Upcoming tattoo show part of a long legacy of ink
By Theodora MacLeod - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 14, 2023.
In 1976 clean-cut was still the mainstream look, and muted tones were gaining popularity. In a sea of striped rugby shirts and polyester pant suits, getting a tattoo wasn’t on the radar of the average person.Despite the underground nature of ink, it was 1976 that saw the first tattoo convention take place. Held in Houston, the convention paved the way for what is now a yearly occurrence in many cities where hundreds of artists gather to show off their art, compete for big prizes, and tattoo guests right in the conference halls.
Nearly 60 years later, tattoos are as common as pierced ears, with politicians, celebrities, and people from all walks of life adorning their skin with art. While some tattoos become a reminder of how trends change and decisions should not be made impulsively, many of them are breathtaking masterpieces worthy of gallery walls.
Windy City Lethbridge Tattoo Show began in 2006 — 40 years after the inaugural show—as a gathering of around 20 shops, and just as the popularity of tattoos has grown, so has the convention, this year it will host over 200 artists from across the continent. While some are there to compete, presenting their handiwork to be admired and critiqued, others are there to do what they do best and put ink to the skin of attendees.
Organizer of Windy City Lethbridge Tattoo Show, Ash Woods, says there’s more than just tattooing happening at this year’s event though. With performances, vendors, and door prizes, there’s something for everyone, even the little ones not quite old enough to get under the needles. While Friday night is adults only, children under 12 get in free on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s going to be a huge display of all different styles of art,” says Woods.
Windy City Lethbridge Tattoo Show will take place from Friday through Sunday.
For more information visit: https://www.lethbridgetattooshow.com/ 2
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