Cigar City Tattoo Convention Press Page
About the Cigar City Tattoo Convention
During the weekend of January 8th -11th 2009, historic Ybor City will be the diverse locale of the 1st annual Cigar City Tattoo Convention. The weekend will bring together internationally recognized tattoo artists, innovative films, and rousing music. The Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba, will house the event that includes special guest host, Jim Rose. Jim Rose has toured for years presenting outrageous sideshow styled entertainment around the world and published books and DVDs with his interesting tales of life as a sideshow entertainer.
The site of the convention was carefully chosen to highlight Tampa’s exceptional features. Artists, vendors, and aficionados from all over the country will be drawn here for this landmark event. “Ybor is a perfect site to host this gathering. The area epitomizes the area's history, art, culture and it's distinct identity. This is what the tattoo community is all about,” says Clay Montgomery, one of the convention organizers.
Music has always been the backdrop for any good tattoo and the entertainment for the weekend was planned with that attitude. Headlining on Saturday evening is “The King of Country Western Troubadours” Unknown Hinson. The diversity of bands extends from the rock and roll of Red Rocket Deluxe to Drag the River‘s alternative country and includes a sampling of local bands. Friday night's headliner is Joey Cape of Lagwagon and Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies preforming his solo acoustic set from his new album “Bridge.” This is one of only two east coast dates that Joey Cape and Drag the River will be playing.
Along with the amazing tattoo artists, the event will showcase tattoo related films, including “Hori Smoku,””Modify,” “Skinned Alive” and “Stoney Knows How”. “Hori Smoku” is a new documentary about one of the pioneers of modern western tattooing, Norman 'Sailor Jerry' Collins. A merchant marine turned tattoo artist based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sailor Jerry was one of the first tattoo artists to combine eastern and western influences and lay the foundation for the modern popularity of the art today. “Modify” is an in depth and graphic look at some of the more extreme aspects of body modification from body building and plastic surgery to scarification and branding. “Skinned Alive” looks into the art forms, lifestyles, and camaraderie that have existed only amongst the skateboard and the tattoo community. “Stoney Knows How” is a visit with a true master of the oldest art forms in the world - Tattooing. Disabled by rheumatoid arthritis since the age of four, and forced to use a wheelchair, his growth stunted, Stoney St. Clair joined the circus at age 15 as a sword-swallower. Stoney actually tattooed in Ybor City and downtown Tampa when the carnival was not touring up until tattooing was outlawed by the city in the early 1970's.
Even though the event is primarily about enjoyment, charitable and education endeavors will be available as well. The Skatepark of Tampa is sponsoring a charity art show tagged "Pimp Your Deck". Participating tattooers as well as local artists are invited to decorate donated skateboard decks to be exhibited and a portion of the proceeds from the sales will go to the “Boards for Bros” program, providing skateboards to low income children. Seminars ranging from Florida piercing certification to photographing your tattoo work will also be offered to help improve the body art industry.
Daily tattoo contests and a vendors section, including the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins, can be enjoyed amid the event. Admission cost for the convention is $15 for an all day pass or $35 for the weekend or $10 after 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.cigarcitytattooconvention.com.
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