Photo and Feature Photo: Joel Washing

Not lucky enough to be among them? You can always do the next best thing and visit a convention near you that gathers bright talents from around the globe.

Photo of traditional Thai tattooing being done: Binder.donedat

This year will be the first Bangkok International Tattoo Convention where you can see Arjan Noo Kanphai at work whose traditionally done Thai tattoos are renowned for their magic. Other artists who will be there include Mick Zurich, Shige, Horitsuna (who specializes in Tebori – traditional Japanese hand tattooing), and Mike Ledger.

Another tempting pick for the month of January is The Singapore Tat2 Show from the 8th through the 10th.

Our pick for February is the Third Annual MusInk Tattoo Convention and Music Festival in no small part due to the musical lineup which includes The Buzzcocks and The Damned. If you buy a three day pass for $75.00, you can also see NOFX and The Cult along with Jim Rose. Their listing of tattoo artists includes Mick Zurich and Hori Sho of Tokyo and mostly Californian artists and shops including Juan Puente of Black Rose.

The second annual Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo features 200 + artists, mostly Australian including Mik Massingham and Mitch 13, Nick Morte of Norway and French artist Noon.

Photo: bog king

Featured Artist this year at Edmonton Ink Festival is Tattoo Jake who’s been tattooing across Canada since the ’80’s and offers a history of tattooing on his website along with problematic and unsafe practices he’s seen on tattoo TV shows.

Other artists will be listed on the site soon, but past conventions featured a roller derby, a graffiti wall and special guest Lizardman Erik Sprague and his stand-up routine.

A list of artists from all over Europe and the world can be found on the International Needle Art Convention website including Tattoo Jan Studio, and Carl Cooke’s Artful Ink of the UK. The lineup is not complete this far out, but you can see last year’s at the website to get an idea.

Tattoo Fest 2010 lists Victor Portugal of Kraków, Jef from Boucherie Moderne in Belgium and Guil Zekri of Germany and “many more” as artists whose trust they’ve gained. Does that mean they’ll be there in 2010? Check the website in the coming months for more information.

Photo of Elaine Davidson, World’s Most Pierced Woman:
MissAgentCooper

The 6th International Tattoo Convention kicks off in Stavanger, Norway at the end of July. If you’re not impressed with the no frills website, just look at the spectacles beheld at the 2009 event by scrolling down and clicking “Pictures 2009.”

2010 will include Sid and Noi Saimese, both formerly of Thailand, Vatea of Haiti, a bevy of Norwegian artists and many European artists.

Last year, Isobel Varley, the “Most Tattoed Senior Woman” according to the Guinness Book of World Records appeared along with Eliane Davidson, the world’s most pierced woman.

The lineup for Hell City is nowhere near complete yet. The four artists confirmed for the Phoenix Show are all from Clic Collective in Virginia, while their Columbus, Ohio show in May is far closer to hammered out.

The website states they are not an average tattoo convention which must be true when they offer a children’s area (Heck City Kid’s Zone). They promise “everything from live entertainment on the main stage, to music, to free seminars, live forums, The Art Fusion Experiment, tattoo competitions every day,” and of course, the ubiquitous Suicide Girls.

A shot from the London Convention: beerandnoodles

We’ve talked about The London Tattoo Convention on Matador Nights before. Details are few and far between for the 2010 lineup, but as the time draws near, buzz should get going in the forum.

In the meantime, you can peruse last year’s artists and events to get a good idea of what will be in store for you should you make it in 2010.

The Barcelona Tattoo Expo will be in its 13th year on 2010. In 2009 the convention had more then 9,000 visitors and 134 exhibitors. While there is little information about this event, you can subscribe to their newsletter for updates. 2009’s schedule was chock full of activities.

Photo: redkidrob

If the past two years are any indication, Florence will hold its third tattoo convention this November. Last year featured loads of Italian artists including transplant Don Alejandro Cervantes of Tattoo Mexican Family and his clan, and photo-realists Matteo Cascetti and Tiziano Ripanti of Il Gatto e la Volpe. Many European artists and several Japanese artists including including Hiro, Horinao and Ritsu from Cat Claw Studio were on the roster last year as well as a couple of Americans and one Brazilian.

It’s pretty certain that December will see the 20th Berlin Tattoo Convention. Only just completed, 2009’s event included Herbert Hoffman, billed as the oldest tattoo artist. Last year, Vatea tattooed in the real old school fashion – without a machine, and 150 artists worked and were showcased from locales as far-flung as China.

Looking for more conventions? Check out Karen L. Hudson’s guide on About.com as it’s updated throughout the year to see if you’ll be near one in 2010.

Community Connection

This list brings you one tattoo convention a month worldwide and picks are partially based on date, so many greats have been excluded from the list. Is there something you’d like to see here? We invite your comments letting us know below.

Check out MatadorTV to see Thai monks tattooing in the traditional way and the tattooed taking on the attributes of the tattoos they’ve gotten.

Torn about being tattooed? You can read Matador Community member kburg’s blog about what a tattoo can mean for your employment in Korea.

Photo from Inside the London Tattoo Convention: beerandnoodles

Follow along with Lauren Quinn as she walks you through five top destinations for the tattooed traveler, their tattoo history and icons.

Getting invited to work the London Tattoo Convention does for a tattoo artist what winning a Pulitzer does for a novelist. The prestigious event features the crème de la crème of the tattoo world, and an invitation pretty much seals your career for life. In 2008, the event drew 20,000 visitors—and they weren’t just there to bring home skin souvenirs from the world’s best working artists.

