2011 Ink N Iron Tattoo Convention

[Lochlan]

The annual tattoo and kustom culture festival, Ink-N-Iron, in Long Beach, CA will be held June 10 to 12, 2011. Below is a bunch of info on the event. Who's going and who is tattooing? If you are tattooing how is it best for people to make appointments with you?

People are here for the love of Hot Rods-Kustoms, Live music, burlesque, art shows, 50’s fashion, and of course the tattoo show covering three floors inside the ship. 280 of the best tattoo artists in the world will be on hand from 30 States and 25 Countries representing all the tattoo styles; where a car show and music become an integral part of the event, mingling with the artistic expressions of the artists at work. Pinups clad in corsets, Classic Cats with Pompadours, Mohawks, fashion Mullets, full sleeves and back pieces. Not only is the breathtaking view of the gigantic Queen Mary, the beautiful water, and the amazing Long Beach skyline quite a task to take in all at once, but all the fashion statements and lavishly adorned people are quite a spectacle as well. This convention will be both a sort of art gallery and community festival. Seven years ago the ship was overtaken by the underground subculture of all things Kustom and modified. From tattooing to pin striping and tantalizing show goers with tight corsets the 8th Annual Ink-N-Iron Festival is laced up and racing for port!

The band list so far is:

Paladins

The Sonic

Buzzcocks

Detroit Cobras

Pole Cats

Anti Flag

Skatalites

Fishbone

For those wanting the history of this awesome event here it is:

With the success of the 2003 Long Beach Tattoo Convention – the second to be held aboard the Queen Mary – it propelled Long Beach to a central position in the tattoo world. The 60,000 visitors that have come aboard the Queen Mary since then, sends a very clear message on the extent of the event which will be even better and more enthralling this year. It couldn’t be otherwise, considering that Long Beach was the tattoo cultural engine of the West Coast, the center around which technique and trends evolved. Long Beach was the home of Bert Grimms World Famous Tattoo, the longest operating tattoo shop in America 1927-2003. From this tiny shop on the Nu Pike in Long Beach Bert Grimm fostered a culture that influenced today’s godfathers of the American Tattoo industry; names like Ed Hardy, Bob Roberts, Lyle Tuttle, Col. Todd, Bob Shaw, and Phil Simms to name a few. Bert Grimms was a place where, if you knew the right guy you could obtain the most sacred of tools; the tattoo machine, these pieces of equipment where not available to just anyone. In marrying the city’s tattoo history with a 1930’s luxury ship the Queen Mary, with her WWII service history, there couldn’t be a more perfect setting to perform this sacred art form. The idea of organizing a tattoo convention in Long Beach stems from the desire to pay a tribute to the great tattoo art tradition. This tradition contributed to spread this art all over the world, pulling it out of the Middle Ages.

The best tattoo artists in the world and a series of additional events will make this 2009 festival a hit. There will be 280 artists from 30 States and 25 Countries representing all the tattoo styles pricking away with their machines in an exciting atmosphere, where a car show and music become an integral part of the event, mingling with the artistic expressions of the artists at work. This convention will be both a sort of art gallery and community festival. The tattoo booths will be located on the three floors of the Atrium Exhibit Hall aboard the ship which are very easy to access. Tattoos can be a passion and an art form, for most people a very popular fashion trend, which exploded a few years ago thanks to advertisements, fashion and music bands which use tattoo icons for messages that underline the freedom of choice of each individual. This festival is an event that draws lots of different visitors, something very few events can boast. Many love tattoos and travel around the world to take part in tattoo conventions, because it is a time in which this art is experienced on one’s own skin and, it is difficult not to be affected by the unique atmosphere that makes tattoos a very familiar and easy form of art. Besides taking advantage of the festival to get a tattoo from a great artist, the organizers are very attentive to the entertainment of all those who chose to spend three days in the tattoo scenario – 3 stages will showcase the weekends bands, cabaret shows, tattoo contest, and pin-up pageant while the grounds are decorated with America’s finest Iron dressed in period perfect style. Tattoos will stand out not only on skin but also on canvases, paper and photos, through an exhibition able to give an enhanced artistic value to the exhibition. We hope you have a wonderful experience at this year’s 6th International Ink-N-Iron Festival.

The car show part is hosted by Cavaliers Car Club and from what I've heard it is pretty impressive from hotrods to customs as the cars are picked to be a part of it. When Roger Miret (Rumblers CC, Agnostic Front, Roger Miret & The Disasters) was in town and we were at dinner he was saying his new custom may be debuted at this show. His new project that he is/has been working on is pretty sick. The last pictures he showed me were pre paint but his ideas on the paint job sound pretty impressive. Plus there well be tons of other great old cars!

Alright if you want more info here it is:

Ink N Iron Tattoo Convention 2011

[mario desa]

i'll be working it with dan smith. nick colella will be there in the blackheart booth!! i'm going to have popular designs to choose from for walk-ups. no appointments.

[Bryan Burk]

I'll also be there with Adam & Taku (Horisuzu) from my shop! Looking forward to it, pretty much always have fun at this show, regardless of how much tattooing I do.

[A.Sanchez]

Me and Tyler from my shop slept on getting a booth. but i might roll through one day to say hello.

[mario desa]

just bumping this back up! i will be there with dan smith doing walk ups and selling a new print. nick colella will be there in the blackheart booth!

[nico]

ill be there with the two roses crew. going to be fun. stop by and say hi.

[Deb Yarian]

This is one that I am sad that I'm missing.

My husband is there

[dari]

If anyone is going to this from the Bay Area and hasn't left yet, please PM me, K?