The Boston Brahmin may have bestowed the reputation of prim elitism on the Hub, but for this weekend, Boston’s blue blood turned into electric blue ink for the fifth annual Boston Tattoo Convention.
Thousands of tattoo artists and enthusiasts converged at the Boston Center for the Arts to boast their artistry, share ideas and even bite their lips as they felt the needle’s cold touch on their skin.
Infants, teenagers and senior citizens mingled at the event. The diverse group in attendance late Saturday night ranged from 27 year-old Angie Fuller — who said she has only one tattoo but enjoys the convention’s fun and relaxed atmosphere — to the 34-year-old “Lizard Man” Erik Sprague — who insisted the only important names are the ones you choose for yourself.
Sprague’s identity as the Lizard Man is known worldwide, courtesy of the Discovery Channel, which featured him on a television special.
Bearing a striking resemblance to a reptile, with a green face, body coated in tattoo scales, Teflon eyebrow implants, teeth shaved to points and the first-ever surgically split tongue, the Lizard Man was the most popular guest at the convention. However, by his estimate, the Lizard Man’s bodywork will not be complete for another 100 to 200 hours of tattooing to color in blank scales.
He said his body transformation was inspired by his performing and conceptual arts studies at Hartwick University. Although he did not get his first tattoo until he was 21, Sprague was eager to change his appearance in a way the world had never seen and, after much deliberation, decided on a reptilian look because it would be something he would be comfortable with for the rest of his life.
He said he does not mind the constant stares he receives from curious strangers.
“There is nothing wrong with staring,” he said. “Staring is what we do when we see something interesting … staring is a compliment, it means you are important enough to look at, that people took notice of you.”
Tattoo aficionados said the convention — which lasted from noon to midnight from Friday to Sunday — defied stereotypes.
Beth Burkhart, wife of artist Vinny Burkhart, praised the “variety of people” at the convention, saying the conventions she and her husband attend across the United States are mostly filled with the typical tattoo wearers.
“It’s much more intimate than other conventions,” said 40-year-old Don Howe of Tiki Tattoo in Mansfield. “You’re not so overwhelmed … it could be in a bigger building because the crowd was too large during the day, but I have no complaints.”
Bob Vanderburg, the owner of a tattoo shop in Connecticut, has been to all of the five conventions.
“I’ll be back every year,” Vanderburg said. “It gotten better every year … it has a lot of heart and a really good scene.”
Vanderburg added he enjoys the added perks of tattooing.
“I get girls to lie down naked and I draw pictures on them,” he said. “Life ain’t so bad.”
Earlier, Vanderburg tattooed Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumnus Lily Rasel’s own design onto her leg — a pattern which won Rasel the Carlo Rossi Simple Design award Saturday.
Rasel said she was hooked on tattoos when she bought her friend one for her birthday.
“My parents gave me money for graduation,” she said. “They wanted me to get rid of some of my tattoos, but I just used the money to buy more.”
The convention’s founders, tattoo artist Natan Lin and his wife Lily, said artists attended from shops from California to Boston.
Lin and his wife started the convention because it was the best opportunity to bring “so many amazing artists together.” Both stressed the tremendous talent present at the convention and said they were pleased with the event’s enormous growth over the past five years.
Both explained that as the convention flourished, its image improved. At the first convention, Boston police officers were stationed outside the venue in case of disturbances, Lin said.
“[The police] were afraid the Hell’s Angels would come fight,” Lin said. “They thought this would be some violent scene, but it’s totally chill … all sorts of people are getting tattooed, not just gangs and bikers.”
“People were worried about stereotypes,” Lin said. “But this is a cross section of American culture.