A&E flies us to Planet Nerd on new tattoo series Epic Ink
Huey Lewis was obviously ahead of his time when he belted out the lyrics to his Top Ten single “Hip to Be Square” back in 1986, and it doesn’t get any more hip or square than the Tatooine masters (see what I did there?) of Area 51 tattoo studios, who are featured on the new A&E reality series Epic Ink premiering tonight at 10:30/9:30c.
The network’s press release announcing the show describes Area 51 as sitting “at the intersection of pop culture and cutting-edge tattoo art,” adding that “the artists at Area 51 specialize in hyper-realistic tattoos featuring beloved characters and scenes from favorite sci-fi films and pop culture.”
Here’s a preview clip:
Details on the individual tattoo artists from Epic Ink from the press release:
The cast of Epic Ink features some of the most talented tattoo artists in the world, including five of only a handful of tattooists worldwide who are licensed by LucasFilms to tattoo their properties. Chris 51 is one of the most well-respected tattoo artists around and the proud owner of Area 51, located in the hometown of his most beloved cartoon family, The Simpsons. Welshman Chris Jones has been nominated for three-consecutive Tattoo Industry Awards for Best UK Male. Wild child Heather Maranda is a self-taught artist who specializes in hyper-realistic tattoos that appear to jump out of the skin. Josh Bodwell combines his love of geek culture and tattoo art into custom realism and portraiture tattoos and is a walking encyclopedia of sci-fi trivia. After early run-ins with the law, Lifelong sci-fi fan Jeff Wortham looked to tattooing to turn his life around and now travels the globe to tattoo at sci-fi conventions. Rounding out the group is receptionist Caroline Russell who serves as the “Nerdio translator” between the full-fledged geeks and the rest of the world.
Well we know that Area 51 is located in the Simpsons’ hometown at the intersection of pop culture and cutting-edge tattoo art, but where is that exactly? If you wanted to get the perfect tat of Wedge Antilles on the edge of your Achilles, and you would trust no one else but the inkomparable Geekelangelos of Area 51, then where do you go?
We will start off with their virtual location. A Google search for Area 51 tattoos turns up numerous searches, and can be a bit misleading, although I assume that after the show has been on for a while that the top result will eventually be what you are looking for. The website for the Area 51 tattoo studio featured on Epic Ink is www.area-51tattoo.com where you can find out all kinds of information about the staff and the facilities as well as a phone number to call and schedule your appointment. (Did you know that Area 51 also has a salon?!?)
Anyways, here are some sample pics from inside the tattoo studio and shop:
Now, for the big question… Where is the Area 51 tattoo studio from Epic Ink located physically? The answer, for all of you who weren’t aware of Matt Groenig’s geographical confession, is Springfield, Oregon, which is right next to Eugene in the westernmost region of Oregon, in the middle of the state along Interstate 5. The physical address for Area 51 tattoo is 700 Q St Springfield, OR 97477. Here is a map and Google street view:
If you do decide to pop in to Area 51 for some ink, just tell them Starcasm sent you and get a 0% discount! 😉
And just in case you had any uncertainty about getting your tattoo from Area 51, then tune in to Epic Ink on A&E Wednesday nights at 10:30/9:30 to completely assuage your fears! (They really are amazing!)
Interior Area 51 studio photos: Area 51 Tattoo Facebook page
