Beer City Tattoo Convention

Air travel is a wonder of the modern world. The very concept of it as it exists today would be beyond miraculous to consider only just a century ago. And, as wonderous as it is, it is also often quite baffling in many respects. One such respect was how, as we undertook to fly to Milwaukee for the convention that once again our flight was delayed - not for weather or mechanical issues but instead because a crew member was missing. In time, the errant stewardess arrived or perhaps was replaced and Dr Grift and I were on our way to the first Beer City Tattoo Convention. The convention was put on by Tattooed Kingpin. Beginning in Calgary and throughout the year thus far we had seen and hung out with Chrissy from the Kingpin staff and it was she who contacted me about coming to Milwaukee. Chrissy is a lot of fun and great to hang out with. Once we touched down in Milwaukee, it was a simple matter of catching the hotel shuttle from the airport which came within minutes of a phone call - not surprising since the hotel and venue were nearly right across the street from the airport. I made a quick call to Chrissy who gave us our room keys. We dropped off our luggage and then walked out for some food at the nearby Denny's, not realizing there was better food to be had on the other side of the hotel. That night (Thursday) there was a welcome party in the hotel lounge. The party was the usual mix of greetings, "haven't seen you since the last one in city x", and beer swilling. In short, a good time. Friday began at the reasonable hour of 2pm. We went through the usual setting up process and then settled in for the day working the booth. The attendance was steady but not overwhelming. We had good sales on merchandise and the artists around us seemed to keep busy. We performed that night at 7pm but we weren't the only entertainment at the show. Living legend Red Stuart preceeded us and we were followed by midget wrestling! Saturday is the long day, noon to midnight, but its easy to pass the time with good people. The show had a strong turnout of members from BME. Actually, the show had a strong turnout - period. Saturday was busy to the extent that the contests drew so many entires that things got delayed and we ended up having to move our second show to Sunday. Saturday night also brought about the requisite hotel hallway fun. Sundays have the potential to be boring as people pack up and look to get a head start out on what is already the short day of the show. But its hard to be boring when you have Brandon Bond across the aisle serving up shots of whiskey and people getting their nipples tattooed black. Not to mention a highly anticipated performance to give for a crowd who apparently had never heard about Sundays being slow. Both of our performances were very well recieved, we sold a lot of shirts and photos, and we had a great time. In the Lizardman book, the Beer City Convention was a huge success.

It's like a cross between an art studio and an auto body shop, where flesh takes the place of canvas and human body parts are customized like fenders and chrome grills. But it's also part barbershop and part sideshow, where patrons casually converse while having images of Frankenstein's monster carved into their thighs and where the sword swallower tries to steal the show from the midget wrestlers. "I've got approximately 700 hours of tattooing on this body," the "Lizardman," a 33-year-old performance artist from Austin, Texas, said Friday during the 2005 Beer City Tattoo Convention at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, 4747 S. Howell Ave. But the convention, which opened Thursday and runs through Sunday, is about more than just tattoos. Although there are dozens of tattoo and piercing artists from across the country, ready to give a person that illustrated look at the drop of a needle, for a $15 admission there are also T-shirts, posters, jewelry, art work, rock bands and a sideshow featuring all manor of freak, like the Lizardman, identified on his Web site ( www.thelizardman.com) as Erik Sprague. Sprague estimates that he's had close to one-quarter million dollars' worth of body modifications (mostly pro bono) to gain his reptilian persona, including top-to-bottom green "scale" tattoos, filed teeth, Teflon implants above his eyebrows and a tongue split in two through laser surgery. "I'm just scales and scales and more scales," the Lizardman said after twirling his two tongue tips in opposite directions. Then there was John "Red" Stuart, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for sword swallowing. "You have to relax all four of your gag reflexes and control all of the muscles in your neck," said Stuart, who entered the pages of Guinness last month by gulping down at least 15 inches worth of 25 swords at once, surpassing the old record of 16 swords. At age 55, Stuart, who also dances on hot coals, munches on broken glass and lies on a bed of nails, said he has no plans to retire any time soon. "A person who learns how to do what I do properly can do it 'til the day they die," he said, without a hint of irony. The buzzing of tattoo needles competed with radio rock as Cara Moore, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, slouched over the back of a chair while her boyfriend, A.J. McMillen, owner of Evolved Body Art in Columbus, spruced up the cherry blossoms on her back. "It's kind of like repetitive scratching, more irritable than painful," Moore said. "After your endorphins kick in, it kind of goes numb." Nearby, Lindsay Hebrank of Chicago stood with Saran wrap taped over the freshly finished wings that Dennis Pase had just emblazoned on her back. "It's a little tender," said Hebrank, a fresh-faced 19-year-old who seemed at a loss for words as to why she spent 20 hours under the needle for the wings. "I guess I've fallen from grace." But people shouldn't read too much into why a person chooses to go illustrated, said Pase, the 29-year-old owner of Altered State Tattoo in Lake Worth, Fla. "It's just artwork," he said. Copyright 2005, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.) Copyright 2005 Journal Sentinel Inc. Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

