News

November 8, 2009

Public art that’s skin deep

Tattoo convention attracts people who like to display thoughts, emotions on their bodies.

PLAINS TWP. – The feminine Japanese art forever inked into the flesh of Melissa Steelman’s upper chest displays delicate cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The tattooed flowers represent beauty and how fragile life is.

On her back is a radiant display of childhood fantasies and whimsical fairies. The rest of the 39-year-old’s body is of traditional Japanese art.

“I love the beauty of art and I love having the art on my skin,” said Steelman, a tattoo enthusiast from North Carolina who attended Inkin’ The Valley convention this weekend in Plains Township.

Steelman was one of 60 contestants in Saturday evening’s tattoo contest.

The professional convention and 8th annual Sideshow Gathering was held at The Woodlands Inn & Resort, Route 315.

“I heard it was such a great show,” said Steelman who found out about the convention through her tattoo artist, James Vaughn, of Straight A Tattoo based in Asheboro, N.C.

A Geisha girl is wrapped in a fire-spitting dragon on her upper thigh.

On both ankles were art of ancient guardian Chinese Foo dogs, which, Steelman says, symbolizes protection.

Judges in the contest were looking at structure, mechanics of the tattoo, art quality and application, said Franco Kossa, who 16 years ago began the convention with his partner, Marc Fairchild.

“That’s my mom. I got that when she passed away,” said Kossa as he showed the black-and-white portrait permanently etched on his forearm.

While contestants were called up one by one to a stage to show off their ink, the sound of buzzing from artists’ tattoo guns marking new forms of art could be heard nearby.

Vaughn, 36, was finishing the outlines of a Koi fish with flowers tattoo on the back of 45-year-old Jeff Hughes’ calf.

“It’s a small show so all of our friends are here,” said Vaughn, who has been a vendor at the convention for the past five years.

Hughes traveled from Harrisburg for the ornamental fish art on his leg.

“He’s really good and he goes to all the conventions,” said Hughes, as he was getting ink done in the artist’s booth.

Jen Marckini, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

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