Tattoo U

COEUR d'ALENE - A three-day tattoo arts convention at North Idaho College will have 100 tattoo artists on site, stunt-show performances, and feature music on two of the days by rock bank Eclectic Approach.

The family-friendly event, Think Ink 2010 Tattoo Arts Convention, starts at noon on Friday, June 4, and runs through 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 and sold at the door. The event will be at NIC's Christianson Gymnasium.

The tattoo artists will be from across the U.S. and from countries like Germany, Japan, England, and others, said event organizer Joe Riley of Hayden Lake. The artists all will be tattooing at booths on site.

"We're expecting several thousand people over the weekend," Riley said. He's organizing the event with his grandfather, Don Wilcox, 67, of Hayden Lake.

The 28-year-old Riley, a local and celebrity tattoo artist, has tattooed musicians from groups like Black Eyed Peas, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fuel, Tantric and several others.

Riley, who graduated from Lakeland High School in Rathdrum, has been a tattoo artist for 10 years, and currently is working at Electric Crayon, at 632 W. Appleway Ave., in Coeur d'Alene. For about five years he owned a tattoo shop in Pottstown, Pa., which is located northwest of Philadelphia.

He said he wanted to organize a tattoo convention here to showcase the art aspects of tattooing, and give the public an opportunity to see some of the best in the field at work.

The event will include performances by The Enigma and Serana Rose of the stunt group called the Showdevils, known for tricks like "human pin cushions," sword swallowing, glass eating, and making use of props like running chainsaws.

"I have no idea what to expect from them at this event," Riley said.

The Showdevils tout themselves as being "the world's most dangerous touring sideshow."

Eclectic Approach will be taking the stage Friday and Saturday, Riley said.

There will be what he's calling an art fusion, where about half a dozen paintings will be created on site with 20 to 30 of the different tattoo artists contributing work on each piece of art, he said. An artist will work on a painting for about 20 minutes, then pass it on to the next artist.

Once completed, the paintings will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to help families with autistic children. Riley said he has an autistic child, and knows the difficulties families face.

There will be tattoo contests during the event. Awards will go to the person with the best traditional tattoo, best Asian, best "Native American," most unusual, and other categories, he said.

There will be henna body art for those wanting some art on their skin, but not so permanently, and for kids there will be face painting, he said.

Radio station KHTQ-FM (Rock 94.5) will do live remotes during the convention, and will be giving away tickets to it, he said.