International Logo Spotting

A little while ago I received the following video in my inbox.  If you have the same language barrier that I have, you’ll want to skip to the 1:55 mark to see the relevant portion of the video.

This news piece was filmed in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine at a tattoo festival a couple of weeks ago.  ModBlog reader Mark sent this in along with this picture of the completed piece.

logo

Of course the BME Logo has found its way on to many people from all over the world, as you can see in the BME Logo tattoo gallery.  To think that it’s been over 15 years since the late Scott Fox first designed the logo, and while he may not have lived to see how widespread his image would become, his memory is still alive in the hearts of those who knew him, and I’m sure seeing his design carried all over the would makes them proud to have known him.

It’s hot outside!

Oh hey! Just dropping in with a quick post to let you all know what a great time we’re having at Tattoo Hollywood! If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come on out. We’re open tonight until midnight and Sunday from noon until 8pm. Check out the amazing artists, book an appointment to get some ink and say hi to friends!

These are a couple of photos that I took earlier, we’ll have a more official post with contest winners and lots more photos coming up.

Clark North

Clark North hard at work

Horiren

Japan’s very own Horiren tattooing one of BME’s very own, Katie McShady

Got any plans for the weekend of August 20th?

Well if you do, then cancel them.  The Tattoo Hollywood Convention is that weekend!

th2010

The convention runs all weekend long, and kicks off with an opening party Thursday night at Known Gallery (441 N. Fairfax Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036)

Conventions Dates & Hours
Friday August 20th: 5pm- 12am
Saturday August 21st: 12pm-12am
Sunday August 22nd: 12pm-8pm

Closing Party August 22nd 8PM-11pm (Artists, their guests and VIP passholders ONLY)

Ticket Prices: $20 a day, $40 weekend pass, $100 VIP weekend pass. Tickets are available at the door. VIP passes are extremely limited and include special event/artist access.

Hotel Information:

The Grand Ballroom
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
1755 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028

For more information, including a full list of tattoo artists appearing, seminar listings, and contests; head on over to www.tattoohollywood.com

Do you have an event coming up?  A tattoo convention?  Art exhibit?  Let me know about it!  Just send me an e-mail and your event could be featured on ModBlog.

Tattoo Hollywood Opening Party & Bob Roberts’s Book Release!

Tattoo Hollywood & Known Gallery are proud to present new works by BOB ROBERTS and BERT KRAK | LADIES WELCOME and the release of Bob Roberts’s first book ever titled “In A World of Compromise…I Don’t”

ladieswelcome

About the book release:
Tattoo Hollywood Opening Party & Book Release: Thursday, August 19th, 2010 | 8-11pm
We will be selling 100 signed copies at $300.00 plus tax
Pre-order at: [email protected]

bobroberts

When:
Opening reception: Saturday, July 31st, 2010 | 8-11pm
Tattoo Hollywood Opening Party & Book Release: Thursday, August 19th, 2010 | 8-11pm
Show runs: July 31st – August 19th, 2010

Where:
Known Gallery
441 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

About the artists:

Bob Roberts
The man, the myth, the legend: Bob Roberts. Few people have had the impact on tattooing that Bob Roberts has. His sheer artistic genius is sublime, and his biography reads the same way. For over thirty years he has been part of the vanguard of talented tattoo artists who, unbeknownst to them at the time, have pushed tattooing from a craft to an art form.

The list of artists Bob has worked alongside reads like a star-studded who’s who of the tattoo artist hall of fame, of which Bob would no doubt be a member if such a thing existed. He apprenticed with Colonel Todd and Bob Shaw at the infamous Pike and then worked alongside Cliff Raven, Greg Irons, Paul Rogers, Jack Rudy and Don Ed Hardy. His own shop, Spotlight Tattoo, continues to house a roster of talented artists bent on following in Bob’s footsteps.

Bob’s creative genius is not limited to tattooing and painting, he is also an accomplished musician. His musical career reads much the same as his tattoo resume. Bob has played with Ruben and the Jets, Hot Tuna, The Offs, New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, to name a few. His life has been “rock and roll” as well; Frisco, New York, LA, Europe, Japan, Bob has done the world tour. He’s also ridden across most of the United States on a Harley, and he’s “ridden it like he stole it.” That is how Bob lives his life, and his artwork reflects it.

But the thing that stands out the most to me about Bob is his persona. Ungovernable, fiercely independent, Bob does not compromise…. He does it HIS way. And thankfully for us, Bob Roberts has forever changed tattooing for the better.

