Carmelo's Ink City

January 30, 2017 - 11:05am
Raymond Vazquez of Carmelo's Ink City struggled to find a purpose, but tattooing saved him from a life of trouble.

The 31st annual Am-Jam Tattoo Expo in Syracuse maintained the hallmarks of American freedom: chicken wings, beer and of course, tattoos. Large men with denim jackets showcased their sleeves. Eric Sprague, famously known as the Lizard Man, chatted with expo-goers. The passion for ink was hard to miss, but for one artist, tattooing was more than a hobby. It was the only escape from a life of structure and order.