“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
– Antoine De Saint Exupery
June 2nd-5th, 2016: Queen Mary – Long Beach, California. This year launched the the first annual Art Gathering LA. Hosted by the brilliant and spicy Bob Tyrrell, known for his realistic, black and grey portrait tattoos. Curated by Sullen Art, an art driven tattoo lifestyle clothing company based in California.
“Born from Water” Painting by Carlos Torres
Thursday evening kicked of the event with an art gallery opening on the second floor, aboard the Queen. DJ Caveman @djcavemanla – entertained us for the evening spinning funky tracks that we dig on this planet. Paintings from Micheal Hussar & Chet Zar – two unique artists known for their dark portraits and monster compositions as well as comical, playful Ron English and DC Roberts – to name a few of many that brought variety to the gallery. One of the works we enjoyed seeing was Robert Craig’s contemporary subway painting of world and human spirit. A surrealistic approach to our antithesis of reaching divinity in a world of neglect. “Born from Water” Painting by Carlos Torres was also available to view in the gallery – as well as the main event banner in the entrance of the tattoo convention.
After playing with mechanical interactive installations in the outside courtyard and checking out the Hyperspace Bypass Construction zone – Sculptures by Yelena Filipchuk & Serge Beaulieu – at Hybycozo – we made our way on to the tattoo section of the show on the Queen Mary, showcasing over 400 of the world’s leading tattooists.
Featured article image: pirate themed sleeve tattoo by Thomas Snatch from Pagny-sur-Moselle – France. Intenze neck tattoos from Paul Booth, Last Rites Tattoo, New York and gangster full body black and grey suits from Robert Pho, Skin Design Tattoos, Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeremy from Sullen was even spotted getting a portrait of his mom and dad until 4am on his back. Let’s just say In and Out burgers where well needed during this late night collaboration between Bob Tyrrell and Ralf Nonnweiler – and yes they killed it and we feasted!!!
Longing for Long Beach… it’s hard to think we have to wait a whole other year for the next Art Gathering LA. You will be missed and our anticipation for June of 2017 will be on our minds for the next 11 months. We look forward to attending next year and bringing more family and friends. Because like our favorite song that we don’t want to end… that build up that makes our heart beat faster it’s a family reunion that cannot come any sooner. Thank you again for an amazing four days of family fun in a sea of inspiration.
Art Gathering La is a curated multi-media art festival showcasing over 400 of the world’s leading tattooists, independent artists and art galleries.
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