Jody Johns, a co-owner of RAC, describes the business venture as a way to combat the separation between the type of art found in a gallery and the type of art found on someone’s skin — a tattoo.
“We want to bring together the art people love but don’t necessarily get to see,” Johns said. “In terms of the art community, we’re all playing for the same team.”
This idea of cooperation rather than competition inspired Johns and her husband, Siege, to involve local artists in RAC. A different artist will be featured every month. RAC’s planned commission is 25 percent, which is lower than usual to give the artists more of an opportunity to make a name for themselves, Johns said.
“There are essentially no limits to the art we can accept for exhibitions,” Johns said. “We welcome pieces of any size; we can rearrange the space as needed. We’d love to have video or sculpture installations, too.”
RAC is located across the street from Garfield Galleria, a 15-unit commercial building that is rented out to individual artists for galleries and studios. Each space is run independently; the artists set their own business hours.
The owner of Garfield Galleria, Donna Trigilio, said she was excited to see something happen in the area, especially a collaborative environment like RAC that would be an asset to the community.
“Ten years ago, we were on our own in this area. We weren’t on Roosevelt Row or in the Grand Avenue District. … A new business nearby won’t be competition, it will bring in more foot traffic,” Trigilio said.
One of her tenants, Brian Cresson, said that RAC is a great idea, but it’s difficult to tell if a new business will be successful, particularly in the arts community.
“A lot of local businesses are hit or miss, with whether or not they’re going to be open, if somebody is going to be there or not. I think having set hours is really going to help Revival, though,” Cresson said.
Cresson, who creates and sells repurposed garments at his studio and gallery, Alter Ego Studio in Garfield Galleria, toured the new gallery and met Johns and her husband.
“It’s a great collective idea, combining fine art and tattooing,” Cresson said. “And the tattooing, that is fine art for Siege. He’s very talented, for being so new at it. He’s doing amazing work.”
Siege is the full-time resident artist at RAC. He is the tattoo artist in the shop and his oil paintings are currently on display.
Siege said he has been drawing since kindergarten and knew at a young age that he didn’t want a traditional job.
“I remember telling people that I just wanted to paint,” he said.
He said he prefers to work with oils and occasionally watercolors. His paintings feature animals and some of the more gothic images found prominently in his tattoos.
“I’ve been tattooing for about five years,” he said. “I started out as an apprentice in a shop, copying tattoos from magazines and practicing on melons and oranges.”
RAC opened for business on Oct. 2 but will have a grand-opening event on Dec. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. in conjunction with First Friday.
Although RAC’s location is away from the majority of First Friday events, Johns expects 250 to 300 people to pass through its doors that night.
“We’re going to have the gallery open with original art and then also have prints available for purchase,” Johns said. “There’s going to be this local old-time string band, Pick & Holler, and a Southern food truck, Old Dixie’s. It’s going to be really fun.”
Contact the reporter at kimberly.koerth@asu.edu
