Synopses & Reviews
Anyone who rides a motorcycle lives, to some degree, in the margins of society. Where members of the herd drive Toyota Camrys and hipster hatchbacks, bikers opt for Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, and Ducatis, putting themselves out there like raised middle fingers thrust at the ordinary citizens of the world. And just as a motorcyclist’s ride is an affront to the sensibilities of the meek and the conventional, so too is the ink on his or her skin. Tattoos have long been an integral part of this culture, the result of the overwhelming number of ex-military men who formed the nucleus of the postwar outlaw motorcycle club scene. These soldiers, sailors, and marines returned from war with statements etched in ink upon their bodies, and they continued that tradition when they formed the clubs that came to define motorcycle culture. In 1000 Biker Tattoos, motorcycle photographer Sara Liberte celebrates this most personal of art forms by capturing the wild abandon of the motorcycle lifestyle as expressed through tattoo work. Featuring 1,000 photos of tattoos and the artwork used to create them, along with profiles of the most renowned tattoo artists in the biker community, this book provides an unprecedented window into the most intimate aspect of motorcycle culture.
Synopsis
In 1000 Biker Tattoos, motorcycle photographer Sara Liberte captures the wild abandon of the motorcycle lifestyle as expressed in tattoo art, providing an unprecedented window into the most intimate aspect of this culture.
Synopsis
Brash. Bold. Badass! 1,000 Biker Tattoos is all of this and more. Inside, you’ll find hundreds of photos and stories from bikers all across the United States. Whether they’re at rallies, the tattoo shop, or simply straddling their hogs and hitting the road, each one of them sports a distinctive tattoo (or two…or three…or an entire body’s worth), and each tattoo has a story to tell. Biker legends like George the Painter and Indian Larry are also featured, as well as the peculiar histories of some of the most common tattoos around. Screaming skulls, Sturgis stars, bar-and-shields, babes, booze, and booty—and that is just the tip of the ink-stained iceberg. Tattoo regret? Yeah, we got some of that too. The only ink that doesn’t bleed is the kind from under the needle, and you’ll find all you can handle here. Open 1,000 Biker Tattoos, and get your hands dirty. Get ready. Get inspired. Get inked.
About the Author
Since graduating from Montserrat College of Art in 1997, Sara Liberte has been a professional photographer specializing in motorcycle/automotive and portrait photography. With a background in fine art, Sara has concentrated primarily on “image fusion,” a signature technique she uses to combine images. Her works have been exhibited at several prestigious galleries, including Mingo Art Gallery in Beverly, MA; Blue Ruin Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA; and Just Jennifer Gallery in Gettysburg, PA. Her photos have appeared in numerous ads, marketing materials, and annual reports as well as in leading publications like EasyRiders magazine, In the Wind, Hot Bike, Street Chopper, IronWorks, and Cycle Source.www.saraliberte.com
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction Chapter 1: Motorcycle Tattoos
Chapter 2: Personal Stories
Chapter 3: Back Pieces and Bodies
Chapter 4: Tattoo Art About the Authors