LA Body Art Expo

Body Expo Los Angeles 2008
Photos and text by Rick Garcia
September, 26 – 29, 2008

The first annul Body Art Expo was held in the spacious Los Angeles Convention Center during
the weekend of Sept 26, 27 and 29, 2008.  Brought to us by Mega Production’s Edwin Quan and
sponsored   by “Baba” and Vintage Tattoo.
The first tattoo convention I attended was 5 years ago in Pomona Ca, Body Expo. My son and I
were so excited to see so many great artist under one roof. I think everyone else thought the
same. There were so many fans and so crowded, that it made walking through the isles very
difficult. The intense  July heat did not make matters any better. It was so crowed, the police were forced into shutting the ticket window down and turning the late comers away. All in all making “that” show a great
success.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the debut of Body Expo in Los Angeles. Which was a big surprise to
me considering the venue is in the heart of LA with its very dense population. As I walked
around the floor, the hot topic was the lack of patrons! Many were concerned about just breaking
even let alone making a profit.
I would have to blame to poor economy which kept many people home. It can’t be the lack of
advertizement. Months prior to the event, you could not step outside and not see a Body Expo
sign. I don’t know if the London show, held the same weekend had anything to do with the poor
attendance. Some of the Body Expo regulars were guest of that show. Who know’s what the
cause was, my son and I still had a great time shooting  and seeing old friends. I was very excited to see the very  respected and loved Chuco
. 

I know you’ve seen him in countless magazines and shows. He’s been very sick of late, and sadly he told  me the doctors have done all they could for him. It was only a matter of time. When he found out his friends
conspired to inter him into the tattoo contest, he told them no, he was not here to receive any
sympathy vote, but simply to see his old friends, possibly for the last time.
As spooky as this sounds, the tattoo of the day for Friday was an incredible color portrait of Paul
Newman… As you by now know, the legendary actor passed away the same night! Geeezzzz!