Spirit Gallery Tattoo - Home

Welcome to Spirit Gallery Tattoo!

Looking for a tattoo studio that provides excellent tattoos and body piercing in the New London, Groton and Norwich area of Southeastern CT? Stop by to find the best tattoo artist for your project and check out the latest show in our gallery.

We believe in high-quality tattoos and body piercing in a calm, safe, and clean tattoo studio.  Our artists love creating stunning portrait tattoos, black and gray tattoos, color tattoos, cartoon tattoos, traditional style tattoos, and lettering tattoos, all according to your desire.

We know that you deserve the best possible experience when getting your tattoo, and want to give you the best customer service the industry can provide!  We also believe in the art of tattooing and creativity -  our tattooists are artists in their own right, and strive to push themselves to make the best tattoos they can every day.

Please stop by in person to see our studio and meet the staff, look through our portfolios and ask any questions you have about our studio and the tattooing process.  We are happy to answer all of your questions and make you feel at ease.

Please remember that we do NOT tattoo minors - all customers MUST provide a valid photo ID with birthdate and address at the time of their tattoo appointment or walk-in.

We are pleased to present the works of Matthew Cassar this month!  Cassar's prints and created artifacts will be hanging in our gallery May 25 through July 13, 2013.  His opening reception will be Saturday May 25th from 6-8pm.  Please join us to meet the artist and enjoy his work, which tells the narrative of two fictional societies as they struggle to dominate their world.

Mr. Cassar has shown his work overseas at the Liu Haisu Museum, Shanghai China during the “American Youth Printing Ex.” in 2011.  Currently working at the NAC Coop Gallery in Norwich, he works as their President and has been striving towards making it a better place for the arts.  He adds, "I’m still relatively new to the art world, and because of it I have had the pleasure of being a part of R.A.W.   With a site in Hartford they help to promote young artist in their endeavors."

Cassar received his BFA from The University of Hartford, Hartford Art School in Printmaking.  Currently he resides in the rural area of Norwich where he enjoys being able to still see the sky.

Click to see his artist statement below:

What I find the most interesting while in the process of making art is the opportunity to tell my own fantastical stories.  With the creation of a world constructed from these stories, I’ve learned a lot about what my artistic sensibilities are, and also what my theological, philosophical and world perceptions are.  This has given me the chance to grow as an artist, while also exploring how different cultures can and would work.

The actual construction of each piece follows a fairly simple routine.  I think about what kind of story I want to tell.  For instance, does a character I am illustrating have any noticeable scars? If so, how did they get it and who gave it to them?  What can their clothing tell us  about them?  This can tell a viewer just what the climate is like, how they interact with the local wildlife and even what their culture is like.  I try to think about my characters in the sense of how a historian would; bringing each character back to life through the use of text as well as imagery. 

The thing I’ve enjoyed most about creating this world through stories and art has been the creation of false artifacts that would have been around during these people’s lives. 

Most of my inspiration for these pieces comes from the art and culture of the Dark Ages as well as the Renaissance period and the Roman Empire.  I contrast the ideas of how the medieval era consisted of darkness and fear while the Renaissance era was full of light, learning and hope. These relate to the two cultures that I have created in which one exists with a heavy belief in lost Paganistic magicks seeking equality in the face of an ever-expanding Empire.   The other culture relies on monotheistic religion where their god determines all and their survival is based on the spreading of his Light.

The method I use to display my work is to mimic how a museum curator would set a historical narrative using the artwork and artifacts of the culture.  I include  created images of what the people look like and wear, or images that show their culture as well as some faux relics.

The medium that I’ve become increasingly more comfortable in using is reduction relief cuts with linoleum.  In the past I was more adept at using a wood based matrix to create my prints; this has shifted to the use of linoleum because the smooth quality of line and ease in cutting that comes with the material.  I’ve come to greatly enjoy the quality and randomness that leaving “chatter” can give to a piece.  Through it I can create a sense of uneasiness by the randomness that it leaves.  

Attention tattoo artists, and artists whose work deals with tattooing: Norwich Arts Center (NAC) is looking for you! Join us and take part in our first ever call for artists whose work celebrates the fine art of tattooing.

Interested? check out the prospectus below!

Exhibition Dates: June 5th through June 29th 2013

Opening Reception/Meet the Artists: First Friday, June 7th from 6-9pm,

Juror: Blaze Schweller- tattoo artist and proprietor of Spirit Gallery Tattoo in New London, CT

Norwich Arts Center Gallery: 60 Broadway, Norwich CT 06360

Receiving: 

Saturday June 1st and Sunday June 2nd from 12-4pm* (Call 860-887-2789 for early drop-off if needed)

Entry Fees: (non-refundable): 

NAC Member: First Entry $15, Second Entry $10 Third Entry $5 

Non-member: First Entry $20, Second Entry $15, Third Entry $10

Please consider becoming a NAC member ($35) or Associate Artist member ($50)!

Pick up unaccepted work: Wednesday through Saturday, June 5-8, from 12-4pm

Awards: Grand Prize: Solo Show at Spirit Gallery Tattoo, Best in Show: a wall space in NAC Gallery Too 

Submission Requirements:

Work must deal with in some way the art of tattoo or decoration of the body.

Up to 3 works may be submitted. All works must be handmade by the artist. All work must be current and not previously exhibited at the NAC Gallery. Work must be submitted wired and ready to hang (no clip frames, easel backs or saw tooth hangers). Work cannot exceed 48 inches in either direction. Sculpture must be easily transportable and no more than 50 pounds. Although the NAC does have some pedestals, artists submitting 3D pieces are requested to provide pedestals. Jewelry should include a presentation case or display of some kind. No complicated installations. All work must be for sale, and no work may be removed for the duration of the show. While the utmost care will be taken in handling all works, The NAC, its directors and agents assume no liability for damage, loss or theft. All artists are responsible for insuring their own work. NAC reserves the right to exclude entries that are not in either the spirit of the exhibition or of a quality consistent with the exhibition’s intent. Unclaimed works will be disposed of at the discretion of NAC. For works that cannot be picked up at the designated times, please call the gallery in advance (860-887-2789). NAC reserves the right to publish photos of submitted works for use in publicity, including use on its web page. NAC retains 30% on all sales. The submission of works to the exhibition constitutes an agreement on the part of the artist to these conditions. Questions and comments can be directed to the gallery through our website http://www.norwicharts.org/ or through Facebook.