Photo from Inside of Frith St.: slushpup

The London Tattoo Convention showcases the heart and soul of tattoo culture with art exhibitions, an anthropological exhibition highlighting the history of tattooing by the Oxford Tattoo Museum, and burlesque performances by the ubiquitous Suicide Girls. The 2009 installment will be held at the Tobacco Dock September 25-27 and day tickets are 20 pounds.

London became the home to the world’s biggest tattoo convention by being one of the world’s best tattoo destinations. The roots of tattoo culture run deep, in large part due to its 19th century popularity among the British Navy. Check out how the modern-day shops are holding it down at Into You Tattoo and Frith Street.

Tattooing wouldn’t be what it is today without the influence of Japan. A national tradition dating back to the 17th century, tattooing was associated with the criminal underworld of the Yakuza and outlawed for nearly a hundred years. Legal since 1945, and increasingly less stigmatized, the Irezumi style has had a permanent impact on Western tattooing.

The greatest living tattoo artist lives just outside of Tokyo in Yokohama. Horiyoshi III apprenticed under Horiyoshi I, and is the second tattooist to be bestowed with the honorific “Hori” title, which translates to “engrave.”

Photo of two of Horiyashi III’s Living Canvases:
Good Nights Are Rare

Horiyoshi III and his wife run the Yokohama Tattoo Museum, a pilgrimage site for tattoo junkies around the world. More than just photos and traditional tools, the tiny two-floor museum features the stuff he collects: shrunken heads, stuffed tigers, and letters from Charles Manson, to name some of the more noteworthy curios.

Can’t afford a $20,000 tattoo session with Horiyoshi III? Yellow Blaze in Yokohama, and Inkrat, and Tokyo Hardcore Tattoo in Tokyo uphold the traditions of Japanese tattooing with a modern edge.

Spend some time in the Bay Area, and you’ll immediately see the prevalence of tattoo culture. Schoolteachers and waiters in fine-dining make no attempt to hide their ink, and full sleeves barely elicit a glance on the street.

Photo of Black Heart: ecastro

How did it get this way? Long before the rise of the Haight, in nearby ports and naval bases tattooing already had a long tradition with working and navy men. In the 1960s, when the city was under the siege of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, Lyle Tuttle catapulted the underground art into the mainstream by tattooing the likes of Janis Joplin.

Meanwhile, Ed Hardy was incorporating Japanese techniques via his friendship with Horiyoshi III. While the art of tattooing was heavily stigmatized and even illegal in most of the U.S., San Francisco became a haven for tattooists, the tattooed, and the other self proclaimed freaks of the nation.

Ed Hardy’s Tattoo City is still pumping out ink, but it’s best to hit up some of the new kids in town. While there are scores of good shops and killer artists, some of the tops include San Francisco’s Black Heart, Oakland’s Temple and San Jose’s State of Grace.

For the city where modern tattooing was born, you sure don’t see a lot of heavily tattooed people in New York City. You can chalk that up to the 36-year ban on tattooing in the state of New York, which forced artists to go underground, tattooing from basement shops and backrooms. An underground culture evolved and the tight-knit New York Tattoo Society advocated for a reversal of the ban, at last succeeding in 1997.

Photo of Fun City Tattoo: Dyanna

With tattooing now above ground, New York City is finally reemerging as the tattoo destination it always deserved to be (and always kind of was). You can grab a piece of history at Fun City Tattoo, where an homage to the original owner’s fuck-you to the ban still hangs: the “Cappuccino and Tattoo” sign that flaunted plenty of double letters and illegal tattooing.

Check out the burgeoning scene at Dare Devil Tattoo, home to some of the city’s best tattoo artists and a smoking hot clientele. New York Adorned is a stylish piercing studio, tattoo shop and jewelry store in one, while Brooklyn’s Smith Street and Fly Rite modify patrons across the bridge.

Be prepared to pay a little more than you might expect. New York City’s high rents mean most shops start at $150 per hour.

Photo Inside the Milan 2007 Convention: Ko_An

Really? Yes.

It doesn’t get the buzz of other big cities, but fashion-capital Milan has slowly come up as Italy’s tattoo epicenter by being home to one of Europe’s best conventions. In its 14th year, the Milan Tattoo Convention, held in February, draws many of the same names as the London convention, with a hefty helping of Italian national pride.

You’ve got dancers, burlesque shows and punk bands, but also quirkier features like tattoo tarot, an exhibition solely on hand tattooing, and the Miss Pin-Up Tattoo beauty contest. And all with a lot less hype than London.

If you’re not in town during for the February convention, Primordial Pain and Quetzal Tattoo offer a taste of Italian tattooing all year long.

Community Connection

Can’t read enough about tattoos? Check out Kate Sedgwick’s photo essay on the Tattoo Show of Buenos Aires or her essay about what the prevalence of tattoo culture is doing to destroy itself.

Do you have something to say about that tattoo you picked up in your travels? Start a Matador Blog today and start telling our growing community your stories.

Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. Photo: Petevity

Latitude – Southwold, England

There’s an old-school vibe at this year’s Latitude, a bohemian, artsy festival combining music with theatre, cabaret, film, poetry and comedy. Among this year’s line-up are The Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Spiritualized. www.latitudefestival.com

Ready to burn at Wickerman. Photo by Saraspoon

Wickerman – East Kirkcarswell, Scotland

Anyone familiar with the film will guess that this is a festival for hedonists, but it mercifully manages to be super family-friendly, too, and it’s cultish following has cemented its position as one of Scotland’s best music festivals. The range of music is huge – this year’s acts include The Zutons and The Human League, while reggae and acoustic music is also in plentiful supply. www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Green Man – Brecon, Wales

Set in Wales’ beautiful Brecon Beacons, Green Man is one of the most laid-back and unusual festivals in the country. Last year, even the permanently torrential rain failed to dampen the spirits of hippies, students and teenagers. This year, acts including The Animal Collective, Wilco and British Sea Power promise to deliver the same low-key, folksy vibe. www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk

Fancy dress is only one reason why Bestival is
the Smurfiest fest around. Photo by Zillahpie

Bestival – Isle of Wight, England

Fancy dress nights and an always impressive line-up make Bestival an annual pilgrimage for many music lovers and social activists. It’s one of the few remaining non-corporate festivals, and the stunning surroundings of the Isle of Wight make it a summer favourite, too. Kraftwerk, Massive Attack and Elbow will be playing this year. www.bestival.net

Womad – Malmesbury, England

Womad – a favourite among world music fans – stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, and it definitely does what it says on the tin. Founded by Peter Gabriel in 1980, the English Womad is one of a huge network of similar festivals around the world, incorporating an eclectic mix of styles as well as events for children. www.womad.org

Secret Garden’s relatively small attendence and location gives it
an enchanted feel. Photo by Jamieboyd

Secret Garden Party – Huntingdon, England

A very small, self-consciously eccentric independent music festival that started in 2004 with an audience of just 100 people. The location itself – the grounds of a stunning Georgian house in Cambridgeshire is as unconventional as the line-up, which this year will include Jarvis Cocker as well as several unknown acts. www.secretgardenparty.com

Guilfest – Guilford, England

Easily accessible from London, Guilfest definitely wins the award for this year’s most bizarre combination of artists – Brian Wilson, Motorhead, Will Young and The Happy Mondays. The swimming lido next to the site provides a welcome break during hot afternoons. www.guilfest.co.uk

The famous mud of Glastonbury. Photo by Sinister Pictures

Glastonbury – Somerset, England

The mac daddy of summer festivals, the 32nd Glastonbury this year was sold out months in advance, thanks to the best line-up in years. Blur, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young will be headlining, joined by old favourites including Status Quo, Tom Jones, and The Prodigy. Even the weather forecast, for once, looks promising! www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Loopallu – Ullapool, Scotland

One of the smallest festivals, Loopallu is far greater than the sum of its parts. The town of Ullapool is itself a joy to see, the acts often include forgotten gems (which this year include The Undertones and The Stranglers) as well as up and coming Scottish bands which can’t be missed. The perfect end to the summer festival season. www.loopallu.co.uk

Lounge On The Farm. Literally. Photo by Chalkbass

Lounge on the Farm – Canterbury, England

This year’s will only be the fourth Lounge on the Farm Festival, but its popularity is growing fast. The focus is very much local, with new bands from all over Kent getting and unrivalled opportunity to be heard. This year sees the addition of a Rockaoke, offering audience members a chance to take to the stage with a full backing band. www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk

There were plenty of amazing things and people to see at Tattoo Show Buenos Aires 2009. Many of the country’s most modified people mingled with the estimated 12,000 convention-goers.

I spotted no less than four camera crews with their noteworthy television personalities in tow excitedly explaining to the un-tattooed masses watching from home just what these strange looking people were doing in the Bauen Hotel.

Sponsored by Mandinga Tattoo, this was the fifth year of this convention that in past years was called Convención Nacional de Tatuajes, but now goes by the simple name Tattoo Show.

300 tattoo artists, supply vendors, body modifiers of all sorts including piercers, branders and scarifiers from as far away as Europe and the U.S. and all over South and Central America gathered for three days. The modified came to see and be seen and maybe get some work done.

A tattoo convention is a unique opportunity to compare many artists in one place. Each tattooist has an album of their work on the table at the front of the booth and you get the chance to watch them in action, flip through their books and to ask questions if you’re so inclined.

Tattoo Show 2009 offered three floors of action including an auditorium in which 20 bands played throughout the afternoons and evenings.

The pageantry of Miss Tattoo and a contest for the best tattoos were commented on and judged by a panel of tipsy guys.

One of them inexpertly operated a video camera that fed two live monitors on either side of the stage while various punk rock hits played throughout at medium volume.

What I learned

I learned several things during Tattoo Show 2009. There is an Argentine branch of the Hell’s Angels, for instance. Here are some on the right escaping my camera:

I also met the Alberto Fornes, known as “El Mago,” renowned as the most tattooed man in Argentina (above, left). Highly personable, he shook my hand and asked about my plastic wrapped arm that had just been tattooed.

Here you can see that he will be 52 next month, though he seems much younger. Easy as it is to assume someone with so many tattoos would be exhibiting a cooler-than-thou attitude, I was happy to be recognized by him in passing and greeted warmly the following day. He was alive with excitement in an atmosphere so wholly dedicated to tattoos.

Beer was everywhere. Tattooists were drinking and tattooing at the same time.