With beer flowing and cheese mounding on platters all around the opening party thursday night, smiling faces from every angle welcomed Milwaukee's first tattoo convention ever. Months of preparation and promotion had built much excitement upon the current days and it was all about to come out. The frenzy had begun with no turning back. That is until the convention had left its mark on Milwaukee's people for good. Artists from all over the country were present and the newly debauched city was ripe for the picking. The occasion was marked with many colorful hide. Temptation was hard to resist, so artists had no problem finding eager subjects. With the siren-like lure of tattoo machines humming in twine, there was no shortage of work to be done. Urges of the machines were hard to refuse, taunting with their Zen-like purr. The peices of work spawned made it apparent that the capabilities of the artist and ink were endless. Aside from the local talent of Starship Bodyworks, Adambomb Gallerie and Steve's Tattoo, there were some out-of-state artists like Larry Brogan of Tattoo City Skin Art in Lockport, III., James Kern and Thomas Sinnamond of No Hope No Fear Tattoo in Chicago, Lisa Schmoldt and Dennis Pase from Florida, Brandon Bond of All or Nothing Tattoo in Smyrna, Ga., Dave Martinez of Addictive Ink in Albuquerque, N.M., and many more kick-ass tattooers. Much talent was exuded without a doubt and harvesting winners for tattoo of the day was proof of that in the days that followed. Aside from the ink slinging goodness going on, there were enough events to make any go-getter's head spin faster than you can say Linda Blair. Starting the opening day with a bang was Murphy's Law, who kicked the roof off the Baton Rouge Hall with a vengeance. The performance was mind blowing and just a peek at what was in store for the rest of the weekend. Micro Wrestling Foundation midgets pummeling each other from the top of the rope was certainly a sight to be seen. Nonstop combatants of the smaller people and violence should be enough to make anyone smile; especially the ladies after a nice wholesome game of kiss the midget. Sensual strumpets were given three minutes each to woo the pint-sized champions with all their charm and charisma. Blushing beauties were then judged by an eager crowd, whose applause awarded them with many a prize. If for some sick reason violence, midgets and bitches wasn't enough, there was still plenty more to be seen. Making its way to center stage Saturday night was the highly acclaimed KISS cover band Strutter. The band kept the liquored-up crowds head rocking, shouting out loud throughout the venue halls. Although many elements of new school were present at this convention, traditions of old were indeed made present as well. The daytime hours were filled with marvelous stage performances such as brilliant sideshow acts defying the boundaries of human limitation. Reds, a well-established sword swallowing extraordinaire, created a great time of interaction for all that attended. The crowd was awed by his amazing ability to make blades disappear with the wink of an eye, taking them to the hilt each time with nary a tear or wince. And no sideshow would be complete without an element of human oddity. The hybrid reptilian/mammal freak known as Lizardman also created wonderful displays of showmanship during the day's performances. His twisted sense of humor combined with a morbid fascination of power tools proved to be quite enthralling. Creating a fun-filled atmosphere seemed a small feat for such captivating ringleaders and those in attendance had no choice but to watch on in merry states of shock and wonderment. The course of the day's events led to a nightly competition of artistic endeavors. Participants flocked to flaunt their canvases in each night's Tattoo of the Day contest. Dazzling judges with works of visionary excellence, deciding the winners was a real challenge. Each contestant brought a unique principle all his own to the table as they competed neck-to-neck and ink-to-ink. The winners not only won a trophy but a lifetime pass guarenteeing their entry to On The Border; a local strip club that turned out to be the hottest spot in town to see what's shaking in more ways than one. Contestants were able to take a stab at many titles Sunday and the gauntlet was on. Competitions took place all day in search of prize winning skin. The euphoric atmosphere of the convention didn't stop with fabulous oppurtunities to get tattooed, great events, and Milwaukee's finest brews. The wallets of many were sweating bullets at the chance to buy clothing, collectibles and loads of accessories. The vendors had almost everything you could find, whether you were shopping for presents or gathering goods for yourself. Self indulgence was practically mandatory in such a setting. There was something for everyone whether you were an attendee, vendor or performer. Overall, the Milwaukee Beer City Tattoo Convention was just recognized by all as a groundbreaking experience. Without a question, it had been a killer weekend as well as a major turning point in its production. Thanks to all that participated in the breaking of Milwaukee's cherry. A mark was made and alas the convention will now be held yearly for all to partake.

For the first time ever, Milwaukee will host a tattoo convention, thanks to ex-pat and MIAD grad Troy Timpel. Timpel moved to Philadelphia a few years ago, opened Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo and started organizing a circuit of tattoo conventions around the country. His Milwaukee show, called the "Beer City Tattoo Convention," takes place from Friday, Oct. 14 to Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Four Points Sheraton Airport Hotel, 4747 S. Howell Ave. The cost is $15 per day or $35 for the weekend. More than 120 artists from around the world will tattoo live during the event, which will also rock seminars, contests and entertainment like live midget wrestling, the punk rock band Murphy's Legend, an interactive art display gallery, sideshow attractions and a Kiss tribute band. "The best full make-up Kiss cover band ever," promises Timpel. Convention hours are Friday from 2 p.m. until midnight; Saturday from noon until midnight; and Sunday from noon until 8 p.m. with a special opening party on Friday night. "I thought Milwaukee would be a fantastic place to hold a tattoo convention," says Timpel. Stay tuned to OMC for more information about this first-of-its-kind event. The Beer City Tattoo Convention Web site is tattooedkingpin.com.

