Tattooriffic shows at Light Grey Art Lab

The crowd was inked, pierced, studded, gauged, leather-clad and friendly. The rooms were small. The art was sweet, dark, and highly detailed: skulls, bats, kittens, snakes, pin-up girls. The beer cost $5.

The event was an opening reception on Friday, March 22 for "Blowout" and "Beautiful Forever," two shows running concurrently at Light Grey Art Lab a block off Eat Street in Minneapolis, each a benefit for Uptown Tattoo artist Tom Strom.

"Fate" by Jared Tuttle

Strom was badly injured in a biking accident, needed surgery, and now faces big expenses. For "Blowout," 40 tattoo artists donated work from outside of their usual day job: drawings, oil paintings, and personal statements. For "Beautiful Forever," illustrators, designers, and artists (e.g. people who don't tattoo) created flash-art inspired temporary tattoos.

"The Kitten Startlets"
by Lillian Joan Duermeier

Pieces from "Blowout" are available as giclee prints in two sizes. We're waiting for our print of "Fate" by artist Jared Tuttle.

You could buy temporary tattoos on the spot, even have them applied if you wanted; helpful people were waiting with sponges and bowls of water. The "Kitten Startlets" by Lillian Joan Duermeier sold out by the time we reached the front of the line. Lindsay Nohl, Light Grey's co-owner with husband Chris Hajny, wore them well.

"Blowout" and "Beautiful Forever" run through April 12. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 12-7 p.m., Sundays 12-5 p.m., and by appointment.

__

Gallery photos by John Whiting. Art courtesy Light Grey Lab and the artists.