Local News
Related Photos
-
Tattoo artist Thomas Deaton, owner of Twisted Reality Tattoo in Chickasha, wants to warn the community about the dangers of getting bootleg tattoos. He is shown here in his shop working on a section of a full-body tattoo for a local customer.
Discussion
Twisted Reality Local tattoo artist straight talks about safety and art
—
Thinking about an inexpensive bootleg tattoo?
Better think again.
By allowing a non-professional to tattoo your skin, you run the risk of developing one or more of a dozen possibly life-threatening diseases, including AIDS, herpes, malaria, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and cutaneous gonorrhea, says Thomas Deaton, who recently purchased Twisted Reality Tattoo in Chickasha.
"If a tattoo artist is working out of the house, he is not a professional and has no clue what he is doing," Deaton said. "Tattooing out of the house is highly illegal and extremely dangerous, even when the scratcher artist pretends that they know how to properly disinfect everything. And someone who learned how to tattoo in prison, who has a lot of tattoos, has a high chance of having hepatitis C himself."
Deaton says people who get "back street" tattoos, are putting themselves at a great deal of risk.
"If you've had a tattoo by a back street tattooist, you need to be checked for hepatitis C and HIV for the next two years," Deaton said. "These people don't even wear gloves."
Before Deaton will even begin work on a tattoo, his customers must read and sign a medical history consent form and an Oklahoma State Department of Health disclosure statement.
In addition, they must be at least 18 years old and may not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"We have never been cited or fined for any violations and we're the only tattoo shop in the Oklahoma City metro area who can say that," Deaton said.
Shop manager Coral Matthynssens not only takes care of finances and appointments, she is also in charge of keeping all of the equipment Deaton uses sterile. She thoroughly cleans instruments before placing them in a 270-degree autoclave for sterilization. She also keeps meticulous records and spoor tests the autoclave monthly, sending the tests off to a professional autoclave testing service.
Epidemic of infections
Over the last several months, Deaton said he has seen a virtual epidemic of infections caused by non-professional tattoos.
"I have worked all over the U. S. and I have never seen such an abundance of backstreet tattoos," he said. "People come in with severe infections, and, while we advise them to go to the doctor, many are underage and don't want their parents to know."
Deaton said one young woman who came in for help had developed a severe allergic reaction to a back street tattoo that went through all layers of her skin and into the muscle tissue.
"It's not that people get bootleg tattoos because they're cheap, they just don't know," Deaton said. "Art is not the issue. The skill factor is not the issue. Physiology is the issue."
Deaton likened having a tattoo done while sitting on a couch, where kids and pets sit, jump and play, to having surgery under the same conditions.
"It's shocking that people aren't addressing this because it's reached epidemic proportions," Deaton said. "People are smart enough not to use someone else's dirty needles, but they are doing the same thing when they get a bootleg tattoo and there's no way to track diseases and infections with back street tattooing."
Deaton says despite using universal precautions in his shop, he still treats people like they're toxic because he, too, could be at risk.
Under Oklahoma law, it is a felony not only to do tattoos without a license, but also to possess tattoo equipment without a license.
"That's why so many people are buying equipment off of E-Bay," Deaton said. "Every day someone comes in wanting to buy ink, needles and Tattoo Goo."
Deaton is dismayed at articles found in popular tattoo magazines offering step-by-step instructions on how to make your own tattoo gun using simple, easily-obtained materials. They also offer an ink recipe made up of urine and burnt plastic.
Not something many people would like to have inserted into their skin.
Pretty neat gig
Deaton graduated from Del Mar College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Corpus Christi, Texas. Working in commercial art for 13 years, he was Art Director for NBC and managed the Whataburger account for the Morehead, Dotts & Associates advertising firm in Corpus Christi.
Then he got a divorce and a motorcycle and worked his way into a new profession - tattooing.
Taught by Wild Bill Hastie, a world-famous tattoo artist who owns the Black Dragon Tattoo Studio in Shreveport. La., and Doc Webb, another world-famous tattoo artist, Deaton eventually opened a shop in Shreveport and another in New Orleans, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Deaton has traveled to more than 30 states over the last 10 years practicing his art, getting better and better at it.
While visiting his sister in Norman, he met the owner of Twisted Reality Tattoo in Chickasha.
"I came in with a portfolio and worked a year for free before he handed me the keys to the shop," Deaton said.
After managing the shop for a time, Deaton recently began the process of purchasing the business.
"It's a pretty neat gig, and we're a full-service, family-oriented shop," Deaton said.
Committed to giving back to their community, Deaton and Matthynssens sponsor several groups and events, including dirt bike races, a bowling team, Chickasha wrestling, USAO and helping out with Little League umpire salaries.
"We like being able to play a role in the community because we are concerned about the health of the people in our community," Deaton said.
Deaton has more than 800 examples of his work posted on MySpace. For more information about Twisted Reality Tattoos, 1706 S. 4th St. Suite D, Chickasha, call 405.224.4224 or e-mail to twistedreality@yahoo.com, or visit http//myspace/twistedrealitytattoo.
Twisted Reality Tattoos will participate in the Midwest Ink & Metal Fest which will be held Aug. 6-8 in the Reed Conference Center of the Midwest City Sheraton Hotel, 5750 Will Rogers Road in Midwest City. 405.455.1800.
- Local News
-
-
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
-
Sooners' announcer to retire
NORMAN (AP) — Bob Barry Sr. announced Tuesday that he plans to retire as the radio play-by-play voice of Oklahoma football and men's basketball after the upcoming season.
Barry has been the radio voice of the Sooners for the last 20 years and he also had a 12-year stint in the job at the beginning of his career. In between, he handled the play-by-play for Tulsa basketball games and then for Oklahoma State football and basketball. -
NEWS BRIEFS
City offices close Monday
The City of Chickasha's offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of Labor Day. Regular city services will resume on Tuesday.
Waste Connections announced that they will be "business-as-usual" on Labor Day. Customers will receive sanitation services on the regular Monday route. -
GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
HCE Home
Management
Cross stitch or
Embroidery item
Meridian Happy Home - Mabel Pharis
Lucile-Blue Bonnet - Myrtle Elston
Rural Neighbors - Nona Sherer
Friend - Faith Andrus
Misc. needlework
Spring Creek - Deone Moskayitch
Meridian Happy Home - Mary Spurlin -
around the Areas
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506.. -
NHS principal appreciates effort of law enforcement
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank District Attorney Bret Burns and Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams for going above and beyond their job descriptions to help me with a situation that recently occurred at Ninnekah High School.
Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams helped in a matter that occurred in the Chickasha city limits, but affected Ninnekah School. I appreciate his assistance. The Chickasha School District is extremely lucky to have a police chief who will go the extra mile to support education and student safety. -
Lawmaker examines state questions
There are going to be 11 state questions on your ballot when you go to the voting booth this November. Last week I covered the first state question that was put on the ballot through the initiative petition process by the teachers’ labor union, therefore bypassing the state legislature, State Question 744.
All of the remaining 10 state questions were put on after being passed by the legislature, so that the people would have a voice in deciding these important issues. - More Local News Headlines
-
