NORAH GURLEY

NORAH GURLEY THE BIKE: Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two THE BACK PIECE: 57 hours with Kiku at Invisible Tattoo THE IMPETUS: “I wanted to get something to represent part of my heritage, and I wanted it to be massive! My mother is half- Japanese and I was very close with my grandmother, so I was racking my brain about what to do. I chose the Japanese deity Kannon because she’s the goddess of compassion and mercy. I am quite the understanding, nurturing, and helpful person. And having her on me for life helps push me in directions of continuing to help others. Take Rockaway Renegades—a ton of my friends and I were on the ground out in Rockaway right after Hurricane Sandy, and it was an eye-opener. The group is still making runs out there and working with families who didn’t get FEMA or insurance help.” THE PROCESS: “I told Kiku that I wanted him to do Kannon. I gave him some general guidelines but told him that I wanted him to make it a nice mesh of what he thought was best as well. That’s how I ended up with Ryuzu Kannon [dragon riding].” THE PAIN: “There were quite a few painful spots: kidneys, the area right where your ass and thigh meet, and right on the sacrum. You would think that having the inside of your butt cheeks tattooed would be the worst, but it wasn’t.” THE PAYOFF: “I can’t stop looking at my piece. It’s the most expensive thing I own!”