Winnipeg Tattoo Show makes its mark again

ST. JAMES-ASSINIBOIA

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This article was published 03/05/2023 (1064 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Tattoo Show is returning after a two-year hiatus, May 12 to 14 at the RBC Convention Centre.

The fourth annual convention is presented by J&A Inked Enterprises, but the co-founder says it is almost entirely put together by friends and volunteers.

“We just do it for the love of the industry,” said Abigail Boivin, 40, who came up with the show along with her husband, Jeff, 44.

The couple operates Living Canvas Tattoo on St. James Street and founded J&A Inked Enterprises in 2013, primarily to bring tattoo shows to Winnipeg and Manitoba, as city and provincial health bylaws at the time prevented such gatherings.

“(It’s) for the community and the love and respect. Bringing people together, and artists together, just making every show better than the last one,” she said.

Abigail Boivin has been tattooing for 22 years and has attended several shows across the country. She and Jeff, who live in East St. Paul, came up with the idea of a Winnipeg convention while she was on maternity leave.

“I have two kids already, so let’s put some more stuff on the plate,” Boivin said, with a laugh.

“Everybody’s like, ‘You own a business and you run a tattoo show and you have kids…’ I’m just the kind of person that’s like, ‘Yeah, bring it on.’ I love challenges.”

Since they were given the green light to proceed by city and provincial regulatory bodies, Boivin said that they’ve been able to put Winnipeg “on the map” of the Canadian tattoo industry.

“We were actually able to discuss how it could be done safely and properly, like every other province in Canada where they have shows, and they gave us the go-ahead to do it,” Boivin said. “That was really cool. From there it just expanded.”

This year’s convention will welcome a magnitude of local and international artists — the list is still being updated — including Babiery Hernandez and Jime Litwalk, world-recognized tattoo artists who have both competed on the reality TV series Ink Master.

Attendees can pre-book artists online and receive tattoos when they attend.

Furthermore, the weekend will feature a multitude of different attractions beyond tattoos, including a hair and makeup competition and a custom motorcycle show. Tattoo awards will also be presented every day of the weekend.

Adult tickets are $20, or $45 for a weekend pass. Kids under 12 will be admitted free.

More information on artists, vendors and scheduled entertainment is available online at winnipegtattooshow.com