MUNCIE, Ind. — Starting a business is often a challenging endeavor. It takes a lot of time, money and effort. What also helps is getting lots of support, something that Joshua and Samantha Chatwin received plenty of. The married couple started Fox & Sparrow tattoo back in 2022, set on creating a place that promotes customer treatment and artistic expression.
“We both really love Muncie,” said Joshua. “We love the people in Muncie, and we just want to be able to provide, like, a good, clean, honest space for people to get tattooed.”
The shop's walls display a wide variety of art styles; each piece pairs with the shop's philosophy. Driven by a deep respect for the rich and technical history of tattooing. The artists all take the philosophy and integrate it into the different styles that populate the shop.
The Chatwins' passion for art and tattooing empowers the shop, but it is also the root of their relationship. The couple first met when Joshua moved back to Muncie after working at a tattoo shop in Bloomington, IN. Joshua started working at a shop in Muncie where Samantha was also an apprentice.
“We hit it off instantly, and we found we had lots in common,” said Joshua. “It caused a little bit of strife at the old shop with the old owner because they, you know, don't really want couples. He fought it for a while until he realized that we were actually pretty serious. And he ended up officiating our wedding,”
At the start of 2024, Fox & Sparrow moved to a new location in the heart of downtown Muncie. The grand opening for the shop was greeted by a line of supportive community members, and even went out the door. The success Fox & Sparrow has experienced within the community aligns with the goals the Chatwins set when they first opened their doors.
“Our biggest focus since opening Fox and Sparrow has been to make it accessible and friendly, like almost a customer service forefront. But art is still a main focus for us as well,” said Joshua.
Even the artists who work for Fox & Sparrow vouch that the Chatwins not only care for each other but also for the shop. Ethan Jester was the very first, and so far only, apprentice that the shop took on. He has worked closely with the Chatwins and seen the shop grow into what it is today.
“You know they're together, but you don't really think of them as some sort of husband and wife,” said Jester. “You know, you think of them as tattooers here.”
Now, Fox & Sparrow has become a key player in downtown Muncie. A place for artists to express themselves freely and a strong connection with the community around it, one that the Chatwins hope to continue growing. Fox & Sparrow plans to work with charity groups in the future, such as A.R.F., and will update and host events on its website here.
Contact Aiden Murray with comments at aiden.murray@bsu.edu.
