Tattoo show leaves its mark on ink fans
By Theodora MacLeod - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 20, 2023.
More than 200 tattoo artists and countless enthusiasts gathered at the new Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre for three days of entertainment, community, and ink last weekend. The Windy City Lethbridge Tattoo Show has been a part of the convention circuit since 2006, welcoming artists from across Canada and the United States.More than 1,500 tattoos were done at the show this year and though it was bustling with activity, the new hall served as a spacious and welcoming venue that fit rows of vendor and artist booths in addition to a stage and seating area for kids to colour. On Friday night it was an adults-only event with more PG-13 entertainment, but by Saturday afternoon visitors of all ages roamed, including a few furry friends.
Tattooist Craig Church says the Lethbridge tattoo show is one of his favourites of all time.
The Kamloops-based artist has been a professional for 17 tears and has attended five past iterations of the annual festival. Over his five appearances he has spent some weekends doing large custom pieces, to be entered in one of the many competition categories, while other weekends he has stayed open for walk-up appointments, which are generally pre-drawn designs called flash.
“Travelling to a new city, you get to meet clients you wouldn’t normally get to meet, and you get to do tattoos you wouldn’t normally get to do.”
Church, whose heavily tattooed appearance, including his face, suggests he is as experienced under the machine as he is holding it, says working in a show environment puts his skills as an artist to the test.
“You’re a little more on the spot. Back home you can be more prepared and ready, here they throw you to the wolves a little bit, but it’s great! It keeps you on your toes.”
Jillaine grew up outside of Calgary and attended the Lethbridge tattoo show quite a few times before making her first appearance as an artist this year. Now in Kelowna, she is approaching six years as a professional and notes how much the show has grown adding that she’s already planning to attend next year.
“I met my mentor at the Calgary Tattoo Convention, so tattoo conventions are a big reason why I’m an artist at all.”
“I feel like coming to conventions, that’s the best way to get to know people and a big reason why I do conventions is to make connections with other artists.” Jillaine says the connections she makes allows her to do guest spots at other shops and travel with her work.
But it’s not small task for artists to tattoo outside the traditional set up of a shop. “I have to pack up basically my entire studio,” says Jillaine, gesturing to the rolling tool kit beside her loaded with supplies.
She explains that things are much calmer when she’s working in her room at the shop. “Here there are so many people, there’s so much energy that is wafting around.” She acknowledges juggling tattooing while talking to people who approach her booth can be a bit overwhelming.
Ash Woods has been organizing the event since its start and deems this year a success. “I had a lot of tattoo enthusiasts at the show, and I had a lot of people come from out of town to enjoy the show,” Woods says. “I was happy to see as many smiles as I did coming and leaving.” In the end, she says it’s all about having fun, if people had a good time, then the show was successful. 2
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