respect the art form not only as an industry, but as a lifestyle. In closing, we appreciate your comments, but we here at Bound By Ink stand behind our story, as its purpose encompasses the human need for artistic expression; the very foundation of tattooing itself.

Once a year, casino bugavilias plays home to the Guadalajara Tattoo Expo, an event that is adored and visited by many from all around the world. Already the recipient of international acclaim and historical fame, this three-day event is regarded by many as the best tattoo expo in Mexico. Created by Sammy Ramirez and located in the heart of Guadalajara, Jalisco, artists such as Indio, Julio, Sergio, El Chocky, and Paco brought their best to the table, and these were just a few of the big-time names who were in attendance. If you missed out on this year’s event, make sure to mark your calendar and stay up to date by visiting them at: WWW.SAMMYTATTOO.COM

Artist: MIKEY MONTOYA

Studio: RUBES TATTOO