Sam's Sleeve Revels in Her Heritage

Last month I had the pleasure of running into Sam on the subway platform at West 4th Street. She had this amazing work on her left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmeZOjfkFEnk_LM-5Sv4tXNDjCD1WDC1puwedEjJeLzWCzEaLnNv-P5IsSclNj_7zeJRW6TDIng2K6Mp1OvXwH6R29lsFeQrLPYPgepavxjpvUZj7jkJNd7fgG7tOUqdj26QXysG/s1600/pig+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmeZOjfkFEnk_LM-5Sv4tXNDjCD1WDC1puwedEjJeLzWCzEaLnNv-P5IsSclNj_7zeJRW6TDIng2K6Mp1OvXwH6R29lsFeQrLPYPgepavxjpvUZj7jkJNd7fgG7tOUqdj26QXysG/s400/pig+collage.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Sam's half sleeve is autobiographical in that it celebrates her heritage and her family in the South.<br /><br />Her ancestry is one-half Koren and one-half Scotch-Irish, which explains my favorite part of the tattoo, the pigs holding the fans emblazoned with the flag of South Korea:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMlifLPILRtIhkRMHg5dtT3MzpnZ5X2Tr43VqOF-QYIp94bKkzVUmqdHfcXLiHXdoN-1VaibHpdkP-CmbyooOVL6IiFOx0fr-4RqMhHpbvHGWBYg24Vdz09Xx20UPwJTAvWiBrbIo/s1600/Kim++pigs+with+fans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMlifLPILRtIhkRMHg5dtT3MzpnZ5X2Tr43VqOF-QYIp94bKkzVUmqdHfcXLiHXdoN-1VaibHpdkP-CmbyooOVL6IiFOx0fr-4RqMhHpbvHGWBYg24Vdz09Xx20UPwJTAvWiBrbIo/s400/Kim++pigs+with+fans.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />Her home state is acknowledged by the pig with the gold necklace in the shape of Virginia:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jxH1SPxlMOP5bYMcYSMoikzIOgQ9NHE6_pKUWu6YeSl-Ta5ygA-vMiiiChhC_-knlWnXmcu_sbM4Os8UpnUNILI4VxFHTMuaOqBV8DzhbHcMbPzDhN2y5mIm8yLXR50jIpzwrFaa/s1600/Kim+lower+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jxH1SPxlMOP5bYMcYSMoikzIOgQ9NHE6_pKUWu6YeSl-Ta5ygA-vMiiiChhC_-knlWnXmcu_sbM4Os8UpnUNILI4VxFHTMuaOqBV8DzhbHcMbPzDhN2y5mIm8yLXR50jIpzwrFaa/s400/Kim+lower+pig.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />And the one pig drinking from the distinctively-shaped bottle is a nod to her affinity for Jack Daniels.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfwz5TU6AHAhY-ybc_EiYp8yS3KNv-Ir4CZzoqfZL1zlAbVHnp2hUI_sGAMnI1INDHFrmp9gHDiOdHJq5Qteg4SWynACw-uG1ls_g4Hr-GFnaLrPwaZkCAdSBPZ7bL-eIcxAR2Mp0/s1600/kim+pig+with+jack+daniels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfwz5TU6AHAhY-ybc_EiYp8yS3KNv-Ir4CZzoqfZL1zlAbVHnp2hUI_sGAMnI1INDHFrmp9gHDiOdHJq5Qteg4SWynACw-uG1ls_g4Hr-GFnaLrPwaZkCAdSBPZ7bL-eIcxAR2Mp0/s400/kim+pig+with+jack+daniels.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />Many may ask, why pigs? Sam explained that many of her family gatherings and reunions are lavish pig roasts. As a chef, Kim, who blogs <a href="http://blog.skimkim.com/">here</a>, embraces the cultural aspects of her upbringing through food and, as one can see, in this tattoo.<br /><br />The work done is by Willie Kirby at <a href="http://classictattoorva.com/home.html">Classic Tattoo</a> in Richmond, Virginia.<br /><br />Thanks to Sam for sharing her awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Sam's Sleeve Revels in Her Heritage

Last month I had the pleasure of running into Sam on the subway platform at West 4th Street. She had this amazing work on her left arm: Sam...

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