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What you need to know about the Cape Tattoo Expo 2014

Bringing you the best in global tattoo culture, The Cape Tattoo Expo is currently the most important lifestyle festival of its kind on the African continent. With a great range of top local and international tattoo artists attending and a very exciting arts and concert event schedule, Cape Tattoo Expo 2014 promises to be an exhilarating weekend of pure tattoo art bliss.  

Event organiser Manuela Gray says attendees can expect an incredible visual display of  tattoo artists from all over the world, as well as the best that South Africa has to offer.  The tattoo booths are situated in various big open rooms in the city hall and even if you do not book a tattoo, you will be able to see the masters doing their thing while they are working on their clients. Manuela says: "The idea of the Expo is to provide the SA public with an environment where they can get tattooed by great artists of their choosing. But, as important, it’s also a platform for tattoo artists to showcase their artistry, skill, and creativity in an open and social environment and for the SA public to see how varied and evolved the industry has become".  As is the tradition with the Cape Tattoo Expo, there will be a number of related events to the expo itself, making it a true lifestyle festival. These include art exhibitions, concerts, a golf day, some unique on-site pop up displays, and more.

All the details:

Date: 28 February – 2 March

Tickets are available here and are R100.00 per day or R250.00 for a full weekend pass. Full weekend passes allow free entry to the live music at the Assembly on the Saturday night. (Note that the day passes do not include access to the live music.) The ticket also does not include the price of tattoos. These can be booked with and paid to the artist directly.

To book a tattoo:
Click here and contact the particular artist. “Walk in” tattoos will also be welcome, if time and booking schedules allow.    Doors open at 17:00 on Friday and at 11”00 on Saturday and Sunday.  Visit the website for updates about attending artists, concerts, competitions, and info. 

Other events:

Tattoo Expo Golf Day
Friday 21 February
Metropolitan Golf Club – 16h30  For the first time this year, the Cape Town tattoo community is getting together for the 1st annual TATTOO GOLF DAY. This fourball 9-hole event is hosted by the Cape Town Metropolitan Golf Club. There will be team prizes and individual prizes up for grabs courtesy of our generous sponsors: Sailor Jerry Rum, Levi’s, Barnet Fair, Dusty Rebels, Primi Piatti and House of Machines.

To book your team, contact maria@capetowntattooconvention.co.za. Price is R600 for a 4 ball  – 9 Hole and only experienced golfers can take part.

The event will be free to the public and the prize-giving will happen after the round at the club house bar. There will also be an after party at House of Machines to round off a perfectly cool day.  



Victorian Oddities Art Exhibition
Friday 28 February – Sunday March 2
Cape Town City Hall – during Cape Tattoo Expo opening hours

Art exhibitions have always been an integral part of the Cape Tattoo Expo. And this year is no different. In its never-ending quest to present original art works in original ways by top South African and International artists, organisers this year are proud to present ‘Victorian Oddities’, a multimedia exhibition of works inspired by the darker creations and curiosities of our 19th – 20th Century forbearers. Works will be drawn from an eclectic range of the SA art scene and, like all exhibitions before promises to be a one-of-a-kind event.

One of the highlights of this year’s exhibition will be the debut, for the first time outside of Europe, of ‘Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell”. Created by Brian May (of the rock group Queen), Denis Pellerin and Paula Fleming, this book/printed card collection of macabre images are exhibited in stereoscopic 3D using replica 19th Century viewing glasses. For more information about this exciting project, visit www.londonstereo.com.

Another original adjunct to the Victorian Oddities exhibition is the ‘Field of Dreams’ absinthe display. Many South Africans are unaware that absinthe – the original Green Fairy, inspirational elixir of poets, painters, writers and madmen – is now being made locally, by Jorgensen’s Distillery, the country’s foremost artisan spirit-maker. The artist’s task is to draw on his/her unique vision and on the rich history of the Green Fairy to create a unique absinth label. These one-of-a-kind absinthe bottles will be exhibited (along with an A3- sized mounted print of the artwork) as part of the Victorian Oddities exhibition. These collectors’ items will be for sale with some proceeds going to C.H.O.C. (see below).

Finally, the 6th annual Cape Tattoo Expo is thrilled to be partnering up once again with Levi’s to present a unique range of vintage aprons. These unique items will be designed and decorated by an elite selection of local artists. Visitors to last year’s expo will recall the amazing collection work jackets on display. This year’s display promises the same level of creativity and originality. All pieces will be exhibited in the art exhibition hall at the Cape Town City Hall for the duration of the expo.

Cape Tattoo Expo Concert
Saturday 1 March
The Assembly – 21h00 until late

Over the years, the Cape Tattoo Expo has left its mark in the local live music scene by presenting some of the city’s most memorable concerts, featuring some of South Africa’s best-known and best-loved bands. This year’s concert line-up continues the tradition. This year, the 6th annual Cape Tattoo Expo is proud to present The Very Wicked, Beast, and Van Coke Kartel. Tickets are R50 before 21h00, R60 after and free to Cape Tattoo Expo full weekend pass holders. (Day passes do not include entrance to the concert night.)



Other features:

SAILOR JERRY VINTAGE POP-UP BAR
There is perhaps no better complimentary brand for the Cape Tattoo Expo than Sailor Jerry Rum. After a brief hiatus, we are proud to be renewing our partnership with this iconic brand by presenting the Sailor Jerry Vintage Bar and Lounge.

This one-of-a-kind installation will feature vintage Sailor Jerry flash, clothing, and, of course, original Sailor Jerry cocktails. Admission to the Sailor Jerry Lounge is free to Cape Tattoo Expo attendees.

https://www.facebook.com/sailorjerry
https://twitter.com/SailorJerry (@SailorJerry)
http://instagram.com/sailorjerry#

Vendors
As a unique lifestyle event, the Cape Tattoo Expo is proud to offer some of the city’s most creative and original vendors an avenue to show their wares. Vintage clothing designers such as MissHapp and AnonaMiss, as well as unique designers WitchKnight and Jeez Louise will be on hand to offer the public items that they won’t be able to find anywhere else. These vendors will be joined by local gentleman’s grooming legends Barnet Fair to offer the SA public a unique lifestyle experience.

Charitable activities
SixLove Events will also be hosting a ‘tattoo-athon’ in the next few months to raise money for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. CHOC is a national organization dedicated to providing assistance to children that are battling cancer or life-threatening blood disorders, and their families. CHOC was established in 1979 and has Divisions in: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape..

CHOC is not funded by government, but rather by the donations received from corporates, individuals and parents of children with cancer. Funds raised are applied to directly benefit the children and their families, as well as those involved in the treatment of these serious illnesses.  More info about CHOC at: http://www.choc.org.za.
 CHOC will be at the Tattoo Expo to tell people more about their cause. The date for the ‘tattoo-athon’ to be announced soon.
 Also be sure to join the Southern Ink Xposure and Cape Town International Tattoo Convention Facebook and Twitter groups for all the latest news about related events and artist info.  Twitter: @CapeTattExpo Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/capetattooexpo

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