I even saw a brimming plastic cupful in the drink caddy of a stroller. Here you can see crates of empties on their way to be recycled mid-day.

Of all the artists at work during the convention, I saw only one woman. Salome Sajnin’s shop is called Calavera No Chilla. Here she is, gloved and ready to go under a poster of one of her paintings.

The most impressive thing I saw by far was this tattoo of a dragon fish being done.

Diego Ortiz spent about three hours filling in the very simple outline he’d laid out using a photograph for reference. The guy getting tattooed endured Diego adding layer upon layer of ink for this full color, photorealistic piece without so much as a sigh.

Ortiz looked back and forth between the ankle and the picture in between interruptions from many friends who stopped by to shoot the breeze.

There’s a little something for everyone at a convention like this. The curious can get an eyeful and do a little shopping for some clothes that make them feel just a little weirder while those looking for an artist get the opportunity to find someone who melds with their style.

People in various states of undress show off piercings, tattoos and brands with nary a fear of the stink eye.

Next March, if you happen to be in Buenos Aires, you’re sure to see something to remember if you swing by Tattoo Show 2010.

All Photos by Kate Sedgwick

Photo above by mckaysavage

The sari is a piece of unstitched cloth that is draped over the body in various styles. But in India, the sari is so much more: a reflection of culture and an expression of heritage and pride.

People all over the world fawn over the style, simplicity, and elegance of saris. They love the different colors, the fabrics, sequins, and designs. The fascination of this garment and its endless subtle beauty ensure the sari will never go out of fashion.

In India, the sari is worn everyday, as appropriate for chores in the house and field as it is for special occasions or celebrations. It’s worn while cooking, cleaning, and even sleeping. It is not a garment meant to cover or conceal, but one that defines the beautiful, curvaceous bodies of women.

More women outside India are trying on saris for style. If you’re one of them, here are some tips for rocking a sari:

Photo above by Utnapishtim

1. Find the perfect match.

If you are short, you should wear a sari with a border (design at bottom), which creates the illusion of height. In India, women say the border makes you look “vertical to the earth.”

If you are tall, you can wear a broad bordered sari as this makes you look “parallel to the earth.”

Dark skinned women should wear light colors as this enhances their skin tone, whereas fair skinned should wear dark colors to make a beautiful contrast.

2. Find the right blouse.

The blouse is important, as it accentuates the entire look. Ensure your blouse is well-fitted and comfortable; else you’ll be fidgeting with it. Plus, if your blouse slips and your bra strap peeks, you’ll get some nasty looks if you’re trying to rock the sari in India.

3. Understand the skirt.

Below the sari lies the skirt. It might seem completely irrelevant, but it’s one of the most important parts of rocking the sari. Remember: the whole sari sits on the skirt. It shouldn’t flare too much because this will cause the entire sari to flare.

The goal is for your sari to produce a slimming look. The skirt should be the same or similar shade as the whole sari. It shouldn’t be too long nor should it be too short. Ankle length is perfect.

4. Check yourself.

Once you have draped the sari, ensure that it is tight enough so as not to crumple awkwardly, but loose enough that you can move around comfortably. Ensure the pleats are tight and crisp. Be 100% sure that your sari and skirt are above your toes.

If you trip and fall on the fabric, not only will it be embarrassing, but there’s also a chance your whole sari might come off!

5. Accessorize!

When choosing jewelery to go with the sari, go for funky or ethnic. There’s a lot of stuff to work with out there, so go crazy!

Photo above by Jonathan Camuzo

6. Choose good shoes.

The shoes you choose should have some heel and ideally should be open-toed so you can show your pedicure off! Comfortable, strappy sandals are ideal.

7. Mind your etiquette.

If you are wearing the sari to an office or an official event, it’s best to pin the pallu ( the flowing piece of material) up on your shoulder, as this makes it easier to write, type, or shake hands. For weddings and celebrations, you can drape the pallu down the entire length of your hand. Floating gracefully through the evening, you can forget about running around and hustle or bustle.

8.Bring backup.

If you are nervous about sari slippage, put pins at required places to secure the sari. After rocking the sari a few times, you won’t need backup– you’ll be just like the masses of women in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, who drape the sari in a matter of minutes.

9. Project confidence.

Be confident in your look, walk, and conduct. “You are the most beautiful woman around, wearing the most beautiful outfit around, with the most beautiful accessories and shoes. Everything about you is just beautiful.” Keep this in mind and you’ll be rocking the sari in no time!

Photo above by jaroslavd

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

For more on travel and fashion, check out 10 Items Women Should Pack to Stay Fashionable on the Road. Or give this community blog post, about Vietnam’s most famous garment, a read: Ao dai” Vietnam – The Charming Beauty.

Rolling Stone’s article about the death of David Foster Wallace collided in my head during last week’s CMJ Music Marathon, five nights of non-stop newish bands playing at NYC’s best and worst venues.

I kept coming home and wondering what was going on under the hood of these bands; if I had just seen the singer who would come unhinged at 25, or if that same singer’s band might never even make it onto more than forty hard drives.

Predicting the fickle nature of the music business is impossible. Predicting the demise of a person’s life isn’t that easy either. Sitting on my living room floor in my dumb blue gym shorts, surrounded by piles of CD’s and cassettes, I came up with the following list of people who made great music for too short of a time. Please add your additions to the replies.

Elliot Smith “Needle In The Hay”

It wasn’t even subtle. It was right there. The problem.

I’m taking the cure so I can be quiet whenever I want…you ought to be proud that I’m getting good marks.

Elliot Smith photo by PatCastaldo

It was terrible to hear as a fan. You’d learn the words, sing them, maybe finger your guitar on the right frets, then realize what they meant. And what was coming, no matter how much you wished it wouldn’t. If you don’t own XO, please do.

(Steven Paul Smith, 1969-2003) – Needle In The Hay

Metallica “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”

The fifth song on their first album is a bass solo. With no wimpy “Enter Sandman” in the realm of possibility, Cliff Burton whipped his hair and played this in ways that just plain confused me.

It certainly wasn’t the metal that I had been hearing – there was no lipstick clogging the distortion. Seeing Cliff live made me realize that it was probably going to be the puzzling things in life that might be the most indelible.

(Clifford Lee Burton, 1962-1986) – (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth (LP Version)

Jeff Buckley “Halleluja (live at Sin-e)”

A cover, “Halleluja” has somehow become Jeff’s hallowed moment on tape. His version has been bastardized to the point where it’s almost become damaged, were it not for this recording.

At 9:15 and full of tuning issues, this reminds me why his take was better than anyone’s will ever be. For those of us sitting at Sine-E, his performances were a triumph for the cute little guy who washed clothes in the machine next to ours. “Let’s go drink and sleep!” he says at the end.

We were going wherever he went.

(Jeffrey Scott Buckley, 1966-1997) – Hallelujah

Photo by pinkbelt

Nirvana “Drain You (live in Seattle, WA, October 31, 1991)”

What a fucking mess. Missed words, chords almost disregarded, the bridge never quite filling out. It’s gorgeous.

This was the real Nirvana, the one that decked us. This wasn’t the song about deodorant that made fratboys scream and woot. Their stage presence was a turbulent ride between apathetic and aggressive, in a way I hadn’t seen since the Ramones.

(Kurt Donald Cobain, 1967-1994) – Drain You

Buddy Holly “Everyday”

Impossible to replicate, no matter how many have ripped him off. This was a guy who was supposed to write songs for the rest of a very long life.

It has been sad to see musicians like Roy Orbison or George Harrison pass away, but at least we were allowed to watch their genius progress. Holly had so much more in him.

(Charles Hardin Holly, 1936-1959) – Everyday/Peggy Sue

Photo by 90p

Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos”

Chris Bell’s original band (Big Star) had something that so many musicians have chased since. His posthumous collection was the stuff of whispered legend, sitting unreleased for almost 15 years after his death.

This song, however, found its way into the public just before his tragic car crash and is the kind of song that bigtime musicians play alone, backstage, with nobody watching. And oh, Sweet Jesus. This song.

(Chris Bell, 1951-1978) – I Am the Cosmos

Matthew Jay “Please Don’t Send Me Away”

Most people don’t know Matthew – I had to dig through boxes to find this disc. For me, he represents all of the kids who take a shot at making it every year, yet watch as much less talented artists lap them.

Jay fell out of a building in 2002, leaving behind a hatful of magic that is being rediscovered by younger artists. An October 10th show in London saw members of Starsailor and Squeeze (among others) playing Matthew’s songs at Shepard’s Empire Bush. I wish I’d been there.

(Matthew Jay, 1978-2003) – Please Don’t Send Me Away

AC/DC “Let There Be Rock (Live)”

Bon Scott died about half-way through the rock/roll process, only to be brilliantly replicated by Brian Johnson in this same band. As AC/DC scrapped, scratched, and clawed their way to success, he passed away just before it all paid off with Back In Black.

This recording shows a man who had learned to turn each member of the crowd into a fan, building a base that still sells more records per year than almost any other rock band, dead or alive.

(Ronald Belford Scott, 1946-1980) – Black Ice

Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart”

Ian Curtis went to hell and back, before finally hanging himself in 1980. Anton Corbin’s biopic Control does a fantastic job of covering his brief, difficult life.

Joy Division, a band which almost defines the term “seminal,” would only release one album while Curtis was living. He would kill himself on the eve of the band’s first American tour.

(Ian Kevin Curtis, 1956-1980) – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Robert Johnson “Sweet Home Chicago”

The legend and lore of Robert Johnson sometimes overshadows his talent and influence. Did he sell his soul to the devil? Was he killed by a bottle of whiskey laced with strychnine?

He also seems to have originated the “27 Club”, a term that’s become widely used for musicians who have moved on at that exact age (Check it out. It’s fascinating). Listening to this track, it’s obvious that he has influenced some of the most influential singers and guitar players of the last century.

(Robert Leroy Johnson, 1911-1938) – Sweet Home Chicago

Belisama. Photo by Toby Keller.

This is especially manifest in the wonderfully strange and whimsical art installations that populate the playa.

(Those not familiar with the BM premise should check out The First-Timer’s Guide to Participating at Burning Man for an excellent overview.)

Although Burning Man was always predicated on art and participation, it wasn’t until 1995 that Larry Harvey began introducing yearly themes to give focus to the growing, and increasingly diverse community.

Since then, the scope of the art installations have only been limited by the creators’ imaginations (and budgets).

some of the more awe-inspiring and ambitious pieces on the playa in recent history

Uchronia, 2006. Photo by Splatworld.

Nick-named the Belgian Waffle, much to the irritation of the Belgian team that constructed it, Uchronia was nearly 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 50 feet tall, dominating the Black Rock City skyline.

