Bob Vessells is a very unique artist and person: A true eccentric, and a devout student of psychology, paranormal and all things occult. 

After many complaints by concerned parents who were writing his school administration about fear of “ink poisoning”, Bob was forbidden to draw on his fellow third-grade students. Eventually, he would go on to permanently ink friends in high school. In 1987, after two years of art school, he landed his first professional tattooing gig with world-famous founding father of modern tattooing, Mark “The Shark” Mahoney, at Shamrock Social Club on the infamous Sunset Strip. Bob moved on to open his own tattoo shop and art gallery in 1995, “Funny Farm Tattoo,” in Los Feliz, CA. 

Fueled by ADD and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Bob is an accomplished  mixed-medium artist. Mastering oil painting, pen and ink, he also carves Tikis, sculpts “3D” art and art brushes, and is one of the most fun – and funniest – people you will ever meet. Check out Bob Vessells at www.bobvessells.com or www.funnyfarmtattoo.com.

AXIS (born March 26, 1973 in London, England) is a contemporary illustrator/painter who emerged from Los Angeles’ seminal graffiti scene in the 1980s. He is most noted for his convoluted and hyper-stylized freehand graffiti, which has appeared in Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle, Baltimore, London, Tokyo, and Berlin.

As a child, Axis moved from London to Los Angeles with his family and developed a number of musical and artistic influences including Mozart, Black Sabbath, Rick Griffin, Norman Rockwell, and even Monty Python’s Flying Circus. An early convert to skateboarding and punk rock, Axis began experimenting with graffiti art in 1985. By the mid-90s he had cemented his reputation as one of the most prolific street artists working in Los Angeles. Though his career has largely unfolded outside of the graffiti landscape, his skate-punk origins continue to shape his engorged aesthetic and politicized black humor.

In addition to his artwork, Axis is also widely known as a musician. Having received formal music training (harpsichord, cello, piano) at a young age, Axis formed Los Angeles hard-core/Metal band The Pain (lead guitarist, songwriter) in 2004. He has recorded two full-length albums and has toured Europe and the United States. 

Axis lives in Los Angeles, CA where he continues to paint, skate and play music everyday. For more information about Axis, please visit: www.stylepig.com.

– Freak Chic Tattoo and Tuff Sissy & Co. Owner, Mat Joseph, Joins Forces with Daniel Creadon and “Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing” to Raise Funds for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Victims –

On Thursday, June 16, 2011, from 8-11 PM, Melrose Avenue art duo, “Tuff Sissy & Co.” (www.tuffsissy.com) and neighboring “Freak Chic Tattoo” (www.freakchictattoo.com), will host a Japan benefit and opening artists’ reception for what will be a month-long exhibit of works by eight local artists. The June 16 benefit and art show, entitled “Tuff Sissy & Co. ♥ Japan”, is in partnership with Daniel Creadon and his company, Los Angeles-based “Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing”. The exhibit will be housed at Tuff Sissy & Co. and Freak Chic Tattoo June 12–July 7, 2011, and at the conclusion of the exhibit, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the artwork will be donated to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami victims through the Japan America Society of Southern California.

“Tuff Sissy & Co. ♥ Japan”, curated by Ten Terrell, will include works by Daniel Creadon/Factory13; Los Angeles street art pioneer, AXIS; street/graffiti artist SEROE; Baku Watanabe, a traditional Japanese tattoo and visual artist; Konstantin; Bob Vessells, owner of Los Feliz shop, “Funny Farm Tattoo”; Freak Chic’s own Sixx Taylor, and Frank Ball. Daniel Creadon’s section of the show will be a creative installation of Factory13 skateboards.

“At Tuff Sissy & Co., we’re all about art, community and giving back…this exhibit allows us to support our local artist community, as well as help the Japan earthquake victims, through art,” says Mat Joseph, owner and founder of both Freak Chic Tattoo and Tuff Sissy & Co., and tattoo and piercing industry veteran.

Guests at the June 16 Japan benefit and exhibit opening will enjoy a hosted vodka bar courtesy of Absolut, cupcakes from the famous Magnolia Bakery, and O.N.E. Coconut Water. More event sponsors will be announced over the next two weeks. A photographer will be on-hand to shoot the art on the walls, as well as the art on event guests.

Tuff Sissy & Co. and Freak Chic Tattoo are located at 7367 and 7365 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90046 (between Fuller and Martel Avenues). Tattoo and piercing appointments at Freak Chic can be made by calling 323.951.1501. Tuff Sissy & Co. hosts regular art exhibits and art auctions/benefits, as well as figurative and open drawing nights, and other related events (more details TBA). For more information or to RSVP for the June 16 art opening, please email1316: info@stilettomarketing.com.

About Daniel Creadon/Factory13

Daniel Creadon is originally from Mentor, OH, where he founded Factory13 in 1999, out of his garage. Danny has been skateboarding for as long as he can remember, and at an early age, he became frustrated with the same cookie-cutter shapes and graphics being sold on skateboards. Soon after, he began building the press and molds to make his own skateboards – often out of scraps from the factories he worked in as a welder. In just a few short years, he had taught himself how to build the innovative and functional skateboards he had been seeking for so long.

Danny now lives in Venice, CA, and works out of his Factory13 workshop in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to skateboards, he also designs innovative structures as a professional Architectural and Mechanical Engineer.

Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing is an independent skateboard company. At Factory13 they design, manufacture, print and ride the most unique and aggressive skateboards on the market. They give skateboarders the opportunity to make every design decision, providing customization at every level. All boards are handmade and screen-printed by skateboarders themselves, in the Factory13 workshop. For more information, please visit: www.factory13.org.

About Japan America Society of Southern California

The Japan America Society of Southern California was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America.

We are a non-profit, charitable and educational organization consisting of individuals and corporations with an interest in Japan and in United States-Japan relations. Our membership is open to the general public and currently includes 130 Corporate, and over 2,000 individual members.

We offer unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries. Our active calendar of events includes breakfast and luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts and other special activities. For more information, please visit: www.jas-socal.org.