New tattoo convention merges literature, fantasy art

Literary Ink Tattoo, Art and Fandom Convention opens in the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday, March 9, with 70 tattoo wizards and 15 vendors on hand.

Literary Ink Tattoo, Art and Fandom Convention opens in the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday, March 9, with 70 tattoo wizards and 15 vendors on hand.

Literary Ink Tattoo, Art and Fandom Convention opens in the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday, March 9, with 70 tattoo wizards and 15 vendors on hand.

Literary Ink Tattoo, Art and Fandom Convention opens in the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday, March 9, with 70 tattoo wizards and 15 vendors on hand.

A new tattoo convention is launching in Chattanooga this weekend that merges literature with fantasy art.

Literary Ink Tattoo, Art and Fandom Convention opens in the DoubleTree Hotel on Friday, March 9, with 70 tattoo wizards and 15 vendors on hand, a scavenger hunt, tattoo of the day contest and an appearance by Tony Moore, co-creator of "The Walking Dead." Literary Ink will continue through Sunday afternoon, March 11.

Literary Ink spotlights the uptick in the number of Harry Potter fans being inked with characters from the book and movie series, leading to this convention being billed as a gathering of artists and muggles in an independent Harry Potter tattoo convention. It is not endorsed, sanctioned or supported directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K. Rowling and her representatives.

"In the last few years, more and more fans of the books and movies have been coming into Main Line Ink to get a Harry Potter tattoo. We knew we wanted to host a tattoo convention about literature. We reached out to artists who had been doing a lot of wizardry-inspired tattoos and most of them are coming to tattoo," says organizer Jennifer Edge of Main Line Ink.

"We wanted this convention to be a little different. We want guests and artists to have fun. A magical escape for one weekend in Chattanooga," she describes.

A three-day scavenger hunt for participants will be one unique feature of this convention.

"The scavenger hunt will take participants many places in downtown Chattanooga and to our sponsors' locations," says Edge.

"We have a Tri-Whiskey Cup with Harry Potter-inspired cocktails. You can play any day of the scavenger hunt, but if you want to win you have to play all three days. The winning team of two takes home bragging rights, a trophy and a $500 gift certificate each from Main Line Ink."

In addition to the scavenger hunt, the convention will include a fashion show cosplay contest. Contestants will walk across a stage as Marisa Griffin introduces them.

Edge says contestants must bring a reference photo of the character they are portraying, which will help judges gauge the effectiveness of the costume. Contestants are encouraged to be creative during their time onstage; action poses, use of props, or calling out a character's catch phrase, where relevant, will all help their points total.

All contestants must have a valid weekend or Saturday pass to enter the contest. The costume contest is limited to 50 contestants. Pre-judging starts Saturday at noon. Competitors are encouraged to register Friday in order to be guaranteed a spot in the contest.

Local artist Matthew Dutton has created trophies that will be presented each day's winner of the Tattoo of the Day. Before Friday night's best tattoo is announced, a "worst tattoo" will be recognized and its owner wins a free cover-up.

"Tattoo of the Day will be judged for new tattoos at the show; all other contests are for healed tattoos or tattoos done that day at the convention," Edge says.

Vendors from New Hampshire to Nashville are scheduled for this show and will be tattooing live on-site. Improv Chattanooga will present a show Friday at 6 p.m.; magician Tim Friday will perform Saturday at 8 p.m.

There are even children's activities such as wand-making on Friday night and a Kids' Day at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 701 Mississippi Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information: www.literaryink.co.