Psilocybin and absinthe are the last things I want my tattoo artist to ingest before he or she pokes a needle into me and creates a permanent piece of art on my skin. But for John Clue (of Tennessee's Tattoo Collective), Mike "Pooch" Pucciarelli (of Altered State Tattoo in Lake Worth) and Ben Her (of Japan's Chopstick Tattoo), I might make an exception. The three world-renowned tattoo/fine artists display their canvas creations in a new art show, Psilocybin and Absinthe, that blends psychotropic characters with surreal dreamscapes. The opening reception at Blackout Creations (Sat., Feb. 24, 8-11 p.m.) is free, along with complimentary drinks to help put you in the mood (with proper I.D.). On display through March 24, noon-6 p.m. Sun.-Mon., noon-8 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. S., St. Petersburg, free, 727-823-6202, blackout-creations.com.
This article appears in Feb 21-27, 2007.