Tattoo artist and Ball State University alumnus Nate Harmon sips his beer between sentences.
"Me and my friend tattooed each other in middle school during class using a needle and thread," he said. "Ever since then I kinda liked it."
Harmon, who's been a tattoo artist for more than 10 years, co-owns 111 Arts Gallery and Tattoo Studios in downtown Muncie. Unlike other tattoo and piercing shops, Harmon's studio is part tattoo parlor, part art gallery. The studio features a different underground artist each month.
The gallery space at the studio is booked until June, Harmon said. January will feature a tattoo artist, February will bring a photographer from Indianapolis, followed by a graffitti artist in March.
"The people themselves are outsider artists like graffiti, tattoo, folk or something along those lines where there's not as much recognition as like watercolor," he said. "We are trying to have a broad spectrum."
Harmon said he wanted the studio to have gallery space instead of piercing space to open it up to a broader more art influenced crowd. Located at 111 East Main Street, Harmon said he picked the location of his studio so it would be in the middle of the Muncie ArtsWalk.
"We've always had art in our shops, but you never really get a crowd into a tattoo studio and piercing shop because people generally just go in there to get tattooed or pierced," he said. "We wanted to present ourselves in a different manner."
Harmon studied drawing at Ball State and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2000. He began his collegiate career as a sculpture major, with a somewhat negative view of tattoos. Later, after studying tattoos, he realized how much he loved them and switched his major to drawing.
"I just don't know what other job I could have that I could be myself," he said. "I can dress how I want. I can cuss. I don't have to shave or put on a collared suit."
He said in the long run going to school only helped him with networking and meeting artists.
Harmon and co-owner found all of the artists featured at the gallery through networking with people from school, skateboarding, music and tattooing. Graffitti artist Aaron Roberts said networking is the reason he found himself being featured at the gallery Thursday.
Roberts, a former Ball State student, said his work is mostly graffitti-influenced art. Displaying his work in his first solo show, Roberts is excited about the existence of a place like 111 Arts Gallery and Tattoo Studios.
"They're great for showcasing stuff that probably wouldn't get showcased in Muncie in public galleries," he said.
Harmon said his gallery not only brings something different to the streets of Muncie, but also opens up opportunities for artists like Roberts.
"We're able to stick our foot in the door and open it up," Harmon said." The purpose is just to have a place to put artists that we think deserve to have a soap box."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
