{"id":560,"date":"2018-08-24T12:18:49","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T19:18:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=999916065"},"modified":"2018-08-24T12:18:49","modified_gmt":"2018-08-24T19:18:49","slug":"new-exhibit-at-molaa-celebrates-the-social-evolution-of-tattoo-art-in-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/art\/new-exhibit-at-molaa-celebrates-the-social-evolution-of-tattoo-art-in-los-angeles","title":{"rendered":"New exhibit at MOLAA celebrates the social evolution of tattoo art in Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Notorious B.I.G., Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga and Adele have tattoos by him. Now visitors to the Museum of Latin American Art on Sunday will get to see Mark Mahoney, one of Los Angeles County\u2019s most respected tattoo artists, and a celebrity in his own artistic right, lay his fine-line style under the skin of a pre-selected participant.<\/p>\n

The live tattooing with Mahoney will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is the first of six events where visitors can watch an influential tattooer at work. It\u2019s all a part of MOLAA\u2019s newest exhibit, INK: Stories on Skin<\/em> with the work of more than 50 artists represented in a striking documentation of tattoo art in Los Angeles and its impact worldwide.<\/p>\n

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Hollywood tattoo artist Mark Mahoney. Photo courtesy of Museum of Latin American Art.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Produced by MOLAA, curated by Carlos Ortega and drawn from the museum\u2019s permanent collection, nine sections of the exhibit will offer visitors a look into the particularities of the art in Southern California and across different cultures, the Navy\u2019s presence in Long Beach, how Mexican Americans have helped develop a distinctive Chicano tattoo style, \u201cthe splendor of innovation and continuity expressed\u201d by tattoo artists and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith INK: Stories on Skin<\/em> we present the richness and tradition of tattoo art and emphasize within a global context the importance of the legacy left by the artists and community that made it possible,\u201d Lourdes Ramos, president of MOLAA, said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Celebrated tattoo artist Kari Barba, owner of the oldest operating tattoo shop in the Americas\u2014Downtown Long Beach-based Outer Limits Tattoo<\/a>\u2014is also one of the artists slated to demonstrate their skills. On November 10, Barba will be tattooing one of the six individuals who were invited to share a personal story through art they chose from the museum\u2019s private collection, and were then paired with a tattoo artist who helped them design a meaningful tattoo reflecting the art and their story.<\/p>\n

Once considered a tradition or aesthetic reserved for certain cultures or non law-abiding citizens, over 40 percent of millenials and 20 percent of adults now have tattoos, according to the museum. With its mainstream presence today, MOLAA\u2019s retrospective addresses tattoo art\u2019s undeniable role in shaping the cultural fabric of Greater Los Angeles, shedding light on tattoos through a fine-arts lens and highlighting \u201ctattoo art as a relevant, multicultural art form.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is anything valuable for every human being or community, it is the opportunity to see themselves reflected through their cultural contributions; objects that contain their history and identity,\u201d Ramos stated. \u201cThese contributions constitute an essential aspect of the collective soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Live tattoo demonstrations:<\/p>\n