Show features tattoo-inspired art

If you find Olivia Britz dumpster diving behind the local skate shop Edge of the World, she isn’t rummaging for food, clothing or plastic bottles that could have been recycled. She’s likely gearing up for her next art show.

Britz’s upcoming First Friday show will showcase about a dozen liquid acrylic tattoo-inspired designs produced on broken and discarded skateboard decks.

When skaters come into Edge of the World for a new skateboard after breaking their previous board, Britz said they often throw the old, damaged decks in the dumpster out back in the alley. This saved Britz money because she didn’t have to buy canvasses.

Britz, a tattoo artist, says decks work well as a medium, as she is not a fan of conventional art materials.

“The color is really bold and you can layer a lot because the paint sinks in so quickly and doesn’t smudge,” Britz said. “I like painting on objects because it’s a change from the traditional canvas.”

The flashy colors in Britz’s pieces instantly grab the eye. The designs pierce and radiate a boldness and attitude that minimalist art lacks. Everything from hoofed animals, the Virgin Mary, skulls and hearts can be found in Britz’s designs. Britz said she gets her inspiration from everything she sees in life.

“The wonderful thing about tattoo art is you can incorporate tons of ideas and images together and they all sort of make sense,” Britz said. “Well, not all the time, but for the most part.”

Britz attended UM for a couple of years, studying art and focusing on printmaking. She still prints a little, but as she is no longer a student, she doesn’t have access to the tools and presses needed to produce mass quantities for a show.

All the pieces will be on sale at her First Friday Exhibit at Ear Candy from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Britz sold out all of her skateboard deck pieces from her previous show and she said she tries to make her art affordable.

“I realize the economy is not too good in Missoula and people don’t necessarily have money to buy art,” Britz said. “I can’t even buy art for myself so if I am going to have an art show I want the pieces to be affordable.”

Britz says she spends about three hours on average painting each deck. She mounts the pieces by stringing fishing line through the deck holes and securing them with a nail.

Britz says she will continue to put on art shows. The First Friday will be her fourth art show in just a year.

She does this all while juggling her jobs at both American Made Tattoo shop and Edge of the World Skate and Snowboard Shop. On nights and weekends, she is the front woman of the eccentric rock punk band Black Velvet Elvis.

But Britz says she tries to focus on art as much as possible.

“My job (as a tattoo artist) really helps me practice my designs and lets me think up more designs for my art,” Britz said.

kelsey.bernius@umontana.edu