OPB’s Tattoo People: Oregon History at Tip Top Tattoo

OPB reporter Frankie Benitez came to Tip Top Tattoo in Portland to interview me for the Tattoo People, a short film about Oregon tattoo history.
We talked about my apprenticeship with Don Deaton at Sea Tramp Tattoo, Bert Grimm’s legacy, and the stories I still cherish from that shop .
Frankie, her camerman and my friend Damion spent nearly three hours talking about the past and current conditions of tattooing in Portland.
I tried to honor Don as best I could.
Frankie’s film does a nice job of trying to capture a small part of Oregon’s tattoo history, Tattoo People, a story that is older than the state itself.

I am entirely grateful to have been included in this project and to be given the opportunity to share my insights and experience on tattooing in Oregon .

Please give the film a watch:

Watch Tattoo People on OPB: