Have a seat and place your hand or arm on the table. When one of the tattoo parlor buttons is pushed, a voice tells the meaning behind the tattoo symbol, and a hologram of the design begins to appear under the small spotlight. This exhibit celebrates the long history of nautical tattoos and sailor art, and is a great look into the intersection of tattooing and maritime culture. Many images were tailor made for various ship duties; such as a single anchor to denote passage across the Pacific or crossed cannons to signify navy service.
Although sailor tattoos evolved and rose to prominence in North America in the 20th century, the practice has existed for thousands of years in other parts of the world. Observing the practice in Tahiti in July 1769, Captain Cook wrote, “Both sexes paint their bodies, Tattoo, as it is called in their language. This is done by inlaying the color of black under their skins and this is a painful operation performed once in their lifetime.”
After gaining popularity in England and Europe, tattooing made its way into the United States, first being recorded during the Civil War, where it is closely linked with both sailors and the sea. The typical sailor tattoo, now a common sight, had its beginnings in United States marine culture of the mid-20th century.
Tattooing remained on society’s fringes into the 1940s and 1950s, and was often outlawed. Thanks in large part to Hawaii-based artist Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, it continued to evolve and flourish among sailors and members of the merchant marine. It represented something unusual and foreign and was often a bonding experience for men who had shared life on a boat at sea.