31^st National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show

March 31– April 1

Better Living Center

Toronto, Ontario

nationalmotorcycleshow.com

Toronto’s longest running springtime motorcycle show and swap meet is adding a new feature to their event. The 31^st Annual National Motorcycle & Tattoo Show will also feature dozens of tattoo artists showcasing their talent and offering their services onsite in an exclusive section of the building.

The National Motorcycle & Tattoo Show is a retail marketplace of motorcycle merchandise and more. The Canadian National Bike Builders Showcase also returns, featuring the best custom and vintage motorcycles on display competing for cash and awards. The ever popular used bike lot and motorcycle auction rounds out the four shows in one, making the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto the place you will want to be for the start of motorcycle season.

There are motorcyclists with tattoos, and there are tattoos of motorcycles, and to expand on something requested by the show’s audience, the promoters have opened up a whole new section of the building catering to tattoo artists. There will be dozens of artisans flying their handiwork all weekend long. Get that tattoo you’ve been thinking about from one of our many tattoo artists in attendance.

The 31^st National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show in Toronto certainly offers the best of both worlds.

This is Cathy and Dan Wimple– The winners of last year’s Win $500.00 Towards Your Dream Tattoo Contest. Read a feature on the Wimple’s and the moving story behind Cathy’s dream tat in the Nov issue of Skin&Ink. We’re also announcing the call for entrees for the Dream Tattoo Contest II in the issue. On Sale Sept 6! You’ll be able to enter the contest through the entry form in the magazine or here at skinink.com. Stay tuned for more details.

Photography by Timeline Photography

Skin&Ink writer/photographer Mary D’Aloisio covered the 2011 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention for our July 2011 edition. Here is a sample of the attendee portraits that Mary shot for us. See the entire coverage in our latest issue, on sale now.

Women in Tattoo: “Ladies, Ladies!” Art Show

By Marisa Kakoulas

Photography by JJ Ignotz

At Brooklyn’s Tattoo Culture Studio and Art Gallery, on December 10^th, as a throng of tattooed masses spilled out onto the sidewalk, the chatter could be heard from down the block. The excitement was over the exhibition inside: an art show described as “historically important” by veteran tattooist Juli Moon, for its celebration of women tattoo artists as fine artists.

The “Ladies, Ladies!” Art Show, curated by Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev (aka Miss Elvia) and Emma Griffiths, featured works from over fifty female tattooists, including those who have been tattooing for over thirty years like Madame Vyvyn Lazonga, Pat Sinatra, Debbie Lenz and Juli Moon. And these modern godmothers of tattoo were all in attendance at the opening. “Having Vyvyn, Pat, Juli and Debbie all come to the opening was just magic, as they are heroes of mine and their longevity and commitment to tattooing means so much,” said Griffiths. The crowd flocked around these legends, particularly upcoming artists who were hungry for advice or a good story. Even Juli herself expressed reverence for her fellow groundbreaker: “When I started tattooing over thirty-three years ago, there weren’t that many women. Vyvyn Lazonga was my hero, and I’m so happy she’s here!” She added, “I think it’s important for the world to know that, yes, we are artists. We not only tattoo but we do all different types of art.” Indeed, a variety of artistic media were on view, from oil paintings to photographs to drawings to mixed media.

Read the entire article in the July issue of Skin&Ink. On sale now.