MANSFIELD — Just like Rick Fields promised, Mansfield’s Ink in the Clink drew thousands to the Ohio State Reformatory for metal music, food, cars, motorcycles, and, oh yeah, tattoos.
Many were there for a second, third or fourth time. Like Ink in the Clink event staff member Robert Clark, of Wayne County. He was hooked last year when he worked the event by getting to know the owners, Rick and Susan Fields through mutual friends.
“It’s a good time to spend with my son,” he said, pointing to his 11-year-old named Carter. “I figured I’d just do it again.”
Clark said he was not concerned with the stereotypically “rough” crowd that seems to be attracted to tattoo festivals and conventions.
Compared to politically charged demonstrations and rallies, tattoo conventions are tame, he said.
“It’s a great experience here. It’s not violent, everyone gets along — it’s a great atmosphere,” Clark said, adding that every tattoo is a story.
“Every individual has a story to tell with every tattoo they own,” Clark said, who also has a single tattoo on his right arm.
He got his when he was 19-years-old when a friend offered to give it to him free of charge.
“I don’t regret getting it. I’ve just outgrown it,” he said. “I want to cover it up because it was a part of my life at one time and that’s over with. I want something meaningful to cover it that I can live with.”
Event staff member Andrew Javorsky, of West Salem, has five tattoos, all along his left arm. Two of them are names: his son and daughter. He lost his daughter during the birthing process.
“It’s your body, so it’s a good way to display things. Like, important stuff you want to share with the world,” Javorsky said.
Still, he draws the line with face tattoos.
“When you’re getting them (tattoos) you have to think about the repercussions. You got to be conscious of your future. When people see that, they think, ‘is that person going to try to sell me drugs?’” he said.
But the tattoo festival was not all about tattoos. Lisa Douglas, of Louisville, Kentucky, came to take it all in, the music, the paranormal, the cars, the bikes, the weird — everything — in. She and her partner, Chris Mills and her daughter, Ivy Howard, were there for the good time.
“She (Ivy) got to see Mushroomhead last night,” Douglas said. “It was a great time.”
Douglas said her body is covered in tattoos.
“I can’t count them. I’ve been into it since I was 18,” she said.
When asked if she pays attention to the negativity surrounding body art, she said she ignores it. Chris agreed.
“It’s all a misconception, they don’t know. People just judge,” he said, Lisa nodding in approval.
“There’s nothing like this in Louisville,” Lisa said. “It’s been an amazing time.”
