A New Tattoo and the Human Pin Cushion

Yes, you can experience both at the Tattoo & Macabre Expo this weekend at Fairplex. Our pal Nate tells us all about it:

Alright, here we go again! Tattoo Expo is back! As at past shows, there will be more than 300 tattoo and piercing artists from all over the world, more than 20 bands performing live, a beauty pageant (Body Art Expo style) and a contest (also Body Art Expo style). Same old thing different day, right? WRONG!

They’ve added a new element to the show this year and I can’t wait to check it out. I don’t exactly know how to pronounce it, but I think it rhymes with chupacabra, and just like the legendary cryptid it is gruesome, horrifying, ghastly and maybe even deadly! MACABRE! (Pronounced [muh-kah-bruh] – it’s French).

This year, for the first time at Fairplex, the Tattoo & Macabre Expo will be showing off awesome freak show performers like The Enigma, who has been featured on Ripley’s Believe it or Not! along side Serana Rose, and freak magician Dan Sperry who has been featured on America’s got Talent. And that’s just to name a few.

Every year I visit the Tattoo Expo and experience something different every time. But the one thing that never fails to impress me is the traditional Polynesian tattoo art and technique. They actually tattoo ink into someone’s body using a foot-long stick with a VERY sharp end, then that stick will get hit by another stick to make the punctures while assistants around the artist help by stretching the skin and cleaning the blood off the victim, oops I mean the client. Take a look:

I encourage anyone with enough courage to check out the show this weekend. There’s always amazing art and merchandise for sale; the show never fails to impress. drop me a comment on this blog, let me know what you think about the Tattoo & Macabre Expo.

Caged Ink Leaves a Mark on Fairplex

caged_ink_resized1Caged Ink. Ya gotta love the name of this event. Billed as “something that has never been brought together under one roof,” it’s a combo tattoo, extreme sports, paintball, battle of the bands, trucks, BMX, FMX, and surf shops. (Surf shops?) They’ve even thrown in an MMA Cage Fight. Not my thing, but hey, there’s stuff here for everyone’s taste. I can tell you from my preliminary visit Friday afternoon when things were just getting started that it promises to deliver all of the above and more for just $20. Is it an accident that this is all happening on the anniversary of Woodstock? I think not. (Note: If Woodstock is ancient history to you, remember that Woodstock is the reason you have events like Caged Ink now: nearly 400,000 college kids and about 30 bands did things that upstate New Yorkers have not imagined since. Totally epic.) So come on down.
Caged Ink
Saturday 1 - 10 p.m.
Sunday 1 - 9 p.m.
Fairplex 4 and grounds
Park at Gate 9 on White Ave.
One Day Admission: $20
VIP pass: $100 (all events + VIP room and afterparty)

Hip Hop Joins the Line-Up at Tattoo & Body Art Expo

tattooexpoOk, there’s no question that body art and tattoos aren’t for everyone. But truly, look around. This phenomenon is no longer the exclusive domain of bikers. Just ask any college kid you know. If their parents aren’t around, many of them will probably have at least one “tat” to show you.

According to a 2008 Harris poll, 14% of the population has at least one tattoo. One-third (32%) of ages 25-29 and one-quarter (25%) of ages 30-39 have tattoos. Men (15%) are slightly more likely to have a tattoo than women (13% ).  Compared to people without tattoos, partictattoogirl_resizedipants in the poll think people with tattoos are less intelligent (27%) and more sexy (39%). If you’re interested in learning more about this phenom, check out Tattooblog, “Your gateway to the world of Tattoos and skin art.”

If you want to find out for yourself what atll the fuss is about or if you’re ready for your first or next tattoo, Fairplex is definitely the place. The annual Tattoo & Body Art Expo in Fairplex 4 is the largest tattoo expo in the world. About 10,000 people attend the three-day event that starts Friday, July 17 and ends Sunday, July 19 to see and be seen as well as get tats and various body piercings.

Joining the line-up this year, Mack 10, Warren G, and Tattoo from Power 106’s Big Boys Neighborhood will perform Friday and Saturday at the Expo.

There’s also a Miss Body Art Expo Beauty Pageant and a Best of The Day Tattoo Contest at the end of each day of the show.tattoo_expo_resized1

Even if you’re not ready to embrace the tat culture, the people watching is worth the price of admission.

Have a tat? Want a tat? Leave a comment and let us know which side of the ink you fall on, so to speak.

Fairplex 4
Friday, July 17-Sunday, July 19
Parking at Gate 9 on White Ave.
Admission $25; three-day pass $50
Fri. 2 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun.11 a.m. – 8 p.m.