Spilled Ink: Brooklyn Bartenders Talk About Their Tattoos
Jackson
High Horse Saloon, Williamsburg
I love all the detail on that tattoo, the one on your left arm.
Oh, thanks. This was my most recent one. A guy I met while working here — his name is Nash Hogan — he’s an awesome tattoo artist. He drew me this, which is an image on an Italian playing card. I briefly lived in Italy and learned to play a few different games. The deck is a little different [than it is here]. I was in southern Italy and learned to play a game called Briscola, and this [points to tattoo] is the Ace of Cups in the Neapolitan deck. The aces are a lot like they are in an American tarot suit — all really beautiful and ornate. I brought the card to Nash, and he just went with it.
How about your other tattoo? I like the contrast of one being so detailed and the other being so simple, on opposite sides of your body.
I actually drew this one, then my friend tattooed it for me before she moved to Portland, when we were both working here.
Does the rabbit have any personal significance to you?
I’ve seen people do a rabbit without its foot before — see? it’s missing a foot? — but I really wanted something in this style.