Permanent Record is a photographic collection documenting the ways people express themselves and tell their stories by permanently inscribing words on their bodies. To permanently mark one's body shows a very deliberate and tangible commitment to the words. The tattoos invite a constant discussion about the meaning of the text, and frequently require a defense or explanation, turning the subjects' bodies quite literally into open books. The photographs reveal a very personal yet also very public articulation of the subjects' experiences, and attest to the desire for individuality but also the need to connect to a larger community.