Local artist Emily Rodkey usually works in ink, on the ever-changing canvas of the human body. But Friday night she\u2019ll show another aspect of her creativity, acrylic paintings, in a post-Gallery Walk exhibit hosted by High Tide Tattoos as part of its Featured Artist series. The show will be held at the Taqueria from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and will include live music by Portland-based musician Mitchell Sumner.<\/p>\n
Rodkey, currently the only female tattooer in Juneau, said intense color is integral to her designs, whether she\u2019s creating a painting or an original tattoo.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy paintings are always mega colorful,\u201d Rodkey said via email this week. \u201cI have a hard time toning that down. I really enjoy color theory, and it definitely reflects in my paintings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodkey cautioned that her show includes provocative imagery and might not be suitable for those with young children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might not be your cup of tea if you\u2019ve got kids,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Hide Tide, where Rodkey works, began its Featured Artist series in August, with a show by Jollene Chup, aka Fakewitch. High Tide owner Dave Lang said he expects to schedule the shows quarterly, with a goal of showcasing art that isn\u2019t restricted to tattoo art or tattoo-based imagery.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Emily did not tattoo for a living, we would still be featuring her artwork because we love it,\u201d Lang said via e-mail. \u201cI feel it stands by itself without the label of tattoo art, which is a goal of the series. It\u2019s about promoting artists and artwork outside of tattooing that we love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodkey\u2019s interest in art started at a young age. Initially she thought she might go into animation, an art form that continues to influence her work today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really into traditional animation, works by Preston Blair, Don Bluth, and art styles in that vein,\u201d she said. \u201cI think you can definitely see animation influences in a lot of the work I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
She got her first tattoo at 19, and soon thereafter starting learning her craft in Anchorage through an apprenticeship at a shop near a military base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really opened my eyes to not only the world of tattooing but my local art scene as well,\u201d Rodkey said.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s now been a licensed tattoo artist for a little over two years, and said she\u2019s building up a following in part through an Instagram account where she posts unedited original drawings (@rodkeyimagery).<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy drawing ladies, and kinkier designs, as well as self-love and empowerment stuff,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m always stoked when someone wants a original design tattoo from me, I\u2019ve been lucky to have folks coming in specifically for my style. (On my Instagram account) I post a lot of dirty, sexy, goofy, and silly drawings and I am grateful to have the folks that come through and are liking what I produce, so much so that they get it tattooed on them forever. It\u2019s pretty amazing … I love my job, and I\u2019m incredibly lucky to be in this lifestyle. It\u2019s a huge part of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodkey\u2019s show will include merchandise including shirts, stickers and ski masks.<\/p>\n
Lang said upcoming shows will feature photographers and artists in other mediums, as well as limited edition goods created in collaboration with artists. The series also represents High Tide\u2019s interest in collaborating with other local businesses; shows are held at the Taqueria in part for this reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to let the featured artists\u2019 work stand alone and not compete with all of the imagery in the shop,\u201d Lang said. \u201cBy taking it out of the shop, we also get to bring work with our friends in the downtown business community, which has been a goal of High Tide\u2019s since opening its doors in 2009.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visit https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/1008402879198334\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"