Exhibit Information

Tattoos have become increasingly common in today’s visual landscape and are found throughout Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley, around the world, and in virtually every culture. With the help of tattoo artists, historians, and photographers, the visitor can investigate the fascinating world of tattoos. The decision to get a tattoo is very personal and a lifetime commitment. INK: Tattoos as Personal Expression is an inquiry into tattoo history and the role of tattoos in today’s world. Please join us in our exploration of the infinitely diverse ways that people have chosen to express themselves with INK.

A portion of the story of tattooing in Las Cruces can be heard in the documentary found in the tattoo shop environment in the exhibit. Six local tattooists were interviewed about tattoo culture in Las Cruces and some of the people who tattoo here. The artists – Tick and James Yocum of Black Rat, Drew McClanahan, Moises Ramos, and Ian Wright of Tattoo Co., and Alex Trujillo, previously of Plan Nine – were asked the same series of questions about their experience as a tattooist, their view on their profession, safety issues, and the art behind their craft.

This exhibit would not have been possible without the support of the local tattoo artists we interviewed, Mr. G. and Madame Chinchilla of Triangle Tattoo and Museum in Fort Bragg, CA. who loaned us the majority of the tattoo machines, flash, and historical ephemera displayed in the exhibit, and photographers Christopher Lynn Mortenson and Mary Beth Heffernan.