BY CHRIS TIESSEN WITH SONIA PREISLER
We do not tend to equate tattoos with comfort. Irritation, yes. And a little pain too. Yet for so many folks, getting tattooed is a deliberate – and tangible – act of transformation. Memorialization. Healing. And, ultimately, comfort.
And tattoo artists? These individuals are highly exalted – esteemed as much for their counsel as for their creativity. We managed to catch up with three of our region’s prolific tattoo artists at work – to memorialize those who work in memorialization.
ALLIE CHARBONNEAU
Modern Addiction Tattoos
‘I AM ETERNALLY STOKED THAT
SO MANY OF MY CLIENTS LET
ME DO MY THING BASED ON
THEIR IDEAS, AND THAT THEY
TRUST ME AND MY ART ENOUGH
TO WEAR IT. IT’S INSANE THAT
I GET TO DO THIS EVERY DAY.
DOWNTOWN
I FEEL SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY.’
DUSTIN BARNHART
Berlin Tattoo
‘FOR SOME, TATTOOS GIVE A
FEELING OF PERMANENCE IN AN IMPERMANENT
WORLD. I’M GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, AND TO
MAKE A LIVING DOING SO.’
CHRIS ANTHON
Grand River Tattoo Company
‘EACH PIECE HAS SOME OF MY
PERSONALITY IN IT AND BEING IN SUCH
AN INTIMATE POSITION FOR EXTENDED
PERIODS OF TIME REALLY FORMS A BOND
BETWEEN MY CLIENT AND MYSELF. I’VE
MADE SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN
LIFE THROUGH TATTOOING.’
