The Saskatoon Tattoo Expo has returned to the city, bringing together ink lovers of all kinds.
“Saskatoon has always just been one of my favorites. People here really seem to want to get tattooed. There’s a really friendly community, and a lot of the older OG tattooers that I came up with – we all kind of congregate here. It’s a good time to see people you care about and, obviously, meet new clients. It’s a beautiful little city,” said Teika Hudson, artist and owner of Golden Gryphon Tattoo.
Prairieland Park was buzzing with both excitement and the sound of tattoo needles over the weekend. Artists from across the world set up shop in Saskatoon to leave a mark on the city.
Hudson has been tattooing for over 20 years, and she’s seen the art become more popular over the years.
“When I first started, this wasn’t like this and just seeing how it’s grown... I mean, people gathering to mark their bodies together is ancient. And it’s a little different now, obviously, but it’s still the same ‘we are one’ kind of feeling – we’re all in this together,” Hudson said.
According to the artist, the tattoo community is strong and diverse. Events like this one provide an opportunity to truly connect with one another.
“Tattooing is perhaps the only thing that crosses all borders these days. I think it brings humanity closer together. Like, you’ll see someone with a painful [tattoo] spot, and looking at them, you have the same spot and instantly, you have a bond,” Hudson said.
Those who stopped by the expo to get some ink all had unique stories behind their artwork. Hudson said as an artist, being part of those stories can be extremely rewarding.
“It’s not just decorating yourself. We do memorial tattoos that help people heal, you know? A long time ago, I had a girl who had burn scars all over her legs. She would never wear shorts. We tattooed over it, and suddenly she had this sense of confidence that she never would have had,” Hudson said.