-Takahiro “Taki” Kitamura
State of Grace
June 2010

Bert Krak

Loyal husband, father of four, expert tattooer, fine artist , business man, genius. Was born July 12th,1977 in Hollywood, FL. Met his wife in 95. Had his first son in 96. Started tattooing and painting around the year 2000. Currently owns and operates Top Shelf Tattooing in Queens, NY and Smith Street Tattoo Parlour in Brooklyn, NY. Specializes in electric walk up style laser proof tattooing that look like they were drawn and applied by a man.

Traditional (hand poked) tattoo convention

With tattooing’s recent boom in popularity, tattoo conventions are a dime a dozen now. So normally, I wouldn’t  bother posting promotional material for  one. However, this tattoo convention is so different, I felt it is 100% worthy of a plug on here.

ManWoman actually sent us the information on this convention, and the fact he was involved was enough to get me interested. The convention will take place  in Cobh, Cork Co. Ireland on the 10th and 11th of July.  The tattooing will all be hand-poked traditional, even Eskimo tattooing. ManWoman will be guest speaker and will also be interviewed for a swastika documentary.

final-poster

PS: If any modblog readers make it out to this, be sure to send up some pictures!

That Truncheon Thing


We are more or less in a perpetual state of regret that we cannot be at all of the wonderful tattoo conventions and other various body modification gatherings from which we receive photographs, but we are always thrilled nonetheless to receive said photos. Like these, for instance! Esteemed European correspondent Mpatshi sends in these excellent shots from the recently wrapped-up London Tattoo Convention. We will contain our jealousy for the time being, enjoy these and hold out hope that we will not be stuck on this infernal continent next year.

See more in London UK Tattoo Convention (Tattoo Conventions)

BME Presents Tattoo Hollywood!


Whoa hey, so here’s some news! Coming this August is the inaugural Tattoo Hollywood convention, presented by BME. That’s us! Awesome, right? We’ve partnered with Bob Roberts’s World Famous Spotlight Tattoo, rounded up some of the best tattoo artists around and, for three days in August, will be playing host to a back-to-basics tattoo convention that we’re all pretty excited about.

The workhorse here, however, has been BME headmistress Rachel, who has been busting her ass and is far more qualified to speak on the subject than I am. So, on that note, take a look after the jump for a quick interview I did with the boss-lady, which should explain a bit more fully what this is all about.

BME: Whose idea was it to put together Tattoo Hollywood? Who’s been involved in organizing it?

Rachel Larratt: It was actually my idea. I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t a convention right in Los Angeles; there are several in the surrounding areas but nothing downtown and nothing in the Hollywood area ever since InkSlingers stopped hosting their convention. I started scouting out hotels and locations and figuring it out by which convention spaces had the best location, the best hotel associated with it and the right vibe so that the artists and attendees can have a really good time. That’s what a convention is for most artists: First and foremost, it’s a working vacation for them. I wanted to provide a space that allowed artists to be relaxed and comfortable and a safe environment to get an amazing tattoo for attendees.

So, like I said, I’ve been organizing it myself until recently when Norm from Spotlight Tattoo got involved. He’s done a great job helping me put together an impressive line up of some of the world’s best tattooers. We went back to the old school way of putting on a convention. Instead of it being a free for all, it’s an invite only convention for artists so everyone meets a minimum requirement of quality and professionalism with their art.

BME: What are some of your favorite conventions to which you’ve been? Did any inspire you while planning Tattoo Hollywood?

RL: I’ve probably only worked about 15 conventions over the past 11 years. I’ve attended several and have probably been speaking at or hosting a booth at more in the past two years than I have over the past decade. The conventions that I have gone to have been in Chicago, several in Texas, New York, Long Beach, Philadelphia, several in Europe as well as Canada. While I haven’t been able to attend a Hell City convention, I’ve heard they are some of the best out there.

After visiting the Philadelphia convention, I really felt like I wanted something in the town that I live in. Troy puts on a great convention; everyone has a good time and he really knows what he is doing. As far as L.A., it seems like driving an hour to go to a tattoo convention when you live in a major city is out of place. I wanted something right in the heart of L.A., which everyone knows is Hollywood, and I wanted to do it right.

BME: How much larger are you expecting the lineup of artists to get?

RL: We are planning for approximately 120 booths. We currently have the majority of them sold out but there should be about 200-plus artists attending. We wanted to keep it smaller as far as booths are concerned so that everyone is busy. We want the artists to be able to come out here, have a great time and keep occupied, because they can’t attend conventions without being able to work. When you cram too many artists into one space, there sometimes isn’t enough work to go around. As of right now, we have one of the most impressive lineups I have seen in a while, save for the major conventions. For our first year, I’m really happy with where we’re heading. It will only get better!

