The Creator of Savannah's First Tattoo Fest Speaks!
An Interview with Savannah Tattoo Festival Founder John Cann
Your mother can say what she wants about you coming home with a tattoo. However, there is no denying body art cuts deep (emotionally and physically) for the one in five adults who sports such skin designs. Getting inked is frequently regarded as an edgy act by some, mothers included. For others, like John Cann, a tattoo evokes a philosophical reflection, one representing ideas and detailing a personal journey.
As one of the founders and organizers of this weekend’s first ever Savannah Tattoo Festival, Cann recognizes the tattoo phenomenon as a cause for creativity and expressionism within the community.
“Tattoo festivals are a large part of the tattoo industry,” Cann said. “We have been producing large-scale tattoo festivals for over six years. My background is in fine art, marketing and design. My two partners, Nate Hudson and Mike Cann, are award winning tattoo artists that own three shops. We all have unique talents that make our events stand apart from others.”
The concept to host a tattoo festival on such a grand scale in Savannah began with a conversation between Cann and Mike.
“Our intention when we do a tattoo festival is that it becomes a yearly celebration of art and culture,” Cann said. “So this will be an annual event.”
Cann works primarily with media development and “building stakeholder relationships—the operational type things that need to get done.” He and his team work closely with city officials, local health departments, and multiple community stakeholders to ensure a successful event.
“Of course, Mike Cann and Nate Hudson share all of the duties, but again, we all have a niche,” Cann emphasized. “They are the frontrunners in the tattoo scene and do an outstanding job getting the best artists on the roster.”
The way Cann sees it, the appeal of tattoos is in their intimacy and ability to display a person’s life story in a unique fashion.
“Regardless of the person, tattoos are a sort of documentary of where a person was at a given point in life,” Cann said. “Tattoos tell a story about a person. People are ‘drawn’ to tattoos for different reasons. Maybe to remember a loved one, a mark of military service, or some other memory important to the person. Others might have tattoos as an expression of individuality. In the end, people are collecting art—in reality they are walking art galleries curated by their ideas and interests.”
The festival is not strictly limited to members of the community who have tattoos. On the contrary, Cann encourages people from all walks of life to check out the event this weekend.
“The reality is that the tattoo festival is not just about tattoos,” Cann said. “It is about bringing a community together. I would say the tattoo festival is a choreographed work of performing art. You do not need to have a tattoo to enjoy the experience. This is an event where the attendees are a part of the entertainment in addition to the organized schedule of events.”
For Cann, one of the more important festival elements is its various opportunities for interaction within a vibrant community contradictory of typical tattoo stereotypes.
“I do not think you will find a friendlier bunch of people than the tattoo population,” Cann said. “This is a family friendly event and we welcome kids—we even have a temporary tattoo contest for the kids. Where else can you have three days of music, contests, tattoos, sideshows, pinup girls, and other entertainment under one roof?”
Whether or not your mother approves of tattoos, mark your calendars for the Savannah Tattoo Festival this weekend, Friday the 15th through Sunday the 17th, at the Savannah International Trade on 1 International Drive, directly across the water from River Street. Those interested in attending will have the option to speak with tattoo artists from across the country. The cost of each tattoo is in addition to the entrance fee and is negotiated between customer and artist. The festival is presented by Folk City Tattoo and Twisted Ink Media.
To view the festival's complete list of events, contests, and activities, click here.
