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In the Flesh: Tattoo convention inked for this weekend in Marietta

By Jess Mancini 3 min read

MARIETTA -- A local tattoo artist has organized a three-day convention in Marietta.

Organized by Chase Chovan of the Monkey's Uncle Tattoo Shop, the Bizarre Bazaar Tattoo Convention will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the new Tower Event and Conference Center on Tennis Center Drive.

Meg Rataiczak, an artist at the tattoo shop, helped with the organization for the past several months.

More than 30 tattoo artists, mostly from the region, and more than a dozen vendors and three food trucks will participate, Chovan said.

"We do have one piercer as well," he said.

Hours for the convention are noon-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 to the convention where the artists will offer tattoos.

Moon King, a performer from Parkersburg, will entertain convention goers on Sunday.

Chovan has been in the tattoo business for 32 years. Monkey's Uncle has held the annual Bizarre Bazaar four times over the last six years, but it has slowly grown over that time.

Chovan attended other tattoo events in Marietta, encouraging him to do one.

"That's what inspired me to do our own," he said.

The show will include contests for best tattoos each day during the three-day run, Chovan said. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place.

Friday's competition will be in the categories of traditional, geometric, small color, small black and grey, realistic, anime, Japanese, of day color and of day black and grey. On Saturday, color portrait, black and grey portrait, worst tattoo, most bizarre, neo-traditional, blackwork, lettering, of day color and of day black and grey. On Sunday, sleeve color, sleeve black & grey, chest, back, large color, large black and grey, of day color, of day black and grey and of show overall.

Tattoo of the Day awards will be for work done from start to finish on that day only. Judging begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Chovan anticipates a large crowd and perhaps moving the convention to a larger venue next year. Food vendors will be in the parking lot of the conference center where plenty of free parking will be available, he said.

"They usually draw a large crowd," Chovan said.

Sponsors are Spencer Image Works, Twisted Sister, Smoker Friendly, the Gateway Health Center, Bicknee Tattoo Supply and the Ohio Tattoo Museum of Bidwell, Ohio, Marietta Adventure Co., Rejuvenation Laser and Skin Center, Monkey's Uncle Tattoo Shop, Ameri-Med Medical Waste Solutions and Jordana Bungard's WestSide Sign Co.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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