Sept. 2024 | Vol. 21 Iss. 9
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TATTOO ARTISTS ARE TRANSFORMING ART AND CULTURE ON MIDVALE’S MAIN STREET By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
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Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson receives his first tattoo from Dark Arts artist Tattoo Slick during the Craft Lake City event. (Photo courtesy of Craft Lake City)
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rom a subculture niche into mainstream art, the tattoo industry in Utah has been through an evolution fueled by breaking down stigmas, growing acceptance and demonstrating that body art is a valuable form of self-expression. Midvale City’s Historic Main Street has become a go-to destination for clients to receive quality tattoos with increasingly intricate and personalized designs. With nearly a dozen studios in the Main Street area, tattoo artists are helping to build the city’s arts reputation. “We’re trying to create an arts and culture district here on Midvale Main and one thing that we’re trying to do is attract businesses that are arts or arts adjacent, and tattoo studios absolutely fit into the mold of what we’re looking for,” said Midvale Economic Development Manager Cody Hill. Chase Alexander and Mitch Anderson of Dark Arts (7632 Main St.) have helped build the area into a tattoo destination. Alexander operates Tattoo Booking, a website that helps clients find the perfect artist for their body art. With more than 200 licensed tattoo artists in Salt Lake County, the site makes it easier to navigate the system. Alexander also coordinates the Tattoo Showdown each April on Midvale’s Main Street. The event attracts tattoo artists from all over the region to com-
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pete for $15,000 in prize money. “[The artists] have to design under the event’s theme and they can do it in any style they want,” he said. “They’re split into categories and they have nine hours to tattoo. At the end of the nine hours, we bring them on stage and judge them. There are different things the judges are looking at to figure out who has the best piece.” Advances in technology have helped elevate the practice into an art form. Cordless machines allow an artist to achieve greater precision by adjusting the needle’s speed and force. Eco-friendly inks, smart tattoo needles and improved aftercare products make the process easier for the artist and client. Not Without Challenges While Midvale’s Main Street attracts talented artists looking for a place to showcase their art, it has also caused some oversaturation in the area, specifically when it comes to studios with walk-in clientele. Al Martinez works at Wild Coyote Tattoo (7681 Main St.) but said the shop will close this fall because it can’t compete with the other studios in the area. “I’ve been here for about a year but I’ve been in the industry for 14 years,” Martinez said. “The area is oversaturated and we just can’t compete for walk-
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