The last day of the fiesta, Jim was up for “Best
Overall Male.” Jim and the other contestants
from all categories were checking out each
other’s work and giving each other props while
Aztec and Flamenco dancers, a hip hop band,
and a few other acts warmed up the stage.
There weren’t as many competitors as the other
categories this time. Jim was hoping he’d have
more people to join him on stage. He was given
quite an introduction this time around. He took
the stage with pride as he donned the bare
and vulnerable pictures of his life story for the
crowd. The crowd (which had doubled in size at
this point), the competitors, judges and artists
gathered and cheered, whistled and high-fived,
and took photos and live videos as he stood
statuesque in his underwear, holding another 1st
place trophy. He lives the story of the Phoenix
risen.
Where hundreds of inked-out expressionists
travel to cross each other’s paths, we find
resonance through aesthetic, and kinship through
hardship.
Whether the meaning of a tattoo comes from
the depths of spiritual refinement or whether, as
Aaron says, “some people just say ‘fuck it, put
a monkey on me,’” one thing is for certain about
this place. Here, competition is for camaraderie,
and respect is the new rivalry.
InkSpiredMagazine.com
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