Steampunk Tree House, 2007. Photo by Mayhem.

Pipes run throughout the metal tree and branches that release actual steam for a sauna-like effect, which was a solace against the cold Nevadan desert nights.

Temple of Hope, 2006. Photo by John Curley.

Since 2000, the Temples have been built and ceremoniously set aflame along with the Man, becoming an enduringly popular ritual at the festival. Mark Grieve’s interpretation in 2006, an elegant courtyard populated with massive stupas, took participants to an exotic land.

Big Rig Jig, 2007. Photo by Russ Atkinson.

Created from two oil rigs, the interior compartment of Big Rig Jig housed silk plant life as a contemplation of the indelible yet often-forgot ties between the industrial and organic world.

Serpent Mother, 2006. Photo by John Curley.

Ten tons and 168 feet long, this kinetic sculpture has an audience-controlled joy stick, which swivels the head and operates the 41 flamethrowers placed along the spine.

Homouroboros, 2007. Photo by affinity1.

A massive, interactive zoetrope, Homouroboros only comes to life when participants determine the source of power generation and the controls to its activation.

Big Round Cubatron, 2006. Photo by Sterling.

Created from over 6,000 color-dynamic lights arranged 8 feet high and 40 feet in diameter, Cubatron’s experience takes a decidedly psychedelic turn while under the influence of certain mind-expanding substances.

Temple of Forgiveness, 2007. Photo by Perfecto Insecto.

Encompassing almost 42,000 cubic feet, the open-air temple had four grand entrances that led to the central altar, which allowed energy to pass though, up, and out–a metaphor for the sense of lightness felt after the act of forgiveness and all negative emotions are finally released.

Crude Awakening, 2007. Photo by John Curley.

Stirring controversy for its ironic use of 900 gallons of jet fuel and 2,000 gallons of liquid propane to build the largest flame cannon in history, Crude Awakening transformed modern oil dependency into a violently primitive religion.

Hope Flower, 2005-2006. Photo by Smoobs.

Constructed from a 100 foot hydraulic man-lift, the Flower serenaded and interacted with participants and performance artists as it roamed around the playa.

Duel Nature, 2006. Photo by John Curley.

Meant to evoke the image of the DNA double helix, Kate Radenbush’s enormous 30-foot wide metal and red-mirror sculpture is a meditation on the nature of duality and the opposing forces within the very essence of the human condition.

I.T., 2006 Photo by msr.

Although reminiscent of the terrifying aliens of 50s sci-fi movies, I.T.’s creator only had benevolent intentions–the red spotlight eye merely tracks approaching visitors, unlike the vaporizing beams of the fictional space creatures, and an extension ladder allows participants to experience the sensation of being suspended 30 feet above the ground.

Temple of Stars, 2004. Photo by eddy13.

Nearly a quarter of a mile in length, this David Best sculpture consisted of a main 100 foot structure and a system of paths that connected to smaller temples along the cardinal points, not to mention bridges, fabricated gardens, and benches placed throughout for participants to reflect.

Chicago skyline reflected off the Bean / Photo by jswieringa. Feature photo by Pete Carr.

Something about the outline of a city against its clear, crisp sky stops us in our tracks and commands our attention.

City skylines stand as testaments to human engineering and architectural advancements. Its shape reveals our history, our culture, our beliefs, our beauty to the infinite universe. How can we not stop and stare?

Below are staggeringly beautiful images where city meets sky all across the globe.

Miami, Florida, USA / Photo by vgm8383.

Bangkok, Thailand / Photo by Andrew Hux.

Vancouver, British Columbia / Photo by kennymatic.

Republic Plaza, Singapore / Photo by Singapor3.

Sydney, Australia / Photy by Maik Radke.

Shanghai, China / Photo by Molas.

London, England / Photo by vemma.

Perth, Australia / Photo by Ole Reidar Johansen.

Cologne, Germany / Photo by JaBB.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates / Photo from7_70.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Photo from The Wandering Angel.

Hong Kong / Photo by wenzday01.

Tokyo, Japan / Photo by tenaciousme.

Cairo, Egypt / Photo by Aldas Kirvaitis.

Moscow, Russia/ Photo by Alexander Andreev.

New York, New York, USA / Photo by Wilhelm J. Anderson.

Warsaw, Poland / Photo by Qba from Poland.

San Francisco, California, USA / Photo by Selena N. B. H..

Photo by Andrei Z. Feature photo by ImageMD.

You know about Art Basel and SCOPE, but some of the world’s best art fairs—and best art—can be found off these well-worn paths:

10. FEMACO

The Feria Mexico Arte Contemporaneo just celebrated its fifth year. A walk through the 2008 event, held at the spacious Centro Banamex in Mexico City, confirmed that the Mexican art scene embraces a vision much larger than its admirable tradition of mural art, exemplified by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Jose Clemente Orozco, and its propensity for self-inspection, a la Frida Kahlo.

In fact, the FEMACO fair is notable precisely for the fact that its exhibitors include not only the most respected Mexican galleries and the artists they represent, but also a surprising number of European galleries, particularly from Scandinavian countries.

Photo by Nahkahousu

FEMACO is truly an international art fair, and a visit to this fair can easily be extended into a longer vacation that immerses you in Mexico City’s rich tradition of artistic activity, as well as its bustling contemporary scene. Mexico City is my part-time home, so if you do visit next year’s FEMACO, be sure to check out my Green Guide to Mexico City and the Top 5 Ways to Experience Mexico City Like a Local.

