Tattoo Documentary Examines the Life of Sailor Jerry

By Veronica Murtagh in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 9, 2009 7:20PM

More than just a tattoo artist, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins is widely regarded as the forefather of modern tattooing and lesser recognized as one of America's most influential folk artists. Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is the first documentary of its kind, exploring the roots of tattooing and the life of one its most prominent figures. Interviews with Collins' peers and successors as well as archival photos and footage paint a portrait of a fiercely independent free-thinker who used the body as his canvas for sharing his art with the world.

A free screening of Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry will take place on Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. at the Metro, 3730 N Clark and includes a Q&A with the film's director, Erich Weiss and an afterparty within the venue. An RSVP is required for the screening (you can RSVP here) and the event is 21+.