tattoos

January 30, 2017 - 12:05pm
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.

January 31, 2016 - 7:12pm
The 28th Annual AM-JAM Tattoo expo Kicked off on Jan. 29 at the Best Western Plus Convention Center.

Tattoo lovers attended to show off their ink and even add to their bodily canvases. The weekend-long event featured The Lizardman as the Master of Ceremonies.  The expo, which ended on Jan. 31, also featured competitions including Best Cover Up, Best "Creature from the Sea" and Best Sleeve.