Make Mama Proud at Underground Art
Make Mama Proud at Underground Art
Despite tattoos' rock'n'roll reputation, there are a lot of rules at Underground Art in Cooper Young. The first set is on a sheet of paper Scotch taped to the door:
The second set is on a laminated poster hanging at the front desk. The sign reminds clients that body art is not a spectator sport, the shop can ask you to leave at any time, and that no racist or hateful tattoos will be given, so don't even bother asking.
Maybe it's the rules that make the 17 year-old shop a perennial local favorite (one wall in the lobby is lined with "Best of Memphis" plaques). Currently, Underground Art employs three tattoo artists, a tattoo apprentice and a piercer.
Artist Vanessa Waites has worked at Underground Art for four years. She spent about two years doing her apprenticeship. Since then, she's done countless hours of inking - she said she does an average of 650 tattoos per year. Personally, she's had about 29 hours of work put into her eight tattoos.
When I stopped into the shop, she was prepping her station for her afternoon appointment - Steven, 23, was getting his fifth tattoo (a cave drawing that's also a logo for an industrial band).
It takes serious time to get ready to give a tattoo. All artists have to be state certified, and standards are high. All of the needles, razors (for removing hair on the tattoo surface), and tools are sterilized. Waites went through several pairs of rubber gloves before she even started touching her needle to Steven's skin.
Tattoos at Underground Art start at $60, and the hourly rate is $120. Walk-ins are taken as time allows, but if you're going to have something done, I'd recommend making an appointment. The shop is open Tuesday - Saturday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.
(Flipside Memphis is a partnership between the CVB and Live From Memphis)
Check out the full photo gallery from Underground Art.
Go There:
2287 Young Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 272-1864
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