That inking feeling: Vermin’s ‘Tattoos and Trash 2’ exposes unique art forms

By Kristen Peterson

Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 | 8:19 a.m.

On Joe Marro's back, a grimacing Bettie Page clutches the neck of a woman she has clenched between her legs in a scissors-like grip.

Both are wearing lingerie, and the devilish Page is featured with her trademark haircut. The original picture was the size of a pack of cigarettes before tattoo artist Dirk Vermin recreated it nearly shoulder to shoulder on Marro's skin.

Because of its impeccable detail, the well-crafted melee stirs the question, "Is it art or is it merely a tattoo?"

Without a doubt, Vermin says, it is one and the same.

"A tattoo artist is an artist first," he said. "The majority of the guys I know in the business were painting and drawing before they were tattooing."

But with skin as their canvas, tattoo artists create masterpieces only to see them walk out the door five minutes later. When the artists want something to stick around for a while, they'll switch out the needle for a paintbrush.

The result can be seen at the "Tattoos and Trash 2," art exhibit this month in Vermin's Gallery Au Go-Go at 4972 S. Maryland Parkway.

The watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings of more than 75 local and national tattoo artists can be seen through Jan. 31 at the gallery in Vermin's Pussykat Tattoo Parlor.

The collection ranges from Bert Krak's art deco-style watercolor paintings to contemporary tattoo and non-tattoo imagery. A flash page of longtime tattooist Al "Lefty" Miller displays old-style tattoo work likely to be found on the shoulder of an aging sailor.

Filling out the rest of the space is a vivid assortment of chesty vixens, snakes, skulls, spears, illustrations, fluid shapes and flames.

The Vermin-curated show arrived last week from Pomona, Calif., where it was featured at the 5ifty Bucks Gallery. More than 20 percent of the work is for sale.

"It's the best-quality show we've done here," Vermin said. "The majority of this stuff isn't that tattoo related. Some of it is. Some of it's not. The only running theme is that we're all tattoo artists.

"We don't have (tattoo) conventions in Las Vegas. I just wanted to do something to bring the attention here."

Fine tattoo

Though a handful of galleries throughout the country have held tattoo art exhibits, the industry that wove its way into American culture via sailors in the 1940s isn't always recognized as legitimate art.

But, Vermin said, "That's changing a lot. Artists have gotten better. The skill level of tattooing has changed drastically. The role of the tattoo artist, the idea of the tattoo artist has changed.

"When the industry blew up, it allowed more artists to get in. Before it was a good old-boys network. Now the majority of what you see can be translated onto the skin."

How about a Monet painting?

"That's a little tricky," Vermin said. "But there are guys that will do it. For me, I like the simplicity of a bold outline, a lot of black and the bright colors. Keep it simple."

Dressed in a button-down sleeveless shirt, Vermin appears to be running out of home-grown canvas for his work. His body is a gallery of pop culture icons and images.

Skulls encircle Vermin's neck. Vegas Vic smiles on the back of his left hand. Vermin's arm is home to portraits of Page, Marilyn Monroe and Frankenstein.

Pulling up his pant leg, he reveals a portrait of the young Elvis Presley.

The collection has spread to his back where, Vermin said, "I'm just collecting pirates and skulls in black and gray."

A lifelong artist, Vermin said he appreciates working in mediums other than skin. Samples of his artwork and illustrations -- witch doctors, comic book characters, pulp fiction-esque creations -- flood the walls in his tattoo studio.

His tattoo portfolio features, among other figures, a portrait of Frank Sinatra.

"There's a lot of studies in black and gray," Vermin said. "I do a lot of portraiture. It's nice to have both outlets. Tattooing pays the bills."

But, he added while pointing to the Bettie Page scuffle on Marro's back, "I can love it. I can take a picture of it. But it's his."

Vegas art

The native Las Vegan said he'd shown his work in Los Angeles nearly 20 times before it appeared in a Las Vegas show.

After hosting the first "Tattoos and Trash" exhibit in a gallery in Los Angeles, and in the back of Cindy Funkhouser's the Funkhouse on South Casino Center Boulevard, the musician/artist/entrepreneur decided to open his own gallery.

"This is me having a beer in L.A.," Vermin said, looking at the walls of Gallery Au Go-Go. "One thing I'm trying to do is actually do it, bring art to this town. Last year was learning -- learning what it takes to run an art gallery. It's full time."

His much-publicized shows, including last August's "White Trash Paradise" and a Halloween-themed show, have given needed attention to local artists.

When piecing together "Tattoos and Trash 2," which includes the work of Pussykat Tattoo Parlor artists, Vermin sent sent 500 invitations to hundreds of tattoo shops around the country. It seems he couldn't be more proud of the turnout.

"We went from last year having 13 artists to this year having 75 and more," Vermin said. "The quality of work is astounding."