9. CIRCA Art Fair

CIRCA has been incorrectly dubbed as the Caribbean’s first international art fair, which overlooks the fact that Havana has long sponsored a biennial that is respected around the world, but no matter: CIRCA is a highly respectable art fair entering its third year, and each year has been better than the one before.

What makes the CIRCA Art Fair a must-visit on the international art fair circuit is the fact that both gallery owners and artists are accessible to new and established collectors alike. The fair gets bonus points because of its strategic location: a new convention center placed at the crossroads between historic Old San Juan and the popular nightlife and beach destination, Condado.

Having called San Juan home for two and a half years, I know the area well. Check out my Green Guide to Puerto Rico and Top 10 Experiences in Puerto Rico Guide.

Photo by Naligum.

8. ARTSingapore

While the Shanghai Art Fair might be bigger and more popular, ARTSingapore offers an interesting alternative in Asia for collectors and browsers.

First, the fair is held in October, whereas many other international fairs are held in the late spring or early summer, so ARTSingapore is a welcome addition to the fall fair schedule.

The other attractive aspect of the ARTSingapore fair is the diversity of its exhibitors. The 2008 exhibitor list includes at least 22 galleries from Korea, a country often excluded from other fairs, and additional participants from Israel, Australia, and Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, countries which also tend to be overlooked on the international art fair circuit.

Want some local news from Singapore? Contact Matador member Nora Dunn, whose current trip has her transiting through Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Photo by Hiromy

7. Affordable Art Fair

If you’re not in the market to buy an artwork with an inflated price tag, this is the art fair for you.

Held each June in New York City, the premise of the Affordable Art Fair is simple: attract a new generation of art collectors by introducing art work that can be bought within the limitations of almost any budget.

Pieces range in price from $100 to $10,000, but don’t think that the low prices mean substandard art work. With more than 70 galleries representing artists from North and South America, Asia, and Europe, you’ll certainly find a selection of art that doesn’t just fit your budget, but also aligns with your tastes.

While you’re in town, take advantage of your visit and see how many of The 10 Best Experiences in New York City. Period you can check off my list.

6. Joburg Art Fair

2008 was the inaugural year of this latest art fair in an already crowded international art fair schedule, but is poised to quickly become the “IT” destination for purchasing contemporary African art.

The fair also promises to be interesting to watch for the political issues it raises regarding the way Africa is represented and represents itself before the world, as well as economic issues.

Get insiders’ tips from our resident South Africa expert, Ethekwinigirl.

Photo by Matthias Contze.

5. Art Dubai

It’s not hard to believe that Dubai is the latest go-to destination for art collectors; after all, this is the “city built for tourism” as a “playpen for the rich.”

But even if you can’t afford a single piece at the Art Dubai fair, you’ll surely enjoy taking in views of some of the most exciting and edgy art in the world, from the ironic “Desperately Seeking Paradise,” a curated exhibit of work from Pakistani artists, to the Bidoun Lounge, a site-specific installation serving both as bar and theatre for the exhibition of video works from Middle Eastern artists.

Learn more about Dubai before you go from Matador member, Abha, who lived in Dubai and is our resident expert on the city.

4. Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

Another young art fair, the DAAF also promises to be a hot fair within the next few years.

Held in Darwin City, Australia, the DAAF is smaller than most international art fairs in terms of the number of exhibitors it includes in its schedule, but it’s also much more intentional about who it includes and why: only artists, galleries, and community based arts centers who can verify the provenance of the art work as justly acquired from indigenous and Aboriginal peoples.

Many artists are on hand to talk about their work. The diversity of the work itself is another reason to recommend this fair: in addition to paintings on canvas, collectors can acquire bark paintings, timber and metal sculptures, didjeridus, fiber arts, and jewelry.

Get some travel tips from Australia experts and be sure to check out the blog of Matador’s Australian expat, croftyangel, who reports about life down under.

3. The Moscow World Fine Art Fair

It’s likely you won’t be able to purchase a piece at this fair unless your pockets are deep, but that’s part of the fun of this particular art fair.

Attracting the growing nouveau riche class of art collectors from Russia and Asia, the Moscow FAF is as much about people-watching as it is about analyzing art.

Beyond the social value of this art fair, it’s one of the few fairs that have such a broad scope of artistic genres and works from various periods, ranging from antiquity to the present.

The location is interesting, too: poised between the Kremlin and Red Square, the Moscow FAF is pure fun. Matador member ZTP Teo has lived in Moscow; hit him up for some local recommendations.

Photo by 101 Tokyo Contemporary Art Fair.

2. 101 Tokyo

Fresh from its wildly successful first year, the 101 Tokyo Art Fair has already outgrown its host space and will be expanding in 2009, including 60 national and international galleries.

The list of first year exhibitors proves that the 101 Tokyo organizers are clearly able to collect an impressive range of galleries and genres under a single roof; the 2009 fair promises to be even more exciting.

Contact Matador’s Tokyo expert, Masaya, if you plan to visit this fair.

1. Toronto International Art Fair

TAF nabs the number one spot on our list because its organizers clearly concern themselves with much more than just selling art; they organize the fair to stimulate conversation about art by introducing a series of special projects intended to engage both serious collectors and first-time browsers alike.

