Art Gathering LA – the multi-media art festival featuring tattoo, street, Lowbrow, Pop-Surrealist and traditional works – is coming to the Queen Mary June 2–5! The innovative, immersive art festival features: more than 150 artists, galleries, independent artists and artisans; a roster of 280 tattooists from around the world; and performance art, large interactive installations, film and punk rock luminary DJs.
“Historically, Long Beach has been the nexus for tattoo culture, and its location between Los Angeles and Orange Counties and the presence of the Queen Mary, a unique convention location, makes this perfect spot for this new type of immersive art festival,” says Michael Keith, Director of New Era Arts Group, Art Gathering’s curatorial body.
In addition to top New Contemporary galleries like La Luz de Jesus and Copro Gallery showing in the Grand Ballroom and the tattoo gallery in the Queen Mary exhibit hall, independent artists will exhibit in booths and on the Kulture Klash wall.
Performance art and multimedia artists will be featured in the Corner of Curiosity. Punk rock legends Greg Hetson of Bad Religion, Joe Escalante from the Vandals and Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra will spin and weave together the music that influenced them and the music they listen to now into sets that are both high energy and introspective.
Installations from Burning Man Arts will adorn shore side on the Sea Walk and in the Queen Mary Park, while vendors in the Artisan Marketplace will sell everything from zines and tees to vinyl toys. Selected Kustom cars and motorcycles will be on display in the Metal Daze section, celebrating Southern California’s place as the custom culture capital.
There are three special events:
- Make Your Mark Award: honoring the career and impact an individual painter and tattooist has made to their part of the art community. This year’s honorees are Pop artist/muralist Ron English and Surreal tattooist Robert Hernandez, travelling from Spain.
- Academia: In this four-hour demo, “Painting a Monster Portrait in Oil,” Chet Zar, the notorious “Painter of Dark,” will explain and demonstrate his process for painting in oil paint. In a second seminar, “Narrative Painting: From Idea to Finish,” Michael Coy will discuss his process and the basics of painting, including composition, form, perspective and color.
- The Tattoo Contest: a highlight for fans of body art.
The event takes place June 3–5 from 11 a.m. –10 p.m. The VIP preview party is Thursday, June 2 from 7–10 p.m.
Tickets:
- $25/day
- $60 for 3–day pass
- Children 16 and under free with adult
- VIP tickets include a 3–day pass and entrance to the Thursday preview party
Tickets can be purchased here.
Rooms on the Queen Mary are available for a two-night minimum stay. Only ticketed guests will be allowed on board during Art Gathering. The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach, 90802. Hotel rooms can be booked here.
For more information about Art Gathering LA: artgatheringla.com.
Image credit: painting by Carlos Torres.