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Article about the 5th Massachusetts Tattoo and Art Festival

January 1, 2012
Savage Magazine
Photos by Curt Lout

Head west from Boston a few toll booths up the Mass. Turnpike and you will find the Fifth Annual Massachusetts Tattoo and Art Festival (MTAF). After receiving so many rave reviews about the venue location last year the MTAF was is back once again at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, MA. It was a fantastic weekend of Tattoos, Piercings, Entertainment, Vendors, Food and of course Fun!

Behind every great Festival is a great promoter, this one happens to be Joe Peterson of ZAZA Ink in West Boylston. Well it is actually his lovely wife Irene that makes all the magic happen. “This is essentially for educational purposes, not for profit. This Festival helps artist learn new techniques and helps educate the people about tattoos.” said Joe.

The annual festival gives people a chance to meet world-class artists showcasing a variety of styles and techniques and top notch body piercers, from all over the United States. Industry Icons included Cliff White of Long Island NY and Legend Lyle Tuttle. With a high lite being a  “Lyle Tuttle  Body Shirt” along sleeved tee that reproduced his own tattoos from the waist up. Life magazine published a feature article back in 1972. In the mix of buzzing machines were the vendors that included Zombie Caricature artists’ as well as the creative flair of Wicked Wall Masks. Attendance was over the top and his year’s event hosted abundant of talented tattoo artists that made the tattoo competitions electrifying.

The weekend’s entertainment was led by award winning national broadcaster DJ/MC Carl Blaspemy to Vegas style stunts from the Lucky Daredevil Thrill show. The show is performed by Tyler Fyre and his wife Thrill Kill Jill. That included the newest and “Ripley’s Believe It or Not’s” youngest sideshow performer their son Hank Lightning. We would like to congratulate the performing duo with the news of Thrill Kill Jill being the only woman in recorded history to perform her sword swallowing act while pregnant. As a rite of passage we would also like to congratulate the unnamed “apprentice” that earned the new title of Tattoo Artist.

This festival truly shows the dedication to the tradition of tattooing and the art.

Joe, Irene and the whole Zaza Ink Crew put on a really great show my hats off to them. Don’t miss next year’s Festival, for more info check out www.zazaink.com.