The vast majority of exhibitors are Canadian galleries, suggesting that TIAF sticks with what it knows best: its own country’s art. Finally, like ARTSingapore, TIAF is held in October, a strategically smart move that minimizes competition.

Check out Matador member Travelflare’s guide, 5 Reasons to Visit Toronto.

Community Connection

Want to find local art fairs in the US? Check out ArtFairCalendar. For a list of other arts fairs around the world, check out Art Fairs International.

The Vader Project is curated by Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys. Kelemer and Marks gathered close to 100 of the hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists, and designers to participate.

Each artist was given a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet used in the Star Wars films. Each helmet served as a blank canvas for each artist to paint, design, mash up, and customize.

All photos credit to “Star Wars Blog”

From TheVaderProject.com:

The Vader Project originally premiered at Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles in May 2007. From there it traveled to Star Wars Celebration Europe in London in June 2007.

For more updates sign up at www.thevaderproject.com.

No. 1: Burj Al Arab, Photo by jonrawlinson

For some, a hotel is nothing more than the place you lay your head when not at home. For others, hotels are works of art and luxurious paradises where your every wish is granted.

If you fall into the latter category and dream of a combination of art, decadence and world-famous architectural design, consider the following the next time you book.

1. Burj Al Arab

Most have heard of the bending curves of this ultra-lavish hotel on the Arabian Gulf, but it’s only fair to mention it here again as it is one of the most eccentric forms of hotel architecture to date.

The Burj Al Arab is 321 meters of pure luxury and exclusive service. British architect Tom Wright conceived the billowing hotel in 1993.

Where: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

What: Luxury hotel with helipad on the gulf

Designed by: Tom Wright

More: www.burj-al-arab.com

2. Hotel Marqués de Riscal, The Luxury Collection

This is a smart fusion of award-winning wine and avant-garde architecture. Spain’s Rioja vino is a favorite for many and a visit to the region makes for an interesting trip in rural Spain, especially if staying at Hotel Maqués de Riscal.

The hotel’s flamboyant style is signature Gehry, who has left his artistic imprint on other parts of the country as well.

Where: Spain’s Rioja wine country

What: Luxury hotel and vineyard

Designed by: Frank O. Gehry

More:www.marquesderiscal.com.

3. Park Hyatt Tokyo

Photo by wili

This upscale hotel has 178 rooms and a mere 23 suites with views of Yoyogi Park. Designed by Kenzo Tange, who has made many contributions to Tokyo’s skyline, this hotel made a famous appearance in the United States in the film, Lost in Translation.

Where: Tokyo, Japan

What: Luxury hotel with interior design by John Morford

Designed by: Kenzo Tange

More: www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com

4. Wynn Hotel

Photo by kathika

From the outside Wynn is a striped giant, new and sleek in a town that is the definition of over-the-top. As the Wynn P.R. reps are quick to mention, the hotel holds five stars, five diamonds and Michelin seal of approval.

True, it’s not an easy task to obtain all these bells and whistles and most would agree that Wynn is the cream of the crop when it comes to staying in Las Vegas.

Where: Las Vegas, Nevada baby!, USA

What: Luxury hotel and casino

Designed by: DeRuyter O. Butler

More: www.wynnlasvegas.com

5. Phinda Getty House

Unlike most of the hotels listed here, the Phinda Getty is a lodge which architect Nick Plewman attempted to blend into the surrounding environment. The lodge is set on a private game reserve in South Africa looking over grassy landscapes and onto volcanoes in the distance.

Photo by ricoslounge

Where: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

What: Luxury lodge and reserve

Designed by: Nick Plewman

More: www.phinda.com

6. Inn at Price Tower

Built in 1956, the Price Tower is famous because it’s a Frank Lloyd Wright building. Only recently did interior architect Wendy Evans Joseph turn eight floors of the tower into a 21-room hotel.

The tower is owned by the non-profit group, Price Tower Arts Center.

Where: Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA

What: Hotel of historical significance

Designed by: Frank Lloyd Wright

More: www.pricetower.org

7. The Four Seasons Hotel, NYC

Photo by paulkhor

New York has some of the best hotels around and so it is no small feat that the Four Seasons’ Manhattan Hotel is one of the best in New York City. Pritzker prize winner, architect I.M. Pie is the talent behind this top-of-the-line hotel, which is located on 57th Street in the city’s shopping and financial district.

Where: New York, New York, USA

What: Metropolitan luxury hotel

Designed by: I.M. Pei

More: www.fourseasons.com

8. Shanghai’s St. Regis

Bustling Shanghai has reinvented itself and continues to build as the world looks to China with curious eyes. K. Jeffries Sydness’ Shanghai’s St. Regis Hotel is a fine example of just how chic Shanghai has become.

The hotel’s silvery towers jump up like an exclamation mark, as if to say we’re it and then some!

Where: Shanghai, China

What: Metropolitan luxury hotel

Designed by: K. Jeffries Sydness

More: www.starwoodhotels.com

9. Le Meriden Lingotto

Once a Fiat car factory, this hotel is an example of a popular blend of architecture in Europe which mixes the old with the new. A competition was help to see which architect would bring the old factory into the 21st century, and the winner was Renzo Piano who took on the 800,000 sq. foot factory and transformed it into the successful hotel you see today.

Where: Turin, Italy

What: Design Hotel; old meets new

Designed by: Renzo Piano

More: www.starwoodhotels.com