Freaks and Flash

(Above) A photo by Tom Palazzolo of a fully tattooed woman; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) Tattoo flash by Sailor Bill Rogers
Woman Butterfly Hybrid, ca. 1888 - 1898
Ink on paper on board, 9” x 12”
Roger Brown Study Collection; School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Click image for larger view


(Above) Tattoo flash by Tatts Thomas
Untitled, (various designs), ca. 1970
Ink on paper mounted on red illustration board
Private Collection
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(Above) Happily Ever After; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) Tattoo flash by George Burchett
Gladiator, ca. late 1800s
Ink and watercolor on paper, 6” x 5”
Courtesy Dean Jenson Gallery
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(Above) Tatted opening night visitors discuss the exhibition; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) Side show banner by Fred Johnson
Tattooing by Stoney, ca. 1930-1940
Paint on canvas, 96” x 92”
Collection of Lawrence and Evelyn Aronson
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(Above) A lovely couple show off their tattoos; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) Tattoo flash by George Burchett
Tiger, ca. 1888 - 1898
Ink and watercolor on paper, 12” x 10”
Private Collection
Click image for larger view


(Above) A birds eye view of the opening reception on September 11th; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) Side show banner by Jack Cripe
Tattooed Wonder, ca. 1950-1960
Paint on canvas, 144” x 120”
Collection of Cheri Eisenberg
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(Above) Chicago painter Mike Noland (center) and friends; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


(Above) The reception night brought out all the glitz and glam of the tattoo arts; click image for larger view; photo © Cheri Eisenberg


THE CENTER FOR INTUITIVE AND OUTSIDER ART (Intuit) has another stellar vernacular art exhibition on display and there is still plenty of time to see it. The show is entitled Freaks & Flash, and it will run through January 9, 2010. Intuit is located at 756 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, IL.

Freaks & Flash explores the roots of Western tattooing with a selection of tattoo flash (the design drawings for tattoos) from the early days of tattoo shops to the beginnings of the tattoo “Renaissance” in the 1960’s hanging alongside vintage circus banners featuring tattooed performers. Although the focus is on Midwestern collections and collectors, the works displayed reflect an international perspective. Many of the pieces have not been on public display since they were taken down from the walls of the shops in which they originally resided.

Highlights of the exhibition include flash by George Burchett, Sailor Jerry, Tatts Thomas, Amund Dietzel, Bert Grimm, and Cliff Raven. In addition, the exhibition features four sideshow banners depicting tattooed performers by banner artists Fred Johnson, Jack Cripe, and Snap Wyatt.

Freaks & Flash is co-curated by Anna Friedman-Herlihy, instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Art History, Liberal Arts, and Visual & Critical Studies and Jan Petry, Intuit’s exhibits chair.

About Intuit: Intuit strives to discover, document, maintain, preserve, exhibit, and collect examples of intuitive and outsider art; and to operate a permanent facility in which to pursue such activities. Intuit defines “intuitive and outsider art” as work of artists who demonstrate little influence from the mainstream art world and who seem instead motivated by their unique personal visions. This includes what is known as art brut, non-traditional folk art, self-taught art, and visionary art. Intuit is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1991.