Sailor Jerry - Homeward Bound - Launch Party
Sailor Jerry Book launch will be on Thursday 9th June from 6pm till 10pm at
Fat Buddha Store, 73 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5TF
HOMEWARD BOUND: THE LIFE & TIMES OF HORI SMOKU SAILOR JERRY
- New book charting the life and times of Norman Collins, the father of old-school tattooing
- Sold in selected bookshops across London, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester
- Book accompanies critically acclaimed film Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry
Celebrating the 100th birthday of legendary tattooist Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, Homeward Bound: The Life and Times of Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry accompanies the critically-acclaimed cult film Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry which is set for UK DVD release later in 2011.
With previously unseen photos and essays collected during the making of the film, the 128-page, hardbound book recalls the era and artistic legacy of Norman Collins, the father of old-school tattooing. His visionary style inspired an entire generation of tattoo artists and his influence is still recognised today.
Like the movie itself, this limited edition book is a visual ethnography, painting the larger picture of tattooing roots using Sailor Jerry’s life as a medium. A companion piece to the Erich Weiss film Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry, the book is a limited edition of 3,000 copies and is available in selected bookshops across London and Manchester including Number Six, The Old Truman Brewery, The Garbstore in Notting Hill and Oi Polloi in Manchester. The book will also be released in outlets in Brighton, Bristol and Glasgow shortly.
Norman Collins’ shop at 1033 Smith Street was a point of call for many sailors, miles from home and ready for war, fuelled by devil-may-care attitudes and a lust for life. These men went on shore leave with a single purpose in mind: to get “Stewed, Screwed, and Tattooed” – taking in their first taste of liberty.
Permanently etched on the bodies of the thousands of men who passed through his Honolulu parlor, Sailor Jerry’s tattoo designs tell of war and heartache with a dedication to style, craft and detail that would make this Master one of the most influential, if little recognized, American folk artists of the 20th Century.
For over 40 years, Sailor Jerry dedicated his life to elevating the art of the tattoo. When he died in 1973, he left detailed instructions to his wife that after his death the shop be handed over to one of his three disciples: Mike Malone, Ed Hardy or Zeke Owen, and that if they didn’t accept the offer, the shop - along with all his sketches - be burned. Fortunately, Mike Malone accepted and re-opened the shop as China Seas Tattoo maintaining the legacy of Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins for future generations.
Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins was born on 14 January 1911 and died on 12 June 1973 – 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Sailor Jerry embodies the spirit and features the flash art created by Norman Collins, the godfather of tattooing. Sailor Jerry preserves the legacy of Collins and celebrates his old-school values of independence, hard work, and unyielding standards of craftsmanship.
Popular symbols used by Sailor Jerry include snakes, the infamous “Aloha” monkey, eagles, falcons and other birds of prey, nautical stars and classically styled scroll banners.
Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is an award-winning film about the life and times of Norman Collins. The film is made up of rare interviews, photographs and archive footage documenting his life.
Sailor Jerry Spiced bears the signature of Collins because it celebrates his old-school values of independence, hard work, and unyielding standards of craftsmanship.
The official website is www.sailorjerry.co.uk. To keep up to date with the latest Sailor Jerry news and events, log on to www.facebook.com/sailorjerryuk and http://twitter.com/sailorjerryuk
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