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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1997)
21 . j E Tattoo parlor displays artwork By Sean McCarthy Assignment Reporter *J.P, Fellin is in the process of getting his tattoo finished. His last name sten ciled on his upper back, black-and white etchings surrounding it, Fellin walks into Aardvarx, a new tattoo parlor and art gallery at 700 O St., to get some outlines filled in. He entered the shop on the recom mendation of a friend. Eight hours later Fellin re-emerges for the final touch-up. “It’s comfortable and it’s clean,” he said. Sitting underneath the O Street viaduct in the Historic Haymarket, Aardvarx offers customers a comfort able environment and a huge selection of tattoo possibilities. Owners Michelle Freriks, Robert Freriks and Heath Preheim opened the store two months ago. Preheim has three years experience as a tattoo artist; Robert Freriks has nearly six of his own. Before opening Aardvarx, he worked as a tattoo and body-piercing artist in the basement of The Ozone, 1411 O St. Robert Freriks said he liked the location because of the art galleries around the Haymarket. “There’s a good energy down here, a good vibe,” he said. “It kind of lends itself to what we wanted to do.” The decision to have a gallery with a tattoo parlor came in part because of . me spacje ine r^reriKS apqmrpa, when they purchased the area, Michelle Freriks said. The open space in the building gave the couple the opportuni ty to showcase the works of local artists. Because tattoos are art, the two medi ums fit well, Michelle Freriks said. And customer feedback has been positive so far, she said. “Everybody’s really excited about the place. We want people to feel com fortable” Robert Freriks said he hoped cus tomers would get a personal, homey, grass-roots appeal. “We don’t want people to get a pro duction-line feel of the place,” he said. Those wishing to get a tattoo can either walk in or schedule an appoint ment. . “We prefer to draw up ideas and get as many ideas as we can from clients beforehand,” Robert Freriks said. With a clear idea of what the cus tomer wants, Robert Freriks and Preheim can get to work. “We can get almost anything and reproduce it perfectly,” Michelle Freriks said. . , Who’s bad? The shop is a member of the Alliance for Professional Tattooists, a nonprofit organization that educates about issues of tattoo safety. Aardvarx owners said they attended seminars and keep updated on the newest sterilization procedures. The screening process of Aardvarx is simple: The customer has to provide a valid drivers license. The three have turned away a lot of people. Some have been inebriated, others looked suspi cious. “Drunk people usually don’t come in with money,” Robert Freriks said. Michelle Freriks defended the shop’s policy concerning unruly cus tomers. “We do (turn them away) for their protection, as well,” she said. “We don’t want them to bleed all over the place.” Other, more minor problems revolved around simple indecision by the customer, Robert Freriks said. “Some come in with nothing but a concept,” he said. “My personal goal is to make it come to life.” Robert Freriks said talking to the clients and making the environment comfortable is instrumental in making customers feel at ease while they’re having permanent work done on then bodies. ’; \ The most challenging design Robert Freriks has inked includes por trait-like and ultra-realistic designs. Preheim’s challenges lie in the intricate designs some people give him, he said. Michelle Freriks said she noticed a growing number of women getting tat toos. She estimated a one-to-one ratio of men to women getting tattoos. Robert Freriks said the most common area to get tattooed for men were the arm arid for women, the lower back and ankle. “People are getting more experi mental, though*” Robert Freriks said. “I had someone request to get their whole -J heal tattooed.” The design? An eight b^U. |b*few satisfied custom&s come in andgaze‘at$ie works on the wgll Robbie Richard, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln junior criminal jus tice major, had his last name taftobed by Robert Freriks on his lower back two shading,” he sak^ “I like the style ofhis ] tattoos.” - ' Though he wasn’t coming in for a i tattoo, Richard looked up at the various 1 designs hanging on the wall, from sub- i tie red roses to sketches of anime char acters. i 1 It r;;-'T 'i >»,; > j My personal goal is to make it come Yd tljeM" Robert Freriks tattooist ROBERT FRERIKS, owner of Aardvarx tattoo paiior, stands in front of the wall that shows the many designs from which clients can choose. Freriks said the brought about a tattoo renaissance. “Mow people from all walks of life get tattoos for all different reasons,” Freriks said. FRERIKSSHOWSOF^Fa^tattgoogthe ! back of his neck. Frertks, who got | his first tattoo when he was 18, said he specializes in black-and-gray portraiture. - “I’m sure I’m getting another one,” s he said. ? Michelle Freriks’s advice to cus- % tomers was to look at the artists’ portfo lios resting on a table in front of die tat too gallery. ,.... • “Get an idea of what you want ahead of time.” I legacy live n From staff reports Twenty years after the death of its namesake, the Charles Mingus Big Band is dedicated to performing as a living tribute to the late acclaimed bassist, pianist and composer. Having toured extensively in Europe and the United States, the award-winning group will jazz the Lied Center for Performing Arts tonight at 8. The 14-piece orchestra is recog nized as a definitive and extraordi nary big band ensemble that has breathed new life into the award winning composer’s inspired and lively jazz music. i Assembled in 1991 by Sue Mingus, Charles’ widow, the band has determinedly focused on the reincarnation of the jazz pioneer’s expansive repertoire of jazz, dance c and big band music to guarantee its place in the rich and distinguished history of jazz excellence. In the tradition of such jazz and blues greats as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus forged his own brand of jazz in the late ’50s and later, recorded with contemporary pioneers like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Diagnosed with amyotrophic lat eral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in 1977, Mingus retired from touring and teaching at the State University of New York-Buffalo. However, he continued composing music despite the creeping paralysis that ended his life in 1979. Mingus has received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of ^ecoriliftg Arts & Sciences and was-the fipt black American to have his Wo&s chronicled by the Library of Congress . The Charles Mingus Big Band manages to make its way back to New York every Thursday night to play The Fez, a famous venue tucked away beneath the Time Cafe in the city’s East Village. The band also has earned two Grammy nominations ; ^ and has played on “Jazzfest with Branford Marsalis.” Tickets for tonight’s show are $16, $20 and $24. Tickets for stu dents of the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan - University and Doane College and people under 18 are half-price. Call (402) 472-4747 for reservations and more information.