BME: You’ve mentioned that part of your motivation to put together this convention was to create an event that was focused solely on tattooing—why do you think conventions have become diluted with, as you said, an increasing focus on tangentially related interests (extreme sports, etc.)? Not that a convention necessarily needs a philosophy, but is there a particular one behind Tattoo Hollywood? What makes this convention different?

RL: I don’t feel that this convention is necessarily “different,” I’m just going back to the way things used to be done. While we do have The Lizardman booked to MC the event and handle contests (as well as perform his impressive side shows), I didn’t want to succumb to the ADD mindset where 600 things need to be going on at one time. A tattoo convention doesn’t need to have 45 bands playing to bring people out; half the time you end up seeing people who aren’t even interested in tattooing showing up for the event. I understand that other conventions do that because their convention is a business for them, but I don’t feel that tattooing should be an additional component—it should be the main attraction. Attendees should be coming to see the amazing artists from around the country and the world working. For most people it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get work done by an amazing artist who usually isn’t in their area. We’ll still have fun after-parties for the artists and attendees but, during the convention hours, it’s all about tattooing.

BME: That said, is this strictly a tattoo convention, or are you planning on having other activities (piercing, etc.) on the grounds?

RL: This is definitely something I want to address, as the question of, “Is this is a ‘body modification’ convention?” has been asked because it is BME’s convention. Due to restrictions with California Law, the only body modifications that will happen at the convention are tattooing and piercing. Scarification, implants, etc. are forbidden under California Law.

There will be a very select few piercers as well, because I don’t want to put too many piercers in one room and have it end up like a swap meet with people price shopping; that’s not what I want. At the Philadelphia convention, all of the piercers sat down as a group and agreed on a price list, and it made it so everyone was able to work without being undercut.

BME: Anything else we desperately need to know?

RL: What more could you need! But seriously, I’m thrilled to be working on a project like this, and I’ll do my best to keep everyone in the loop as more information about attending artists and after-parties and whatnot is ready. Here’s hoping we get to see lots of you there!

***

Pertinent Information:

Passes: $20/day, $40/weekend, $100/VIP (includes access to VIP/artist parties, shorter access lines, etc.)

Where: The Grand BallRoom
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
1755 N. Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028

Click on the link to book your discounted room rate online: Marriott.com

Rooms are $159/night. Please call 1-800-769-4774 to book your rooms over the phone. Our discount code is “Tattoo Hollywood”. Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Thursday, August 13, 2009 to guarantee your discounted rate. Please remember that it is important to book your rooms at the host hotel so that we may continue to offer great rates for attendees.

For more information, visit TattooHollywood.com!

Steve Truitt: Coming to a Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention Near You, in Philadelphia


So! That Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention that all the movie stars are talking about? Well, it just got 22.8 percent sexier, because the word is that Steve Truitt will be sharing a booth with noted gridskipper John Durante, offering cuttings and all that good stuff. Above is one of Truitt’s most recent pieces: a dainty lily! Your common StumbleUpon user is thoroughly disgusted.

As well, there is still space available for people/shops/etc. looking for booths. Visit the convention’s web site for details, or call Troy at 215-882-1362.

Also Coming to the Philly Convention? BME!


(Self-done BME logo cutting by Jon Underwood — his first, no less!)

As if John Joyce, John Durante, Brian Decker and Ryan Ouellette weren’t enough to get you to the upcoming Philadelphia Tattoo Arts convention, running in scenic Philadelphia from February 27 to March 1, hold onto your butts, because BME will be there too! And not just walking around fondling people, either — we’ll have a booth and everything! The ever-lovely MissMeg will be on hand to pierce, and Rachel will be there holding down the fort, filming, taking photos, selling T-shirts [Note: buy T-shirts, lots of them] and doing all sorts of fun giveaways. This is shaping up to be one hell of a weekend, friends — get there.

Also, there is still space available for people/shops/etc. looking for booths. Visiting the convention’s web site for details, or call Troy at 215-882-1362.

John Joyce, Philadelphia and You


You begged. You pleaded. You weren’t satisfied with a line-up of scarification artists at the upcoming Philadelphia Tattoo Arts convention that featured only John Durante, Brian Decker and Ryan Ouellette. Well, Syracuse heartthrob John Joyce will also be in attendance and is looking to fill up his Friday. How can you resist? You can’t. And not only that, but he’ll be bringing the very talented (and open for appointments) Rick Lohm with him, as well.

Healed shot of the above scarification, after the jump.