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DARKWAVE AND LIGHTWAVE TATTOO BOSTON
by Chuck B and SRB
Photos courtesy of Darkwave and Lightwave Tattoo
From the February 2005 issue of Prick Magazine.
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 Darkwave Tattoo lobby. |
 Lightwave Tattoo lobby. |
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Natan Lin, owner of Darkwave and Lightwave Tattoo studios in Boston, Mass., was one of a handful of driven
supporters who fought to legalize tattooing in the state. For years, the community of underground tattoo
artists, along with Joe Bonnie – who published a local hardcore rock zine called the Pit Report – fought to
reverse the ban which had been in affect since 1967. But it was a lawsuit brought on by tattooer Stephan Lamfere, who
eventually sued the state with legal assistance from the ACLU, which overturned the ruling. In February 2001, three
years after tattooing became legal in New York, Massachusetts followed suit.
In 1996 Natan started www.massink.com, a website rooted in activism to raise awareness on legislation issues, and
health and safety concerns in the tattoo industry. For Natan, the issue of legalizing tattooing in Massachusetts was in
large part for health and safety reasons: "It was better to legalize tattooing than keep people underground where they
could potentially practice without proper safety equipment," he says. The website also became a resource for
Massachusetts tattooers to network, and share ideas and information.
In anticipation
of the legalization,
Natan
and his wife Lily
started building,
what was then, a
piercing only
shop. The first
studio,
Darkwave, was
at the time, a
"tough street
shop" located in
the transitioning
Dudley/Ruggles
area in Roxbury.
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 The Lightwave Tattoo crew. |
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For two years,
Natan and Lily
worked hard to
build the business.
To avoid
"burn out,"
though, he
turned his attention
to creating
an appointment
only custom tattoo
shop called
Lightwave
Tattoo Studio,
which opened in
2003.
After a
lunch meeting
that same year
with Ram of Fat
Ram's Pumpkin
Tattoo studio –
which was the
first legal tattoo
shop in Boston –
Natan ventured into the tattoo convention business as well, after seeing Paul Booth's Worcester, Mass. convention, the
first convention in the area after the legalization. The show, which catered to "more big name artists," says Natan, "didn't
really involve the local artists that were already in Massachusetts. I wanted to have a show which all the regional
artists could feel a part of." And so in June of 2002, Natan held the first Boston Tattoo Convention at the historic
Cyclorama. After some initial obstacles the first two years, last September's 3rd Annual Boston Convention clearly
proved all the hard work was well worth it. With lines around the block, eager tattoo enthusiasts waited at times for
hours for a chance to get into the capacity filled venue.
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 Owner Natan Lin at work. |
 Tattoo Rue of Darkwave at work. |
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Customer service is deep rooted in Natan's business philosophies, who works at both studios. On the shop websites,
Natan shares his belief: "For me, getting a tattoo is also about getting to know the artist who tattoos you. It doesn't
matter how talented someone is, if they're not a nice person, I don't want ink from them. For that reason, I've been
very careful to select artists who are not only the best at what they do, but also know how to treat their customers."
The tattoo crews at Darkwave and Lightwave also share his feelings, continually working to improve their craft while
still maintaining a customer
oriented attitude. Darkwave
piercer Nikki Core, 22, who
has been piercing since she
was 19, found her home here.
She says she works hard to
"learn all I can and keep my
techniques and knowledge up
to date in this rapidly growing
industry." Aside from piercing,
she is also plays bass and sings
in a group called the
KariNations.
Darkwave, which has an
East Village vibe, is also home
to tattooer/painter/sculptor Rueben "Tattoorue" Kayden. After spending a 10 year stint
as a "corporate zombie," Rueben took a cross country road trip on his motorcycle and
came back with a clear vision to express his artistic talents in the tattoo field. His
favorite style is Japanese.
Darkave tattooer, The Count, as he as known, grew up with a proclivity for monster
movies and cars, although his art school professors would have preferred otherwise. It
was his interest in these subject matters, however, that led him to tattooing after his
illustration degree.
|
 Lightwave often has guest artists. Marcus Kuhn is one
of them. Lily Lin takes advantage of this one. |
 Natan's station at Darkwave. |
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Lightwave, which is larger of the two studios, has an art gallery aesthetic and is predominately
a custom tattoo shop. Lightwave tattooer Tegan Stadnyck grew up with an
interest in the arts and pursued her passion at the Maine College of Art. Tattooing since
1997, she got the travel bug soon after attending a NYC Roseland Ballroom convention
and went to St.Thomas to work with French tattooer Luc Zietek. Eventually, she
moved back to the New England area, working at various shops along the way before
she finally landed at Lightwave, where she has been since its opening.
Justin Kopec is another talented artist at Lightwave. Tattooing in the Boston underground
scene since 1995; he became an officially licensed tattooer in 2001. With a BFA
in painting from Boston University, he infuses influences from the Italian Baroque
painters and sculptors, and modern artists
like Francis Bacon in his tattoo work, images
which range from "subtle or intimate to
horrifying or confrontational."
Mulysa Mayhem rounds out the
Lightwave crew. Tattooing since 1990, she
enjoys both color and black and grey work,
as well as an "undying love for all things
Celtic." Before joining Lightwave, she
apprenticed with Erik Mercier of Lucky
Buddha Tattoo Studio and also worked at
Cliff's Tattoo on Long Island. After the ban
was lifted in Massachusetts, she returned
home and joined the family at Lightwave. She
believes that "every tattoo is a ritual of personal
transformation for both the physical
and spiritual body," she says. "I enjoy doing
pieces that incorporate magical and mythical
imagery."
If you are in the Boston area, check out Darkwave and Lightwave Studios. We'll see
you at the next Boston Tattoo Convention this September 16-18, 2005.
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Lightwave Tattoo Studio
880 Broadway
Saugus, MA
781.233.1780
www.lightwavetattoos.com
Darkwave Tattoo Studio
2129 Washington Street
Boston, MA
617.445.9090
www.darkwavetattoos.com
For more info on the Boston Tattoo Convention visit www.bostontattooconvention.com.
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