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News Press Release
October 2, 2009
Governor Appoints The Gypsy to Kansas State Cosmetology Board
Governor Mark Parkinson has appointed James George of
Independence. George will serve on the board as a licensed
permanent color technician, tattoo artist and body piercer
bringing 34 years of experience from the industry. He is the
president of Tatman Productions, LLC and founded its parent
company Skin Art Creations Tattoo Emporium which is the oldest,
established, licensed studio in southeast Kansas.
The State Board of Cosmetology is charged with the regulation of
the profession of cosmetology and its educational institutions.
The Board also regulates tanning facilities and tattoo artists,
permanent cosmetic technicians and body piercers. It aims to
protect the health and safety of the general public as well as
that of the licensees.
George, professionally and locally known as 'The Gypsy', has the
professional distinction of being one of only 27 people
worldwide who have taken and passed The Alliance of Professional
Tattooists Tattoo Mastery Test. He is a Kansas Licensed trainer
for tattooing and basic/advanced body piercing procedures and
holder of Kansas Practitioners License Tattoo Artist/Permanent
Color Technician and Body Piercer. He also holds a license in
Missouri and has been licensed to work New Hampshire, Iowa and
South Dakota.
"I'm very proud to been appointed to the State Board of
Cosmetology and to be able to represent my industry and the
other Body Artists in the state," said The Gypsy. "This is a way
for me to make a difference ..... Tattooing is an expression and
art form but there are standards of safety and there has to be
education in the market to keep those standards. I feel that my
work on the Board can help to promote education in the art form.
I feel that the industry has stagnated in Kansas and I look
forward to helping my industry expand and progress. Tattooing
and piercing are the worlds oldest art form's but there is no
sense in keeping the practice archaic and ancient in today's
world. "
An International award winning, museum exhibited artist, he owns
and operates the Skin Art Creations Tattoo Emporium at 110 West
Main Street in Independence. The establishment is the oldest,
established, licensed studio in southeast Kansas and the longest
serving tattoo studio for the states of Oklahoma, Kansas and
Missouri in the United States. Since 1994, he has been a
professional member of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists,
an organization founded to promote education of the craft and
standardize infection control and safety procedures.
He and his art have been featured in numerous news articles,
magazines and publications and has been interviewed on
television and radio. He currently runs the weekly online blog
broadcast of Gypsy's Skin Art Show, a program dedicated to the
body art lifestyle where he answers questions about tattooing
and piercing. Phone-in show is on www.blogtalkradio.com/ubtat2d
every Monday at 9:00 a.m Central Time.
He has also announced his intention to conduct a four-part
lecture series on the Art of Tattoo at Independence Community
College this fall.
Born in Topeka, Gypsy exhibited his artistic talent at 18 months
old when he drew a picture of a cow on the inside cover of a
coloring book. He never had another color book after that time.
His Mother, recognizing his natural talent, kept him well
supplied in crayons and newsprint paper. The GYPSY'S Grandmother
also recognized his early artistic abilities and at 6 years of
age enrolled him in art classes at Washburn University where he
soon out surpassed the other students in his class. His
instructors moved him quickly from beginner to intermediate
classes and soon into an advanced adult class where he was
discovered by famed portrait artist Harry Roth. Mr. Roth took
The GYPSY under his wing and gave him private lessons for the
next 3 years. In 1964 The GYPSY won a City wide art contest with
a crayon and water color drawing of a space walk. This picture
went on to win first place for his age group in State
competition and later in National. It remained on display at the
Smithsonian Institution from 1964 - 1965. It resides in the
museum archives.
In 1974, while still in High School, The GYPSY started doing
freelance art for the Nazarene publishing House in KCMO. That
same year he started college courses for Forestry & Wildlife
Management. The GYPSY graduated from High School at Mid-Term in
1976 and immediately was called for an interview from a major
greeting card company (at the time he was taking college classes
for Technical Illustration & Mechanical drafting). Turning down
the contract that the company offered The GYPSY stopped by a
tattoo studio on his way back home and he was hooked. He started
his 18 month apprenticeship the next day and the rest is
history.
The GYPSY had the first professional Tattoo Studio in St.
Joseph, Missouri which opened in 1977. He has also had studios
in San Angelo, Midland, El Paso and Abilene, Texas. All except
El Paso being the first of their kind in those cities. The GYPSY
has had several careers in his life including Army Enlistment,
Psychiatric Nurse, Senior Zoo Keeper and Truck Driver all while
still maintaining numerous studios all under the Skin Art
Creations name. In 1990 The GYPSY opened the first tattoo studio
in the 4 State region of Southeast Kansas, Southwest Missouri,
Northeast Oklahoma & Northwest Arkansas. In 1992 The GYPSY
received formal training for advanced piercing procedures and
became the first professional piercer in the region.
In 1995 The GYPSY opened a second studio in Independence, Kansas
which he closed a year later due to lack of competent help. The
Baxter Springs Studio operated until Christmas Eve of 2002 when,
due to lack of community support and the overly liberal tattoo
and piercing laws in Joplin, Missouri (at that time $50.00 and a
blood test would get you a license), which had caused the market
to become flooded, the Baxter Springs studio was closed. The
GYPSY reopened the Independence, Kansas Studio in November of
2002 and now operates full time from there. He recently opened a
second studio in Iola, Kansas
The GYPSY has won World wide recognition and numerous awards for
his artwork as well as being involved in community affairs and
civic organizations. The GYPSY is the first tattoo artist to
ever run for a Political office campaigning for a City Council
seat in Baxter Springs, Kansas and later as the Democratic
Candidate for the District 12 Representative seat for the Kansas
House.
The GYPSY has 2 Daughters, 4 Sons and 3 Granddaughters. He
resides in Independence with his wife, Debbie George.
-Lois Lessman, PR Director-
Independence Community College
Independence, Kansas |
