NEW YORK, NY – The tattoo parlor in New York City where Rihanna inked several of her friends earlier this year has been fined, but not because of the pop star.

According to MTV News, East Side Ink was cited by the New York City Department of Health for “operating with an unlicensed tattoo artist on site.”

“Rihanna was not found at the parlor when the Health Department inspector followed up,” the NYC Health Department said in a statement to MTV News. “The Health Department received a call about Rihanna, sent out an inspector, Rihanna was not at the site, the inspector conducted an inspection of the parlor and found an unlicensed tattoo artist operating on the premises — the Health Department issued a violation to the parlor for this unlicensed tattoo artist.”

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, in early July, authorities began investigating the parlor after RiRi was caught by the paparazzi with a tattoo instrument in her hand, reportedly inking people at the tattoo parlor.

“Only licensed tattoo artists can administer tattoos in the city according to the City’s Health Code,” a NYC Department of Health spokesperson told MTV News in a statement back in July. “We are sending someone to follow up on this.”

East Side Ink owner Yadira told the music channel at the time that Rihanna came to the shop with some friends and stayed for “a few hours, just hanging out and joking.”

BangBang, a tattooist at the parlor, the same man who gave Rihanna her infamous gun tattoo underneath her arm earlier this year, added that he wanted the pop star to put some ink on him.

“We had a blast,” Yadira said. “It was so funny and cute.”

It was unclear how much East Side Ink would be fined.

TMZ previously reported that the fine for tattooing without a license comes with penalties; $300 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third.

Source : NBC Bay Area

LIVERPOOL, UK – Tattoo artists from all over the world showed off their talents at the second annual Liverpool Tattoo Convention.

With a pirate theme and comic Frank Sidebottom compering the daily programming of events, organizers said they wanted to showcase a lesser-known side of the city’s art scene.

The convention took place on Saturday and Sunday at Liverpool university’s student union.

Bringing nearly 150 international tattooists together, the large-scale event was organized by just one tattoo studio – Design 4 Life, which has branches in the city center and Old Swan.

Kate Sheard, body piercer and manager of the Old Swan tattoo parlour, said: “We did the first one for 2008 and Capital of Culture year.

“We wanted to instill some alternative culture.”

Tattooists set up stalls at conventions mainly to promote their studios.

Kate said: “Tattooing is becoming more popular and is really a legitimate art form.

“There is more to Liverpool culture than what you see every day.

“You have the Walker art gallery and you have this – it is just another way of showcasing a good art form.”

Source : Liverpool Echo

No matter what you’re looking for – some new ink, a ride on the mechanical bull, a wet T-shirt contest or a great concert – the Second Annual Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo promises to be a wild way to spend the weekend.

Last year, over 1,000 people attended the first Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo.

“It went a lot better than we expected, being the first time,” said Sara Donahue, one of the event’s promoters.

Based on last year’s success, the event is back – with more tattoo artists, more vendors, and lots more entertainment.

“This year, we tripled the size of the event,” said promoter William Weller, Donahue’s brother.
The Second Annual Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo will take place from 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 29, from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, May 30, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds in Frankfort.

Tickets cost $10 and three-day passes are available for $25.

The Square Pegs will kick things off Friday night. Gravity will play Saturday afternoon and Digg will play Saturday night and on Sunday. Top Dead Center will perform on Sunday night.
Adding more music to the lineup was part of the promoters’ effort to introduce new layers of appeal to the festival.

“We’re trying to attract everybody there,” Weller said.

In addition to the Square Pegs, Donahue said highlights of the weekend will include a mechanical bull, and motorcycle stunt performances by 315 Most Hated and the Full Tilt Crew.

“A lot of people just come for the bike show that we have, either to enter their bike into it or to look at all the bikes,” she added.

A variety of vendors selling leather goods, purses and other items have also been added, Weller said.

The Utica Roller Derby Girls will be bar tending and recruiting at the event.

While vendors and activities were added to broaden the event’s appeal, the focus will still be on tattooing.

“Last year, a majority of people got ink. They were there to get a tattoo,” Weller said. “Last year. I wished that I had more vendors available.”

This year, the number of vendors was increased and, Donahue said, many of the individual vendors will be increasing their presence as well.

Getting a tattoo at a festival like the Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo offers an individual the opportunity to meet other people with tattoos and hear the stories behind them, Weller said.
If they are interested in getting a new tattoo, they are able to see what multiple artists have to offer and to negotiate with artists.

There will be a tattoo competition on Sunday, with prizes awarded in several categories, including Best Tribal, Best Sleeve, Best Black Work, Best Color Work and Best Piercing in a Tattoo.

Individuals can enter both old an new tattoos in every category but Best Tattoo of the Weekend.
Donahue said that many people who get a tattoo earlier in the weekend will be back on Sunday to compete in the contest.

DETAILS

A festival with over 35 tattoo artists, piercers, leather and other vendors. There will also be music, stunt shows, a bike show, a wet T-shirt contest Friday night and oil wrestling Saturday. Advance sale tickets cost $10 and are available by calling Sara Donahue at 868-8266 or Big Heavy Productions at 895-0374. Tickets will also be available at the gate for $10. Three-day passes, costing $25, are also available.

WHAT: Second Annual Mohawk Valley Tattoo Expo
WHERE: The Herkimer County Fairgrounds in Frankfort
WHEN: From 3 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 29, from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, May 30, and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 31

Source : UticaOD

Tattooed dragons, mermaids, geishas, flowers, hearts and daggers covered the skin of thousands of skin art aficionados who last weekend attended the 9th annual Arizona Tattoo Expo at the Mesa Convention Center.

“Very cool art, and a lot of it done by some of the best artists in the country,” was the appraisal of artist David Prieto, who had come from his studio in Arcadia, Calif., to join more than 150 other artists and more than 20 vendors at the expo. Prieto himself was almost covered with tattooed portraits of movie characters, including a wonderfully creepy Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs.

Nearby, the organizer of the event, Sage O’Connell, nodded approvingly at the milling crowd, some sipping beer they’d bought in the hall but almost all with multiple tats and most with at least one piercing . . . .some with a dozen or more.

“Can you believe it, with this economy we still are going to have more than 3,000 people here today?” said O’Connell, who owns Urban Art Tattoo & Piercing in Mesa. “This really is the ‘people’s art’ and the people are here today to prove how much they like it.”

Artists from Pennsylvania to California were tattooing people at their booths. Ironically, a vendor offering laser tattoo removal was doing a brisk business too.

While most of the work included traditional themes, Ryan Egnotoff wanted to keep up with the times.

Last week he’d had tattooed onto his right shin a little pig with wings and beneath it the words, “Swine Flew.”

Source : The Arizona Republic