By MICHAEL C. UPTON, Correspondent
Media Center
Related Topics
Related Stories
It's not like they can hang their work in an art gallery.
For the talented tattoo artists in and around Lancaster, a good showing of their work usually means lifting up a pant leg or rolling a sleeve.
Most of their art lives in the dark.
But for at least one night, six regional tattoo artists will get a chance to shine a spotlight on their craft, when Gusto rolls out the red carpet Tuesday, Nov. 10, for "Canvas: A Body Art Experience."
Featuring the work of Ina Vigilato, Landon Lewis, Steve Lowery, Frankie Kirchgessner, Eric Willis, Mike Muldowney, and body painter Dave Musser, Canvas is meant to illuminate an art form that often gets a bad rap.
Mark Reinmiller, one of the show's promoters (and the bass player for Negative Space), recently discussed the event — loosely billed as a tattoo fashion show — over a cup of tea at Prince Street Cafe.
"The genre, the industry gets such a stigma attached to it," Reinmiller said. "We want to prove that we can have a bunch of people with tattoos — something some people are so scared of — and they come to this nice, quality event where everyone gets dressed up, and have a great night out."
The event is also a celebration of sorts of the late, great Norman Collins, better known in tattoo circles as
"Sailor Jerry." Tattoo artists view Sailor Jerry's ink as a form of American folk art. His style is synonymous with the classic tattoos of naval themes and pinup girls.
The evening's festivities will include a clip from a documentary about the tattoo icon, "Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life of Norman K. Collins," which debuted last year at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
The Philadelphia-based merchandising company that bears Sailor Jerry's name — and sells his 92-proof rum — is one of the event's sponsors. His spirit, and spirits, will preside over the celebration.
Reinmiller repeatedly emphasized the community component of the Canvas event. "It's not just the ink and the rum," he said.
A host of local retailers and talents have made the event possible, from the Gusto restaurant, to
Angry Young & Poor, to Wee Bee Audio and Video.
The Dutchland Rollers Roller Derby team will make an appearance, and Phantom Designs will provide some outdoor eye candy in the form of hot rods.
Those impassioned by what they see at the Canvas event will, alas, have to wait to be inked.
"There's some sort of issue about tattooing while there's food being served. I don't know," Reinmiller said. "But you'll be able to mingle and talk with a lot of the best tattoo artists in the area. And I know that most of the studios involved will be offering special discounts and that kind of thing."
Tickets for Canvas are available at myspace.com/ninethreeproductions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Gusto, 335 N. Queen St., in downtown Lancaster.
(13)
