Is That a Tattoo or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

Allow me to first say I hate tattoos, on anyone, but especially on women, the body being God’s temple and all of that. But I also don’t expect you to share my opinion – sometimes I think I am the only one left, even my sweet older daughter has a small delicate design on her lower abdomen. I don’t approve, but there are worse things: she could have more than one and they could be in more readily visible places.

Anyway, for those who are fascinated by such things, the Woodstock Tattoo and Body Arts Festival:

On September 5-7, 2003, the Fine Art of Tattooing will come to life in a town-wide festival in Woodstock, New York. The event is The Woodstock Tattoo & Body Arts Festival.

The Woodstock Tattoo & Body Arts Festival is a celebration of the arts with tattooing being the connecting thread between music, film, painting, sculpture, photography, fashion, and the international art culture in general. Tattooing is an art form undergoing worldwide, mainstream recognition, appreciation and acceptance. Tattooing is also a document of personal rites of passage in international cultures throughout the history of mankind.

The festival will host the highest caliber of world class tattoo artists, internationally known modern artists, as well as a great line-up of live music. Artists currently scheduled to show, participate or attend include: HR Giger, Robert Williams, Lyle Tuttle, Spider Webb, Skot Olsen, Winston Smith, Frank Kozik, Chris Mars and more.

The Woodstock Tattoo & Body Arts Festival is a unique approach to the typical Tattoo Expo (normally held in a traditional convention center) as it is a Chamber of Commerce sponsored Festival. It will feature:

– On-site tattooing in seven venues by many of the world’s finest tattoo artists.

– All venues will display, for sale, paintings by tattoo artists and feature live music throughout the day and evening from local, regional and national “tattooed” bands.

– Three separate month long Gallery Exhibits of paintings for sale, by many of the best Modern Art Visionaries.

– We will feature a gallery with sculptures from Swiss surrealist, HR Giger.

– Juxtapoz magazine is sponsoring a “lowbrow” art show featuring works from Frank Kozik, Robert Williams, Chris Mars, Skot Olson, Colin Christian and other great artists.

– “Ladies of Lowbrow” Art Show curated by Sherri Cullison, author of “Vicious, Ambitious and Delicious”.

– On the big screen! – A Tattoo related film and video Festival in the Woodstock Cinema. Including films, lectures and symposiums by legendary filmmakers such as Charles Gatewood.

– Special 9/11 Memorial Exhibit by legendary artist Spider Webb.

– Tattooing workshops and seminars from dignitaries such as Lyle Tuttle.

– Tattoo photography exhibits, classes and historical archive displays by top tattoo photographers such as Bill DeMichele.

– A great line-up of special guest speakers, book signings and other unique festival entertainers.

– Awesome merchandise, arts, crafts, beverage and food vending

– Festival Ticket purchase allows ticket holders to come and go between all of the tattooing venues, see the live music in the venues, visit the art galleries, vending areas, historical archives, enter contests etc. Most venues are very close together (walking distance).

We will also have shuttles and busses to make parking and getting around for festival patrons as convenient as possible.

As an art colony celebrating it’s 100th Birthday, what better place than Woodstock, located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, to enjoy the intriguing world of tattooing and the lifestyles, art forms and culture that tattooing influences around the world.

And music:

Bile
Burnt by the Sun
Bongzilla
Sulaco
Skinless
Nocturne
VooDou
LoLo
Epoxy
Pitchfork Militia
Five Points Band
Edible Red
Epoxy
Sic Seed
Hanzel und Gretyl
Bantam (Gina from LunaChicks)
Mambo Kikonga
Booty Olympics

More bands to be announced..

Audio/visual:

‘SKIN FLICKS’ Film Fest – Tinker St. Cinema (Woodstock’s Full Screen Cinema) highlights include:

Charles Gatewood – Full screen cinema showing of the legendary film about Fakir Musafar “Dances of the Sacred and Profane”, Gatewood will be here for a Gatewood anthology video presentation, book signing and Q+A.

Alix Lambert – “Mark of Cain” – book and film on Russian Prison Tattoos with Q+A with the director.

Joe Coleman – Q+A Session with this legendary artist, plus book signing for his new book “Book of Joe” and an exclusive showing of the rarely seen biographical film “Rest in Pieces”.

Lyle Tuttle – Mr. Tuttle will present a lecture to go with showing of biographical film “Tattoo 70”, lecture topics include the history of tattooing, tattoo renaissance, historical development of the machine and the industry..

Mike McCabe – Slide show and video presentation of McCabe’s amazing travels through Borneo and Indonesia and the worldwide culture of tattooing..

Bill DeMichele – Tattoo photography seminar, a seminar for tattoo artists to take better pictures to improve their portfolio.

Keith Alexander – One of the world’s most renowned piercers presents a video lecture on “What is body modification?” an intriguing philosophical discussion of the true meaning of “body modification” in today’s society.

Plus other cool body mod and tattoo related documentaries, videos and films.

Okay then, but I still think it’s ugly.