Exterior Decorators

Visiting artists brand the flesh and the metal

Comments (0) By Wynter Holden Thursday, Sep 11 2008

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Your mama told you lowriders are for hoodlums and nice girls don’t get tattoos. Well, that was before the days of tongue piercings, exposed boxers, and conservative VP candidates with pregnant teenage daughters. Times have changed. In recognition of the new face of America, Mesa Arts Center kicks off its fall season with the “Lowriders and Tattoos: A Conversation With Mister Cartoon, Estevan Oriol, and Jack Rudy” program. Led by host Oscar Garza of Tú Cuidad magazine, the three renowned artists will discuss working with the singular canvases of automobiles and skin. Both tattoos and lowriders once carried a social stigma, but that’s changing, says gallery curator Patty Haberman: “Tattoos are now popular culture and lowriding crosses genders, cultures and generations.” The dual body-art theme continues with the opening of lowrider, hubcap, and tattoo-inspired exhibits, plus live music and pinstriping demos, on Friday, September 12, and a custom car show on Saturday, September 13.
Thu., Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., 2008