Photo: Artist Sarah Miller on Sunday tattooed a portrait of a client’s daughter on his back at the United Ink Tattoo Festival at Resorts World Casino in South Ozone Park. Forum Photo by Alan Krawitz.
For years now, tattoo culture has been gaining in popularity in the city; and last weekend’s United Ink Tattoo Festival only served to underscore that trend as the show drew thousands to Resorts World Casino in South Ozone Park.
The festival, held from last Friday through Sunday, featured a bit of everything from the world of body art, including world-renowned tattoo artists, live tattooing and piercing, magicians, music, freak-show style entertainers and daily tattoo contests.
“United Ink is one of the most well-rounded tattoo shows in the country,” said Heather Moss, an Arizona-based tattoo artist dubbed “Miss United Ink,” the face of the festival by organizer Lou Rubino.
Moss said the great thing about United Ink is that there’s something for everyone, from tattoos and piercings to shopping, clothing and entertainment.
“The turnout at Resorts World is much bigger than anything I’ve seen in the past,” Moss said.
Rubino, who also owns seven Tattoo Lou’s shops on Long Island and a tattoo supply company, estimated that “at least 10,000 people” attended this year’s event.
Rubino, said that the show will likely be an annual expo at Resorts World, as its old home, the Nassau Coliseum, is shutting its doors later this year.
“This has been such a great event; we’ve been invited back for next year already,” he noted.
The show also featured a roster of international artists from China, Japan, Italy and Russia.
Joey Germinario, whose “Tattoo Rescue” series on Spike TV helped struggling ink businesses become successful, called the show “awesome.”
“United Ink is actually a great place for first-time tattoos since you can see the range of great art that can be done,” said Germinario, who has been in the business for more than 25 years.
Asked if he thought there is still stigma associated with tattooing, Germinario said that the culture is now mainstream. He added that in years past, tattoos were much simpler, and that the contemporary “artistic aspect” of the industry has been growing.
Sarah Miller, an owner/tattoo artist at Wyld Chyld Tattoo in Pittsburgh, echoed Germinario’s observation that the artfulness of tattooing is on the rise.
Miller, who was most recently a contestant on Spike TV’s “Ink Masters” reality show, where artists from across the country competed for $100,000 and the title of “Ink Master,” said that she enjoys the creativity that the culture fosters.
“I’ve been drawing since I was 2 years old,” Miller said.
Some attendees said they waited for the convention so their favorite artist could do their tattoo.
Ilene Nicoletti, a resident of Huntington, NY, said she has waited since last September to get her upper-thigh tiger tattoo from Italian artist Michele Turco.
“There are so many great artists to choose from,” Nicoletti said.
John “Cubo” Cuminale of Pete & Cubo’s Tattooing and Body Piercing on 101st Avenue in Ozone Park had nothing but praise for the United Ink fest.
“Lou’s is a family-run show and he’s been doing conventions since the 1980s and they’re always great,” said Cuminale, who noted that he always gets a nice “bump in business” following one of Lou’s events.
Joe and Kait from Levittown, NY, said that they enjoy all aspects of tattoo culture.
“People often give us odd stares when we’re out in public,” said the couple, who are both amply inked.
But Joe said that those stares will never keep him away from ink.
“I’ll be getting tattoos until the day I die,” he declared.
For information on upcoming shows, visit newyorktattooshow.com.
By Alan Krawitz alan.krawitz1@gmail.com
