Project Ink’d

Art fascinates me, but over the last couple years one particular form of art has really stood out among the rest and captured my interest, the art of tattooing. The concept of having a permanent piece of art on your body is so interesting from a mental standpoint without even beginning the discussion regarding the creativity and beauty required to place what should be a meaningful image onto a living, thinking, feeling canvas. Having had personal experience with using this artform as a means to create a space for ministry I was intrigued to hear about Project Ink’d in Greeley, Colorado. Project Ink’d is a tattoo parlor that practices redemptive principles through engaging in a for profit business with a community of individuals that are rarely even considered by the modern church. They combine high quality service with firm values and standards that reflects the ethics of the Christian faith to invite those they serve to encounter a servant of Christ in a context that they are familiar with and is often rejected by the church. I have actually spoken to someone that within this year has been tattooed at their shop. Speaking of the artist who did her piece she said, “This man is a worship leader and is literally playing worship in the shop and has this vision to open another shop that continues to completely change the way that people see this type of environment. In my humble opinion, we need more places like Project Ink’d and more visionaries like the artist described above.