Starlight Tattoo Shop is one of the most impressive shops I’ve seen in my 23 years of being in the tattoo industry. Not only are the people that work there the most polite and professional, but their talents are extraordinary. After walking into the shop and seeing the 300+ awards given to Mario and his artists, you know you’re in good hands.
Mario Barth is the owner of Starlight Tattoo I & II, and unlike others in his position, is a very down to earth person and doesn’t have the "I’m Better then everyone else attitude." Mario started tattooing at the age of 12 back home in Austria the old
fashioned way, using a sewing needle to put three dots on a classmate’s hand. He got his first machine at the age of 18. He had to drive to Germany where tattooing was strictly underground.
In America since 1994, Mario has gained the respect of every known artist in the U.S.. Mario has bent over backwards to help other artists on the convention circuit to the point that his kindness may have been taken advantage of at times. He started doing conventions in 1991 but opened his first Tattoo studio in Austria in 1989. Now he says, "I’m old and work like a dog." But he doesn’t realize how appreciated he is for all the hard work he has done for the tattoo industry.
Carol Barth is Mario’s wife of two years is covered with colorful fantasy work that was mostly done by Mario. Carol plays a big part in running their tattoo supply company called rather fittingly, "The Tattoo Super Store". Carol has been seen in
many magazines and also models for ads.
The Starlight Tattoo crew.
Mad Max, Marios right hand man, manages both of the Starlight Tattoo shops and provides the security for the annual "Biggest Tattoo Show On Earth" convention. Max always manages to keep politics and the industry separate, making for fair and balanced security. Max has been tattooing since 1998 and started with Mike Bakatay, has been around tattooing his whole life. Max and Mario are as close as brothers and relate to each other as such. Max, who met Mario through Lyle Tuttle and Zeek Owens, works mainly out of the Belleville shop prefers doing OLDSCHOOL. His moto is "Never hurt anyone by Accident."
Frank Mazzara, Mario’s #1 artist has been tattooing for six years and is especially good at Black & Grey but can cover all aspects and has won awards for his work exceptional work. He met Mario in Mario’s old shop in Fairlawn N.J. and has worked for Mario for the last four years. 85% of his work is all free hand. Frank apprenticed with the shop called "Dreaming with the wolf". He started as a airbrush artist and has turned Into a
tremendous tattooer.
Another crucial member of the staff is Jay who has been with Mario for three years. He use to live around the block from the shop and use to bug Mario for an apprenticeship, which lasted six months and is now a full-time employee with a great future. He does great color and prefers European style with dark shading. He always admired and has been inspired by Mario and also Philp Lue,Tin-Tin and others.
The crew wouldn’t be complete without Jediah who started tattooing in 1994 and always had a love for art. When he got his first tattoo it inspired him to become a tattoo artist. He apprenticed under Ernie White and has been with Mario for over a year. Jediah says, "He loves the atmosphere here, and thinks it’s great that everyone has their own style." He prefers Black & Grey but can handle anything.
Richie C., yet another outstanding in-house artist grew up in N.J. and moved to Florida only to return to N.J. to work at Starlight Tattoo. He apprenticed under Robert Ciffore and has been tattooing for nine years. Richie enjoys doing Realistic and Tribal
along with bold colors. He has been obsessed with tattoos since the age of six. He loves the tight crew that he works with and the positive attitude that everyone at Starlight has.
As if the tattoo line up was not enough, there is the whole downstairs area of Starlight Tattoo that Dominik rules. Young but very knowledgeable in piercing, Dominik has been piercing for several years. He began by getting three piercings on himself and has
been hooked ever since. Dominik performs over 30 piercings a week, and has been with Mario for over a year and loves it.
Dominik has taken his piercing ability to the next level by offering the derma-punch technique and a procedure called pocketing which is a reverse piercing; skin bar skin instead of bar skin bar. He does ear projects that most people never heard of.
Dominik also has the remedy for key lodes (a bump that sometimes occurs on piercings) but it’s a secret so you’re going to ask him your self if you need key lode help. He is a gentle and confident piercer. Dominik also sports work on his leg done by Mario that reflects the movie "The Puppet Master"
At the Patterson N.J. location they have two main artists. Jeff Gashler who learned about tattooing at a young age from his uncle who was also an artist. While living in Phoenix, a close friend Jim Allendorf from Ace Tattoo pushed his artistic talents
into becoming confident enough to pursue a career as a tattoo artist. Jeff
has also worked in Sedona, Arizona. and California before coming back to Jersey to continue his career at Starlight. Jeff prefers traditional work and if it was up to him that would be
all he would do.
The other artist at the Patterson location is Lou who is a tattoo artist
& piercer and has been tattooing for seven years and apprenticed under Ernie White. Lou is a horror freak and is called the shop freak because of this. He loves gore and his moto is "gore forever" (Not Al Gore of course). Lou has perfected horror and monsters and likes both Black & Grey and color. Lou is the only piercer at the Patterson location
We can’t forget Mario’s apprentice Nelson who is such a great help to everyone there.
Basically, what makes Starlight Tattoo so great is the fact that the crew of very talented artists and piercers work so well together. They show what a tattoo studio can be and should be like.
