Friday, May 10, 2013
Family, friends and supports of INK 180 pack into the tattoo studio.
INK 180, the first tattoo shop in Kendall County and a ministry to help that helps sex trafficking victims and former gang members, officially celebrated its opening. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, April 30 at INK 180, 27 Stonehill Drive Unit D, by the Oswego Chamber of Commerce. Owner and tattoo artist Chris Baker said opening INK 180 was a dream he'd had for thirteen years and he did not think it would ever happen. "You guys and God made it happen," said Baker, addressing the crowd of friends and supporters. Related:
Monday, April 15, 2013
A Chicago-area tattoo artist and youth pastor helps people find new lives by inking over their tattoos. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. Walk into Chris Baker's tattoo shop, and you’re greeted by a huge biker-looking dude covered in 140 hours’ worth of ink. Baker’s shop, the first tattoo studio in Oswego, is the cleanest tattoo place you will ever see. A guitar signed by former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch hangs on the wall, a reminder of a turning point in Baker's life. "His book Save Me From Myself turned my life around," says Chris Baker, a 42-year-old tattoo artist, youth pastor and father of three. Baker now helps save others by …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Ink 180, at 27 Stonehill Drive, Oswego, will offer tattoo services for patrons as well as free cover-up tattoos for former gang members and sex-trafficking victims.
Kendall County will be seeing its first tattoo shop in the near future after the Village of Oswego board unanimously voted to approve a special permit for tattoo facility Ink 180. Ink 180, owned by tattoo artist and Oswego resident Chris Baker, will function as both a tattoo shop for patrons as well as a part of the Ink 180 Ministry that provides free cover-up tattoos for sex trafficking victims and former gang members. After the vote, Baker said he’d been hopeful it would pass, but had been expecting a few votes against because of the stigma surrounding tattoo shops. “We’re hoping to turn that conception around,” said Baker. “It’s a great service and God bless him for doing it,” said trustee Jeff Lawson right before the vote in which many…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Chris Baker, founder of INK 180, provides free cover-up tattoos to sex trafficking victims and old gang members.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Chris Baker, founder of INK 180, provides free cover-up tattoos to sex trafficking victims and old gang members.
There’s normally a story behind a tattoo. If that’s the case, then Oswego resident and tattoo artist Chris Baker has seen a whole lot of stories and helped to write hundreds of new chapters. Baker is the founder of INK 180, a non-profit organization in which he creates cover-up tattoos free of charge for victims of sex trafficking and old gang members looking to turn their lives around. Tattooing was always something of a passion for Baker, but never a job. He has been collecting tattoos since he was 18 and had always wanted to make tattoos himself. But when he was younger he dropped out of high school to help support his mom and sister and threw his artistic talent under the rug. It wasn’t until he was about 25 years old and hanging out …
Friday, November 9, 2012
Ink 180 helps old gang members or victims of domestic sex trafficking cover up their tattoos.
Ink 180, known as a Ministry of Ink, exists to help others. The 100 percent charitable organization run by Chris Baker helps victims of domestic sex trafficking and old gang members looking for a new start at life to cover up old tattoos or markings. “I love helping the people I work with as they move away from horrific life circumstances into productive lives,” said Baker. Baker, who does all of the inking and designs himself, will cover tattoos completely for free so that people can move forward, or do a 180, with their lives. But the process costs money and Baker is looking to raise funds through a bracelet fundraiser. The bracelets, pictured in the photo attached, are $5 a piece and all proceeds go towards supplies for the cover-up …
Matt Robbie
7:29 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
Can't wait to come get my first tattoo after I finish chemotherapy treatments. more ›