Screwed and Tattooed, Six Ways 'til Sunday: The 6th Annual SLC Tattoo Convention
by JP [jonathanpaxton@gmail.com]
Issue 243 / March 2009 More from this Issue
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The telltale whir of many tattoo machines, a New York accent echoingon a PA and mariachi music (if you’re lucky) greet you upon enteringSalt Lake City’s tattoo show. The sixth year of this colorful festival hadsome new editions, mainly in the art show department, and a specialdisplay I particularly enjoyed: what I’m calling the Upskirt Limbo. Noteto next year’s female contestants: Please keep accidentally wearingskirts to the Limbo contest.
Nate Drew and CJ Starkey (outside left and right, respectively) with MC Chris Longo at the convention.
Photo by Kealan Schilling
Body art artists from all over the world now descend every yearonto Flaco Production’s (CJ Starkey and Nate Drew of Lost ArtTattoo shops) finely executed convention. Japan, Holland, Germany,Switzerland, Sweden, U.S. states as far flung as Hawaii and Alaska,and neighbors as close as Idaho, are all represented by artists - including piercers - with row upon row of booths full of clients.Tattoo conventions are unique among all others. The collective feelingin the air of needling pain can actually be heard, combining with thesight of blood dripping from under the cellophane of fresh and colorfulnew ink, makes for an almost tactile experience for observers. It isspectacular and one that can only be felt at this event.
Tattoo conventions aren’t only about watching people squirm underthe needles, they’re also inspiring showcases for the talent of theartists in the form of daily contests. I walked into the Salt Palacethrough a crowd of cowboy hat-sporting Latinos with their hot Latinasas music from the Hispanic Valentine’s Day dance bled lightly throughthe walls to mix with the audio from the awards ceremony. It made aninteresting sonic backdrop in the tattoo convention hall for MC ChrisLongo, the Mayor of Tattooville, and his Brooklynese-inflectedshenanigans. A character, tattooed to the gills (literally), Longoconsistently spouted some hilarious shit. In response to a contestant’sportrait of a life-size cock: "Jesus Christ! Look at the whacker on thatguy." And in speaking to lovers with matching feet tattoos he actuallysaid "the two of yous." I didn’t even know people said that shit, but theMayor’s east coast roots were showing like black on a bleach-blondebitch’shead.
Darcy Nutt from Boise won two best-of-day awards at the convention.
Photo by Chris Swainston
Tattoo of the Day ran three days straight and was split up three ways.Fortunately for underrepresented female tattoo artists, one of their ownreceived that distinction twice. Darcy Nutt of Boise, Idaho won forher bearded lady tattoo––a traditional "old-school" design––and for aperfect portrait the next day. Some of the male artists were miffed atthis, but the sets of three expert judges were completely different eachday. Nutt was very impressed at her luck and humbly, and honestly,said "That’s cool man. But art is in the eye of the beholder. On onehand I aknowledge its bullshit and the other hand it’s very flattering.You don’t see a lot of women winning tattoo of the day, so that wasvery rewarding." Especially twice. The winners of tattoo of the dayreceived Dringenberg & Co. machines and I suggested Nutt split upher pair and give one to the duo of artists from Reno who won the finalday’s contest. She politely declined.
Nate Drew and CJ Starkey (outside left and right, respectively) with MC Chris Longo at the convention.
Photo by Kealan Schilling
Body art artists from all over the world now descend every yearonto Flaco Production’s (CJ Starkey and Nate Drew of Lost ArtTattoo shops) finely executed convention. Japan, Holland, Germany,Switzerland, Sweden, U.S. states as far flung as Hawaii and Alaska,and neighbors as close as Idaho, are all represented by artists - including piercers - with row upon row of booths full of clients.Tattoo conventions are unique among all others. The collective feelingin the air of needling pain can actually be heard, combining with thesight of blood dripping from under the cellophane of fresh and colorfulnew ink, makes for an almost tactile experience for observers. It isspectacular and one that can only be felt at this event.
Tattoo conventions aren’t only about watching people squirm underthe needles, they’re also inspiring showcases for the talent of theartists in the form of daily contests. I walked into the Salt Palacethrough a crowd of cowboy hat-sporting Latinos with their hot Latinasas music from the Hispanic Valentine’s Day dance bled lightly throughthe walls to mix with the audio from the awards ceremony. It made aninteresting sonic backdrop in the tattoo convention hall for MC ChrisLongo, the Mayor of Tattooville, and his Brooklynese-inflectedshenanigans. A character, tattooed to the gills (literally), Longoconsistently spouted some hilarious shit. In response to a contestant’sportrait of a life-size cock: "Jesus Christ! Look at the whacker on thatguy." And in speaking to lovers with matching feet tattoos he actuallysaid "the two of yous." I didn’t even know people said that shit, but theMayor’s east coast roots were showing like black on a bleach-blondebitch’shead.
Darcy Nutt from Boise won two best-of-day awards at the convention.Photo by Chris Swainston
Tattoo of the Day ran three days straight and was split up three ways.Fortunately for underrepresented female tattoo artists, one of their ownreceived that distinction twice. Darcy Nutt of Boise, Idaho won forher bearded lady tattoo––a traditional "old-school" design––and for aperfect portrait the next day. Some of the male artists were miffed atthis, but the sets of three expert judges were completely different eachday. Nutt was very impressed at her luck and humbly, and honestly,said "That’s cool man. But art is in the eye of the beholder. On onehand I aknowledge its bullshit and the other hand it’s very flattering.You don’t see a lot of women winning tattoo of the day, so that wasvery rewarding." Especially twice. The winners of tattoo of the dayreceived Dringenberg & Co. machines and I suggested Nutt split upher pair and give one to the duo of artists from Reno who won the finalday’s contest. She politely declined.
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