Transforming ‘painful reminders’ of gang life or human trafficking enslavement into beautiful art: Ink 180 (Episode 618)

Victims of human trafficking are often “branded” with tattoos of pimps’ names or bar codes. Gang members’ tattoos are proof of allegiance. But what happens when a human trafficking victim escapes enslavement? When a gang member leaves the life? Those tattoos … those markings remain as painful reminders of the horrifying situations they were in. Chris Baker runs Ink 180, a tattoo studio in Oswego that also focuses most of its energies on removing or covering up those painful reminders. He’s a legitimate force for good in the universe, and it was fascinating to talk with him over food from RV’s Home of the Hoagy in Oswego.

Chris’s “thINK 180” podcast is one of the 10 that we want to press onto Phonation: A Chicago Podcast Compilation, a vinyl-only collection of area podcasts. Help fund the project (deadline 6/25) by searching “Phonation” on Kickstarter.

Author: carconcarne