6 | The Blue Banner | 3.21.2012
Arts & Features
Local Events Wednesday
F-Word Film Festival 7 p.m. Carol Belk Theatre Humanities Lecture Hall Through Thursday
Thursday Theatre UNCA: Tartuffe 7:30 p.m. $5 students/$10 public Through March 31 Carol Belk Theatre UNCA Drag Ball Drag show: 8 p.m. Dance: 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Free Alumni Hall ‘Hunger Games’ Midnight Release Party Festivities begin at 10 p.m. $2 donation or 5 non-perishable food items Carolina Cinemas
The first Asheville Tattoo Festival featured many East coast tattoo artists.
Local festival attracts out-of-town artists Diamond Thieves hosts first Asheville Tattoo Festival
Jessica LaRue
Friday Hoots and Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus 9 p.m. $10 advance/$12 at door The Grey Eagle
Saturday Papadosio 9 p.m. $10 advance/$12 at door The Orange Peel
Photo by Jessica LaRue - Co Arts & Features Editor
jlarue@unca.edu - Co-A&F Editor
The first Asheville Tattoo Festival took place last Thursday through Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel downtown, with vendors from all over the East Coast in attendance. Events included tattoo exhibitions and contests, as well as booths to purchase tattoo and piercing items. Contests included both Tattoo of the Day and Tattoo of the Weekend. For $20 a day, or $35 for a two day pass, tattoo enthusiasts were invited to come view pieces of art as well as get tattooed or pierced themselves. The festival lasted until midnight Thursday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, with a dinner for the artists after the festival at 8 p.m. “It’s pretty awesome. It’s my first convention, and it was a good one to come to. Asheville is a peaceful city,” said Taylor Ratcliffe, apprentice at
Mystic Owl in Atlanta, Ga., “I’ve been apprenticing for about six months, so I’m about half-way through.” Artists came from all over the East Coast, including New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. Aacross the Skin, Diamond Thieves and Hot Stuff were some of the local tattoo and piercing studios that attended the festival. Diamond Thieves had two booths set up, one for tattooing and one for piercing. Many of the artists said how awesome it was to not only meet people within their profession, but also make some great money in the process. “I’m into it. It’s rad. I’ve met some cool people. It’s good to get out there and network with other artists,” said Bryan Humphries, tattoo artist at Port City Tattoo in Wilmington, N.C. The festival spread into multiple convention rooms within the Renaissance Hotel. There was an art walk, filled with
art by local artists, and a massage booth set up for festival goers. “I like tattoos and I’m a tattoo artist. I’m interested in seeing what these conventions are like because I would like to attend one as an artist in the future,” said Monica Combs, UNC Asheville graduate and tattoo artist at Euphoria Tattoo and Piercing in Waynesville, NC. There were numerous people in attendance and the convention room was so colorful, it drew the eyes in and wouldn’t release them. People were invited to take a break from the festivities inside and have some refreshments on the patio. Many took the time to show off their new ink and chat with fellow attendees. If the festival returns for a second year, Ratcliffe said Mystic Owl would be there. “We’re definitely planning on coming back next year. Mystic Owl is in Atlanta, so it’s only like four hours away,” Ratcliffe said.