Sacred Ink

Religion and tattoos go way back. Sacred texts like the Bible mention them, albeit not always positively. Yantra tattoos have been popular with Buddhists in Southeast Asia for centuries. Mehndi, or temporary henna tattoos, are associated with a variety of religious traditions in the Indian context. Tattoos have also been an integral part of many Coptic Christians’ experience of religion for centuries. And, if you ask any American tattoo artist about the most frequent symbols they tattoo, you won’t have to wait long to hear the word “cross.”

Sacred Ink, a collection of photographic art and stories exploring the intersection of spiritual life and tattoos, leans into this long-standing relationship and looks for the sacred in the ink we put on our bodies. The project, which is housed at the Wesley Foundation at the University of Michigan, engages campus and community audiences in deep conversation about the meaning of tattoos and their relationship to personal experiences of the sacred. The traveling gallery tries to make sense of the sacred stories so many people wear “on their sleeves.”

The project was stewarded by Rev. Tim Kobler. Tim, ironically, doesn’t have any tattoos himself (at least, he doesn’t have any yet) and spends most of his time as the chaplain of Wesley Foundation.

Read the full blog on our website.

https://www.interfaithphotovoice.org/blogs/seeing-the-sacred-in-the-stories-we-wear

It was a great evening, celebrating the sacred stories behind the tattoos of our photo subjects and the gathered guests for the Sacred Ink art talk.

Many thanks to Kaila Sell and Kelly Dunlop for helping bring Sacred Ink to the U-M campus!

It was great to see Anna, Natalie, and Lauren at the Sacred Ink reception tonight at the Michigan Union!

Come see the Sacred Ink display in the Michigan Union, outside Ward Lounge on the main level. We’ll be there through Feb. 21.

We’re thankful for the opportunity to display our photos during the autumn at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. It was wonderful to join them for their homecoming festivities and to take some photos of their alumni and staff with their own sacred ink!

I’m currently near Chicago, at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, with the traveling Sacred Ink gallery. I’m taking photos at their homecoming event to add to our online gallery. New photos will be posted soon!

Sacred Ink is at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary! Come see our photos and hear the stories now through November.

Today’s meditation is on the word “co-creation.”

how fortunate are we that we get to co-create each others’ experience of the divine. how blessed are we that we get to co-create heaven on earth with our Creator.

may it be good – the kin-dom to come. may it be good – the news to the weary.