Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mark Perrott focuses on baby boomer tattoos

- By M. Thomas Pittsburgh Post-Gazette M. Thomas: mthomas@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1925.

An exhibition of work by Pittsburgh photograph­er par excellence Mark Perrott opened last week at the Erie Art Museum and will continue through Jan. 28. An artist reception will be held from 7-10 p.m. July 28.

“ANCIENT INK” comprises 50by-50-inch portraits of tattooed subjects that, Mr. Perrott says in his artist statement, “speak of resilience, loss, transforma­tion, mystery and the emancipati­on that sometimes comeswith growing old.”

Mr. Perrott memorializ­ed the Jones & Laughlin steel mill in his photograph­s and book “Eliza” and illustrate­d the rawness and decay of Eastern State Penitentia­ry in Philadelph­a through the imagery of “Hope Abandoned.” He began his exploratio­n of tattoo art in the late 1970s.

A mini cell phone documentar­y by Dan Barnhill, posted on the museum website, follows Mr. Perrott in the field as he looks for, interviews and photograph­s the subjects in the exhibition. It captures the sensitivit­y required of the artist to create the moment that results in these engaging images, which speak equally to the individual subject and to the human species. And to the craft honed by Mr. Perrott over decades of observatio­n and contemplat­ion.

The museum is at 411 State St., Erie. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9; seniors and students $7; children under 5, members and anyone on Wednesdays and every second Sunday, free. Informatio­n: http://erieartmus­eum.org or 1-814-459-5477.

 ??  ?? “Jim”
“Jim”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States