Tall Tales and Tattooing

This weeks episode of tall tales and tattooing is a little different to the normal format of the show, its a tattoo history episode and I tell the story of Henri C Swift who tattooed at 165 Cuba street in wellington in 1908. Henri was a pioneer of electric tattooing in New Zealand, immigrating from the Uk in 1907. With the invention of the electric tattoo machine in 1891 Henri was of the new breed who saw tattooing as a commercial business, he was an astute businessman making use of all the advertising that was available to him at the time, though his time in Wellington wasn't an easy life. I would like to say thank you to Rich Hardy for helping me with my research into this episode, the photo of Henri was sourced by him and shared in his buzz worthy tattoo article " a tattoo journey"

Spider Sinclairs Two hands tattoo has become one of Auckland’s most well known studios, sitting on the ever trendy Ponsonby road. When I first worked there 10 years ago it felt fresh and different, I’d never worked in a studio like it.

I sat down with Spider after hours to talk about the years leading up to him travelling the world. Juggling being a shop owner with constantly being on the road, the artists that influenced him, changing styles and how he’s found a balance he’s now very happy with.

Tim works out of his private studio Pacific tattoo in sunny Otaki on the coast an hour north of wellington. He has been tattooing for over twenty years and is living proof you can make a fresh start any time in life, starting his tattoo journey in his thirties. He got started with some of the most influential tattoo artists of the time Sua sulu'ape Paulo and Leo Zulueta. Moving to Los Angeles to apprentice at an exciting time for music, art and culture.

Pip has been involved in the tattoo industry in New Zealand for the last twenty years, along with tattooing she was also involved with organising the Auckland Ta Moko, Tatau, Tattoo convention in Auckland. She has taken a step back from tattooing but i sat down with her on a grey and rainy Auckland afternoon to talk about her two decades in tattooing.

Sacred tattoo has become a New Zealand institution, they just celebrated their 21st birthday and have lead the way for tattooing in australasia for many years. This weeks episode I sit down with owners Dean and Dan and find out what makes their partnership and business so successful.

Some people throw around the word legend quite flippantly, however this weeks guest is a true Legend in every sense of the word. Bev Nicholas aka Cindy Ray has been around on the tattoo scene for over 60 years. She was Australias original tattooed lady, you would have no doubt seen her photos in tattoo books around the world. She spent her entire tattoo career in Melbourne, her studio 'Moving pictures' is still in the same spot in Williamstown. I have known Bev personally for about 10 years, i don't know why but i was more nervous doing this podcast episode than any other episode this series. I think it's because i have so much love and respect for Bev that i wanted the interview to do her justice, i hope it does just that. she has an amazing story.

This weeks guest is Lorna Tahiti, who owns a private studio May 15 tattoo, in otaku on the kaput coast. Lorna has been around tattooing from an early age, she watched her two older brothers tattoo as she grew up, but pursued a career in teaching until 10 years ago when she found a mentor to help her take up art and tattooing full time.

Adam Craft owns one of Aucklands most respected tattoo shops, The Tattooed Heart on K road. He's been tattooing for over two decades and has made a name for himself with his large scale Japanese work. But before he was settled enough to get customers returning for session after session of japanese back pieces, sleeves and bodysuits Adam was Bouncing around europe working seasonally tattooing tourists and learning his trade in busy street shops. 

This week i talk to Steve Ma ching a living legend of New Zealand tattooing, He's internationally recognised for his polynesian work, he's tattooed sports stars such as Sonny Bill Williams and he is just as in demand overseas as he is on his home shores. He knows how to give banter and he can also take it. He's down to earth straight talking, no nonsense and always has the best stories when i get the chance to have a beer with him. In this weeks episode we talk about his many years in Auckland, getting his act together and taking tattooing more seriously, going to work for Merv O'connor, opening his studio Western Tattoo and how he developed his style from doing flash tattoos to where he is today.

This weeks guest is the constantly travelling Rosie Edwards from Christchurch. We talk about her journey from being adopted by a pakeha family to reconnecting with her maori roots and the struggles she faced being a female going against the grain in maori culture. We also discuss How the 2011 christchurch earthquake pushed her to travel and how she embraced it and worked hard to build an international reputation. This episode left me lost for words more than once, and it was a pleasure to talk to such an inspirational lady.

This week we talk to 25 year tattoo veteran John Roberts who spent most of his career in hawkes bay at his studio Monsta Track Tattoo. After two decades he made the move down to wellington last year and now co owns Pieces of Eight Tattoo in Petone. 

This weeks episode is in Te Reo Maori and in English, but thats not the only thing thats a little different from the rest of the series, This episode is a panel discussion that was recorded live at the Wellington Tattoo convention.

The Panel features Josh Paki, Tyla Vaeau and Moko Smith three practising Ta Moko and Tatau artists as they discuss what their art means to them, their links to the past, the direction in which they are taking their tattooing and how they are keeping tradition alive in the 21st century. 

The panel was moderated By Sean Mallon, senior curator of pacific histories and cultures at the museum of New Zealand Te papa Tongarewa

The Black Mark tattoo has quickly established its self as one of melbournes top realism studios. As the shop celebrates its 5th anniversary we sit down with studio owners Mick Squires and Kitty dearest along with artists Ben Smith and Dan mawdsley.  We discuss the studios beginnings and how it started to take on a life and direction of its own,  the artists that have passed through over the years and finding the right work life balance.

Todd is one of my oldest friends in tattooing, we've been tattooing around the same amount of time and we had a great laugh doing this weeks episode. Todd is the owner of 13ft Tattoo in Newtown, Sydney, Australia. in this episode we talk about his travels around the world, the trials and tribulations of opening a shop in Sydney and how liscencing changed the game across New South Wales. 

Auckland tattoo studio is New Zealands oldest established tattoo shop. We sit down with its current owner Braden McMahon to talk about his journey into getting into tattooing around the globe and back, getting a job under its previous owner and tattoo legend Merv O connor, to respecting its tradition an becoming its current owner.