Special Free Screening of Tattoo Nation

Director Eric Schwartz & legendary tattoo artist Charlie Cartwright will be in attendance.

On Jan. 26, the Long Beach Creative Group presents a screening of the 2013 documentary, Tattoo Nation, which focuses on legendary tattoo artists Goodtime Charlie Cartwright, Jack Rudy and Freddy Negrete. The screening will happen inside the Rod Briggs Gallery. Cartwright and the film’s director Eric Schwartz, are expected to be in attendance. Seating is limited, so attendees are invited to bring their own folding chairs.

Charlie Cartwright started his career at 15, working out of the back seat of a car, using the hand poke method to create hand drawn, one-of-a-kind, images. After serving in the Navy, he moved from San Diego to Southern California, where he impressed Jimbo Laporte, co-owner of West Coast Tattoo. That eventually landed him a job at The Pike in Long Beach. As The Pike declined, Cartwrignt opened his own shop in East Los Angeles and, with the help of Jack Rudy and other artists, developed a technique that used a single needle and using black as the foundation of artwork that became almost ubiquitous throughout the industry.

Jack Rudy left the United States Marine Corps in 1975 and began an apprenticeship at Good Time Charlie’s Tattooland in East Los Angeles. His style is renowned for the masterful use of light and dark shades of black and grey, creating softer and strikingly realistic images. He now owns Good Time Charlie’s TattooLand in Anaheim.

Freddy Negrete grew up in the California prison system, and developed his tattoo skills while incarcerated. He was also instrumental in developing the highly detailed and realistic black and gray styles that have become ubiquitous today. In 1977 he started working with Cartwright, Rudy, and Ed Hardy, who was responsible for introducing the art of Japanese tattooing to America. His 2017 autobiography, Smile Now, Cry Later: Guns, Gangs, and Tattoos, My Life in Black and Gray, explores frankly the struggles, loss and professional successes he’s faced.

The screening is presented in conjunction with Tatu Tabu, an exhibition of 27 artworks created by eight tattoo artists, including Kari Barba, Shawn Barber, Tom Berg, Rino Gonzalez, Alan Padilla, Jhon Gutti, Christina Ramos, and Sergio Sanchez. The exhibition opened Jan. 7 and runs through Feb. 3.

During exhibits, the gallery is open to the public Fridays through Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is required.

Time: 7 p.m., Jan. 27

Cost:  Free

Details: LongBeachCreativeGroup.com and on IG @LongBeachCreativeGroup.

Venue:The Rod Briggs Gallery, 2221 E Broadway, Long Beach