Across the Coastal Bend, creativity hides in all corners — inside our art galleries, through the sounds reverberating within our live music venues and even lining the walls of tattoo studios. Those invested in the culture know of the artistry found within family-owned and operated Pinnacle Tattoo, but through an exhibition set to debut this month in the Art Center of Corpus Christi, owners Tina and Chris Lain aim to further share the overflowing beauty of this culture in its many shapes and sizes.
“I would love for people who say they hate tattoos to try and see the art past the mental block they may have on the word,” said Tina. “I hope they can see the artistry in the room. That’s going to be such an important part of the exhibit.”
Working closely alongside the Art Center’s executive director, Dianna Bluntzer Sherman, Tina and Chris, longtime partners in life and craft, worked diligently over the last year putting together a tribute to tattooing titled TRANSFERENCE. The Lains intend to bridge the gap of understanding between tattoo artists and the general public by displaying the beauty and cultural significance of the lifestyle through a mixed-medium exhibit. In presenting this art form in its various media, from classic skin canvases to more traditional artwork, the exhibit can encourage exploration and a more open mind to the historical subculture.
“There are so many facets to tattooing,” explained Tina. “We want to give everybody an opportunity to see our world and our art, but most importantly, an opportunity to see the bigger community we’re a part of.”
The exhibition will host pieces from the pair and their two protégés, their sons Christian and Carson, as well as a variety of guest artists, such as Ricardo Ruiz; longtime tattooers whose pieces may not directly fall under traditional tattoo art; conventional artists who took inspiration from the tattoo world; or a mixture of both.
“We hope the exhibit shows how tattooing, in general, has affected artists and the work that they do,” Chris shared. “I’ve explored other mediums in addition to tattooing. One has always fed the other, and I wanted to show how creativity melds these worlds together.”
Those well-seasoned in the culture can indulge in displays of full-body tattoo pieces and live models, alongside the reimagining of the more traditional versions of the art. To depict his tattoo imagery in other mediums, Chris collaborated with New Mexico woodworker Arthur Lopez on a panther and dagger sculpture in the traditional tattoo art style. Tina also plans to include a slice of Pinnacle in a small vignette evoking the feeling of sitting in the lobby of a shop. With the wide scope of the exhibit pulling in local, national and worldwide talent, the show promises to bring something for everyone.
Throughout the month-long exhibition, the Art Center will host discussions aimed at further educating the community on the artistry of tattoos. From the hometown camaraderie between the Lains and Blunzter Sherman, to the local acts and businesses providing support, all who worked on the project hope visitors leave with a newfound appreciation for the art of tattooing.
