The Green State Tattoo Convention recently concluded in Burlington, leaving a lasting impression on both artists and attendees alike. Over the course of three days, the event brought together 60 tattoo artists from across the country, each showcasing their unique styles and techniques under one roof.
Among them was Zach Lloyd, a seasoned tattoo artist from North Carolina, who emphasized the convention’s role in fostering a vibrant community among artists. “That energy in a building with all these artists that may know each other or don’t know each other at all. It’s a special thing,” Lloyd remarked.
For Lloyd, who has been tattooing for nearly six years, the convention served as an opportunity to expand his artistic horizons and connect with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. “It just exposes people to other styles of artwork. Or different cultures of tattooing,” he noted, contrasting East Coast styles with those from California.
The event, not the first of its kind in Vermont, also featured live music and a tattoo contest, drawing over a thousand enthusiasts eager to meet and be inked by their favorite artists from afar. Lexy Larive, one of the visitors, expressed her excitement about the accessibility of renowned artists during the convention: “A lot of artists are really talented and they book up really quickly. So this is a great way to come get art that you can’t necessarily book with during the year.”
Angela Mccluskey echoed this sentiment, highlighting the convenience of having diverse tattoo genres represented in one location. “It offers a variety of different tattoo artists in actually one space. So you can see who’s tattooing what genre and go and make an appointment with them,” she explained.
Organizers of the convention, including Alma Sears from Green State Tattoo Convention and Jaime Pompa from Imperial Collective, emphasized the logistical challenges and efforts involved in bringing such a large-scale event to Vermont. “We had to hire attorneys. Work very closely with the state to make this happen since Vermont doesn’t have any existing laws pertaining to tattoo events of this size,” Sears explained.
Pompa added, “Not a lot of people are able to travel or see other people or tattooers. That’s what we are doing. Bringing that tattooer to you.”
Overall, the Green State Tattoo Convention in Burlington succeeded in uniting tattoo enthusiasts, artists, and musicians in a celebration of creativity and community, solidifying its place as a significant event in Vermont’s cultural calendar.