Halloween bash opens second annual Muddy Water Tattoo Convention

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By Mary Louise Speer | Friday, October 10, 2008 10:31 PM CDT | () comments

Alicia Morante from Rahway, N.J., reacts to the tattoo needle that Pink, from Permanent Addictions in Davenport, is using for her new tattoo during day one of the Muddy Water Tattoo Convention at the Clarion Hotel in Davenport. Her tat is the Buddhist symbol of Enchantment. (John Schultz/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Erica Matys of West Boylston, Mass., stood still as Joe “ZaZa” Peterson of ZAZA Ink, laced up her corset.

This corset is a 2008 version of the whale-boned structures that squeezed women into the desired shape in centuries past. A strip of delicate black lace is threaded through tiny loops on the right side of her torso.

“These are called micro dermal implants, which I attach rings to,” Peterson, also from West Boylston, said, adding the result is cool. If Matys wants more, he could extend the pattern all the way down her side to her knee.

Matys admits she wanted “something different and getting the procedure done hurt less than other body piercing she’s had in the past. I’ve got four more micro dermal implants on my back.”

The second Muddy Water Tattoo Convention at the Clarion Hotel, Davenport, features between 70 and 80 artists from all over the country and globe. People can get tattoos, art, ornaments and clothing, and they can register for today’s and tomorrow’s tattoo contests and attend tonight’s Adult Halloween Bash. Piercing contests take place on Sunday. Organizers said 8,000 to 10,000 people are expected to attend the three-day show that runs through Sunday. Last year, 4,300 attended the event.

“I think that the economy will make a little bit of difference, but our businesses haven’t really been affected,” event organizer Heather Stumpf said. “We’re hoping that even if people aren’t getting a tattoo, they come in and check it out.”

Someone may go home from this weekend wearing a version of an “Evil Angel.” Nick “Shorty” Spence, owner of Body Expressions of Seguin, Texas, has a drawing of a girl wearing a rattle snake that covers strategic places.

“A lot of people like to do gray and black (tattoos),” he said. “If they’re looking for more realistic, we’d do color.”

The convention “is an opportunity for people from the local town to get artwork from people they wouldn’t (meet) otherwise,” said Bill Stumpf, owner of the Scorpion’s Den, Davenport.

Ironically, the man responsible for the gathering of art isn’t an artist. “I don’t tattoo,” he confessed. His single effort at creating body art is captured on his arm, a simple banner with the word “Mom.” He created that work while sitting in the barracks at Fort Hood, Texas.

“I would have liked to do tattooing, but I’m blue, green and red color blind,” he said.

That would make it impossible to create the colorful scenes sported on many people, so he sticks to being the guy who makes sure the customers get what they want.

“I started my business eight years ago, and I’ve been getting tattoos for years,” he said. “It got to the point where I thought it was too expensive, so I opened a shop.”

Today, he employs six artists and two piercers who put jewelry in. The shop also has two apprentices who are learning how to run a clean operation.

Running a clean shop is critical to keep a tattoo artist in business. Bill Clark of TAT Supply of Ohio, Ill., has the supplies needed for creating art and keeping things sterile and disinfected. Art trends change, but the need for clean stays strong. He also sells the machines that make intricate designs possible.

“It’s like a pencil,” he said. “The quality and skill comes from the artist’s hand.”

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.