Tattoo of the Day Saturday:
1. Bill Duket Tattoo by Lisa Schmolt of Level 5
2. Mike Pace Tattoo by Larry Brogan of Tattoo City Skin Art
3. James Powell Tattoo by Toby Gehrlich of Body Language Productions

Small Color:
1. Anson Berberich Tattoo by Ed of Absolute Tattooing
2. Timmy Burns Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin
3. Victor Jensen Tattoo by John Hill of Gothic Body

Medium Color:
1. Steve Burska Tattoo by Hannah Aitchison of Deluxe Tattoo
2. Timmy Burns Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin
3. Timmy Burns Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin

Large Color:
1 Amp; 2. Bill McKnight Tattoos by Mike Sizemore of Blue Devil
3. Scott Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin

Small Black and Grey:
2. Mike T Tattoo by Toby of Body Language
3. David Zielinski Tattoo by Celco

Medium Black and Grey:
1. William Mitchell Tattoo by Dan Droust of Area 51
2. Greg Hanthorn Tattoo by Holly Chase of Diamond Ted's
3. Nick Stubbs Tattoo by Buki of Sacred Skin

Large Black and Grey:
1. Abner Tattoo by Tom Renshaw of Eternal
2. Jennifer Stark Tattoo by Larry Brogan of Tattoo City Skin Art
3. Adam by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin

Best Tribal:
1. Jamie Mills Tattoo by Clapyso Tattoo
2. Nicau Perantoni Tattoo by Erik of Sacred Skin
3. Brian Raichart Tattoo by Jeremy of Zoe's Vicious Circle

Best Traditional:
1. Steve Bots Tattoo by Spike of Steve's Tattoo
2. Cub E. Behr Tattoo by Mike Wilson
3. Jerry Sailor Tattoo by Dan Greenwood of Images in Ink Tattoo

Most Unusual:
1. J Tattoo by Mike Sizemore of Blue Devil
2. J Tattoo by Mike Sizemore of Blue Devil
3. Skully Tattoo by Magoo of My I.D.

Best Green Bay Packer Tattoo:
1. Robert Masuca Tattoo by Rocky Newman
2. Mark Milanowski Tattoo by Rocky Newman
3. Kay Bero Tattoo by Xoel Gonzales of Grand Tattoo

Wildlife:
1. Scott Butler Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin
2. Bud McDonald Tattoo by Dave Garner of Skin Candy
3. Kris Krueger Tattoo by Rocky Newman of Downtown Studios

Native American:
1. Paul Goldsteyn Tattoo by Ryan of Tsunami Tattoo
2. Mike Goretski Tattoo by Rocky of Downtown Studios
3. Paul Goldsteyn Tattoo by Jeremy of Zoe's Vicious Circle

Sunday 16th

Sleeve (male):
1. Jim Bush Tattoo by Larry Brogan of Tattoo City Skin Art
2. Rob Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin
3. Mike Mourning Tattoo by Huck of Black Pearl

Sleeve (female):
1. Tonia Weber Tattoo by Stripe Ultimate Arts
2. Mindy Ariston Tattoo by Mike Sizemore of Blue Devil
3. Jackie Biedron Tattoo by Danise Wolfe of Lucky 7

Hand/Neck:
1. Mike Mourning Tattoo by Huck of Black Pearl
2. Michael Sizemore Tattoo by Greg Larson of Black Pearl
3. Jeff Erie Tattoo by Dave of Hog Heaven

Leg Sleeve:
1. Rosemary Stevens Tattoo by Mike Stevens of Blackwater Tattoo
2. Ross Strough Tattoo by Shawn Anderson of Electric Dragonland
3. Tom Poterackie Tattoo by Greg Larsen of Black Pearl

Chest Piece:
1. Timmy Burns Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin
2. Bill McNight Tattoo by Mike Sizemore of Blue Devil
3. Tom Poterackie Tattoo by Greg Larsen of Black Pearl

Back Piece:
1. Mike Mourning Tattoo by Greg Larson of Black Pearl
2. Josh Taylor Tattoo by Greg Larson of Black Pearl
3. Chris Badalik Tattoo by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin

Overall Male:
1. Mike Mourning Tattoos by Greg Larson & Huck of Black Pearl
2. Victor Jenson Tattoos by Greg Foster and John Hill of Gothic Body
3. Timmy Burns Tattoos by Dan Hazelton of Sacred Skin

Overall Female:
1. Jeannie Vodnick Tattoos by Juli Moon, Jack Rudy, Brian Everette, Sister Bear
2. Jenn Hughes Tattoos by Todd, Spike, Steve, and Erica of Steve's Tattoo
3. Marie Baumeisten Tattoos by Craig Pape of Skin Tattoo and Design