On October 21-23, hundreds of tattoo artists and collectors will meet at West World Scottsdale. The three-day Body Art Expo is a huge skin-show-off event where tattoo artists, extreme performers, and piercers from Arizona will set up shop. Metro Phoenix tattoo lovers have the opportunity to choose from over 200 tattoo artists and get their ink done by internationally renowned piercers.
Smiley Ink Tattoos of Mesa will be one of three shops at the three day exposition. Jeanneth says, “These shows can be really enjoyable for us because we get the chance to compete with other artists from around the state and locals.” Valenzuela is the wife of its owner.
Big Sleeps Studio and MagicTattoos will be exhibiting at the event. Piercings_by_Cepha is also confirmed. On Friday, @savingprivate_rhyan, also from Cali, will provide a paint-on-canvas seminar.
This self-proclaimed “world’s largest tattoo show” is known for hosting tattoo contests, and awarding winners with large medallions. There will be three tattoo competitions at WestWorld where professionals from the tattoo industry will be judging tattoos. To enter, there is a $10 fee.
Mesa’s Smiley Ink Tattoos are at the Body Art Expo.
Smiley Ink Tattoos
Valenzuela says, “Smiley Daniel!” [another artist at the shop] The winner will be chosen as the best tattoo. Smiley will have a Disney legpiece, while Daniel is working to create a custom portrait.
Participants can enter the daily “Best Of The Day Contest” where they will get a new tattoo inked on their body that day. These contests take place on the main stage where extreme musicians perform.
Others contest categories are focused on tattoo motifs, designs, and body part. The categories include best movie characters, religious, realistic, Latin art and traditional tattoos. Next, large-scale or larger-scale tattoos and collections can be entered in full sleeves, back, and leg categories.
One by one, contestants were called to the front and inspected by three judges at past Body Art Expo events. Generally, the judges seek high-quality inkwork with oodles of definition, shading, composition, and originality — although other factors are added or subtracted depending on what the category is. Two variables are color and realistic.
Agents of LUST are bringing their special show to Body Art Expo.LUST Agents
Live music will be performed at the expo.
The Agents of LUST from the Valley will then perform onstage for all three days. GRANTHRAX has led the group over the past 10 years. He says, “We’re an extreme performance arts troupe that uses fire and grinding acts with low flame props, fire breathing. We also use metal grinders to create sparks in our wild antic stages shows.” The group also surprises the crowd with glass walking, staple gun play and even a show in straitjackets. All of this is planned for their third appearance at Scottsdale’s Body Art Expo.
Helen Rimmer of “DollPits,” is also part the group performing human suspensions on Sunday. “It’s there I’ll get hooked from my back through temporary perforations under her skin and then suspended.”
In a recent Instagram post, Rimmer posted about a “fire-grinding” expedition. The picture shows her wearing what appears like part of a Chastity Belt with a metal tube attached. Rimmer activates a hand-held die grinder (a metal grinding tool) and then grinds the bar. This produces a torrent of sparks.
Rimmer continues, “Hardcore glass walker and shatter,” People walk on me when I am on broken glass. It’s funny because it’s the easiest act.
Rimmer has only a few tattoos but you can judge her entire piercing collection. Rimmer says she has a stretched septum with a pierced arch, two helices each on the sides of my ears and both nostrils. She also mentions her smiley, which is a piercing inside my gums. Her regular labret hoop runs through her lip. “I’ve had my nipple piercings done three times, but with my extreme line of work — it’s not worth it.”
GRANTHRAX concluded, “We fit into the tattoo and body piercing communities, being the horror style freak show that we’re, and have done multiple Shows with Body Art Expo in Arizona and California every single year since 2016.
Body Art Expo. From 2 to 11 pm on Friday October 21, 11 am to 11 pm Saturday October 22, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Sat October 22, 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. Sun October 23, 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. WestWorld Scottsdale, 1661 North Pima Road in Scottsdale. Tickets are $20 to $25 per day or $55 for a three-day pass.
