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Tuesday, 19 March 2024
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Written by Sam Olsen
Coming to the Crown Complex this April 12 to 14, The All American Tattoo Convention promises to be a spectacle of art, craftsmanship, and excitement. Come see amazing tattoos and their artists, get tattooed, or learn about the theories and science that goes into tattoo coloring with “Mohawk” Jesse Yunker.
The convention is sponsored by companies both local and national. World Famous Ink, Ghost Tattoo Company, Veteran ink, and TrueFitGym are just some of the companies helping to support the event. Being the main event and helping in their own way are the artists themselves. With over 260 artists said to be in attendance, the convention will be filled with talented individuals.
Artists like Ray Durham, Cory Wright, and Michaela Morin will be available for on-location appointments if you wish to get your next tattoo done at the convention. Afterwards, shop around with vendors set up at the convention center, or grab a bite at one of the food trucks that will be present.
If you prefer appreciating the art of tattooing on others rather than yourself, the convention will also be hosting multiple tattoo contests every day throughout the duration of the event. On Friday the contests will start with large and small color tattoos, moving on to best-stylized tattoos with themes like military and American pride, and ending with the tattoo of the day.
Saturday will start with color tattoos large and small. The competitions for the day will then consist of another round of size-based black and grey tattoos which will also be judged. Afterward, the next phase of Saturday’s competitions will consist of a second round of differently stylized tattoos ranging from neotraditional to watercolor.
Finally, the contests will end with the best individual location art pieces, the best male and female tattoos, and the tattoo of the day. Sunday caps things off with the final round of color and black and white tattoos, a final round of stylized tattoos featuring comic heroes, anime, and Disney themes, and for the finale, the event will announce the final tattoo of the day and the illustrious Best in Show tattoo for the convention.
The main seminar planned for the convention is one with “Mohawk” Jesse Yunker. His seminar will cover color theory and composition as it relates to tattooing and art. Color theory itself focuses on the relationships between color and the emotional reactions, conscious or unconscious, they elicit in us.
Effectively blending the desired style, design, artistic principles, color, unique individual dermatology, and overall composition for the client are the hallmarks of an excellent tattoo artist. Being able to peer into the mindset of a long-time tattoo artist and learn the design principles they utilize to create their works of art is something any aspiring artist or tattooist can appreciate.
After the seminar, Yunker will be hosting a Q&A for all attendees of the seminar. The seminar will be on the first day of the convention, Friday, and last for two to three hours starting at 11 a.m. Admission for the seminar is $250 with a promised swag bag for all attendees made by Yunker himself.
Also planned is The All American Tattoo Convention’s 2024 Miss All American Pin-Up contest. The contest will take place on the main event stage at the expo center on April 13 at 2 p.m.. The All American Tattoo Convention staff recommends that contestants come earlier the day of to make sure everything is ready to go for the 2 p.m. start time. There will be a $500 cash prize for first place, a $100 cash prize for second place, and a $50 cash prize for third place in the contest. All participants will get an All American Tattoo Convention tote bag and American Tattoo Society gift card. Registration is $25 and the online form can be found at https://allamericantattooconvention.com/miss-all-american-pin-up-contest/ . Those with questions, concerns, or interest in the event can contact the organizers at allamericantattooconvention@gmail.com.
From local tattoo artists, to national talents, The All American Tattoo Convention brings together both artists and connoisseurs for a weekend of appreciation for the art of tattooing.
The local community is invited to come out in support of their favorite artist, learn about the principles of art through color theory, show off their tattoos in the pin-up contest, get a tattoo, or just shop around and look at all the interesting ways people choose to decorate their bodies through tattooing.
For those interested in attending the convention, tickets can be purchased at the door or online through their website at https://allamericantattooconvention.com/buy-tickets/ . Single day passes are available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Interested guests can also buy two variants of three-day passes for the convention.
The regular three-day pass is 43 dollars in advance with an increased price at the door. The V.I.P three day pass starts at $62 pre-purchase, increasing to $72 at the door based on availability, and includes a special V.I.P badge, convention swag bag, meet and greet signature poster with a pen for the show, access to the V.I.P meet and greet with T.V. tattoo artists on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Crown Ballroom, and an All American Tattoo Convention t-shirt. All tickets will be available for a $5 military discount for qualifying individuals.
Artists and vendors interested in setting up a booth at the convention must register in advance via the convention’s website application. For more information and where to submit your application, please visit https://allamericantattooconvention.com/for-exhibitors/interested-in-a-booth/
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Tuesday, 19 March 2024
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Written by Amber Little
Calling all men in the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area! Now is the time to give back, raise awareness, and have a whole lot of fun doing it.
Walk Awhile is back for its 14th year in downtown Fayetteville on March 22nd at 6 p.m. Line-up will start at Capital Encore Academy, located at 126 Hay Street and participants will walk from Capital to the steps of Segra Stadium. For those unfamiliar with Walk Awhile, it’s an event presented by the Phoenix Center of Fayetteville to bring awareness to domestic and sexual violence. This is a downsized and localized version of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an international awareness event.
Deanne Gerdes, Executive Director said, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international event. When we brought it to Fayetteville 14 years ago, we changed it to Walk Awhile in Her Shoes. I was not sure I could convince my closest friends to walk an entire mile! We wanted an event for a family to be involved in, or coworkers to participate together in the event. We wanted conversations about violence against women to happen, and of course to raise money for victims we serve …There is an old saying: ‘You can't understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes.’ To get people listening, learning, and talking, we have asked men to do just that. We have 200 pairs of red high heel shoes that men can throw on walk and walk a few blocks down Hay Street and show that they take a stand against violence.” Gerdes has been with the Phoenix Center for almost 15 years (the anniversary is next month!) and has played an integral part in the longevity and success of the event.
Fourth Friday will set the perfect stage to bring visibility to often underreported issues for women. While awareness of domestic and sexual violence is important every day of the year, the coinciding of Women’s History Month and Fourth Friday increases the visibility of this event tenfold.
Those interested in registering for the event can do so up until the event starts by calling the office at 910-485-7273. Those who register early can come by the office at 517 Ramsey Street and try on a pair of heels before the big day.
As any veteran heel wearer will advise, “Make sure they are comfortable.”
This event not only brings awareness but also shows victims that their community supports them.
“It’s important to show victims that we support them. Although you probably won’t know who they are, they will be among the walkers, volunteers, and spectators; you may not see them, but they will see you, and that’s the most important part of this walk,” said Gerdes of the importance of the event.
The Phoenix Center is an important part of our community. Gerdes explained what their role in Fayetteville is.
“The Phoenix Center provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. We offer a 24-hour crisis line, you can file for a domestic violence protective order in our office, and we advocate in the emergency room and in the courthouse for victims. We have support groups and we refer to mental health professionals. We work hard. We hear the worst that happens to people. Especially to women, and we advocate the best we can and the next day to do it all over again. So come out Friday, share a few laughs, thank the advocates for all their hard work, and take a stand with us.”
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