Dion Kaszas
Indigenous Ink
Ancient and Modern Tattooing
About Me
Hello my name is Dion Kaszas, I am a person of mixed Hungarian, Métis, Hawaiian,and Interior Salish heritage and an urban Bill C-31 member of the Lower Nicola Indian band in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada. I work as a professional tattoo artist in a small town tattoo shop, Vertigo Tattoos and Body Piercing in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. As a small town tattoo artist I do everything from small first time script to bigger multi session tattoos. I specialize in neo-tribal, dot work, black work and ornamental tattooing with a special emphasis on traditional hand tattooing techniques. These include hand poke and skin stitch tattooing methods which arise from my Nlaka'pamux (Interior Salish) culture. I started tattooing in 2009 under my mentor Carla Gosgnach the owner of Vertigo Tattoos since 1998, under her careful tutelage I have been given the gift of tattooing and I am honored. Although I specialize in the above mentioned areas I am always open to other genres of tattooing and welcome inquires about your next tattoo project, whether it be an intricate ornamental piece, a bright bold color floral design, or a subtle black and gray sleeve.
When not at the shop tattooing I work in other artistic mediums, including but not limited to oil, watercolor, graphite, mixed media collage, and video. Check out my tattoo and art gallery as well as the video section which includes some short films or past tattoo projects.
My passion for tattooing extends beyond my artistic work into my academic pursuit of a Masters degree in Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia. My area of research is Indigenous tattooing, focusing keenly on the revival of Indigenous peoples tattooing practices. I will be outlining the journey that I have taken as a tattoo artist involved in the revival of many Indigenous peoples tattooing practices, and asking others to share their journeys
Press & Publications
2017:
"Old Meets New: Dion Kaszas Draws Inspiration from Ancient Tattooing Techniques" Jamal Tyler, (Lansing City Pulse)
"Sticking to Tradition: Indigenous Tattoo Revival" Ash Kelly, (CBC News)
"Reviving Indigenous Tattooing" Jaimie Kehler, (CBC Radio One’s Daybreak South)
2016
"An Indigenous Tattoo Reawakening," Lars Krutak, "First American Art Magazine"
"Who Did Your Ink? Dion Kaszas looks to revive traditional methods of hand-poke and skin-stitch tattooing" Janet McDonald, (Georgia Straight)
"Documentary on Inuit Women's Tattoos May Get Wider Release" Kieran Oudshoorn, (CBC News )
2015:
"The World Atlas of Tattoo" (Yale University Press)
By Anna Felicity Friedman
"Reviving Identity Through Ink" (Salmon Arm Observer)
by Martha Wickett
"Indigenous Ink Festival Celebrates Culture and Heritage" (The New Zealand Herald)
by Corazon Miller
2014:
"Analysis & Investigation of Graduate Research Projects: Proseminar Series 2014." (The Center for Social, Spatial & Economic Justice Press)
Edited by Vanessa Mitchell and Jewelles A. Smith
"Tattoo Traditions of Native North American: Ancient and Contemporary Expressions of Identity" (LM Publishers)
By Lars Krutak
2012:
"Spiritual Skin: Magical Tattoos and Scarification"(Edition Reuss)
by Lars Krutak
Dion
Check out my blog, facebook page, Instagram, Youtube Channel, and research website, Indigenoustattooing.com.
Painting Website: www.dionkaszas.com
Painting Blog: www.dionkaszas.blog
Artists Store: www.dionkaszasart.com
Exhibition History
2017:
Earthline Tattooing Action, Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB, Curated by Becca Taylor
Stitching Us Together Video Installation, Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB, Curated by Becca Taylor
Earthline Tattooing Action, Lookout! Gallery, East Lansing, MI, curated by Erin Sutherland
"Stitch by Stitch Video Installation" Lookout! Gallery, East Lansing, MI, curated by Erin Sutherland
2016:
Earthline Tattoo School Exhibition, FINA Gallery, Kelowna, CAN
2015:
Owning with the Gaze, Gallery 101, Ottawa, CAN, curator Cheryl L’Hirondelle
2014:
Revive the Indian in the Child, Alternator Gallery of Contemporary Art, Kelowna, CAN, curator Amberley John
Narrated History/New Morality, FINA Gallery, Kelowna CAN
5th annual student media exhibition Kelowna, CAN: Official premiere of my short documentary film, "Indigenous Ink."
2013:
The Medium is the Method: Graduate Exhibition and Conference, FINA Gallery, Kelowna, CAN
2012:
Drawn Together, FINA Gallery, Kelowna CAN
Earthline tattooing Action: Gallery 101
Videos
You will find a few different types of videos in this section, the first will be videos that highlight traditional hand poke and skin stitch tattoo projects I have undertaken. The second kind of video will be documentaries and short interviews from my research, the final kind of video will be artistic media works that I will be sharing with you. Enjoy!
Consumed BY iNK
traditional hand Tattoo Gallery
This gallery contains tattoos done by traditional hand techniques, including skin stitch and hand poke. If you are interested in getting a traditional tattoo don't hesitate to contact me and we will get working on it. Some of the distinctive differences with hand tattooing methods include less trauma to the skin, which means less healing time. It does take more time but as you can see the results are amazing. If you are an Indigenous person who is working on reviving your tattooing tradition and would like to get a traditional tattoo using either of these methods I am always excited to help others in embodying their culture on their skin.
Paintings and other Works
This is a sample of my art in watercolor, mixed media, oil, graphite, chalk pastel and laser engraved wood panel. I will be adding more in the next few months when I get a chance to photograph them.
If you would like to check out more of my none tattoo related artwork check out my Painting webstie @ wwww.dionkaszas.com
Or if you are interested in buying prints of one of the pieces you see here check out my artists store @ www.dionkaszasart.com
Events
This section highlights the places I will be visiting as guest artist, conventions I will be attending, or presentations I will be giving. Stay tuned as more events are to come.
sEPT
22-24
2017
Winnipeg art gallery
Insurgence/Resurgence
Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Sept
29 & 30
2017
Indigenous Traditional Tattoo Gathering
Nimkii Aazhibikoong
Elliot Lake Ontario, Canada
To book and appointment email me at dkaszas@hotmail.com
OCT
13-152017
Calgary tattoo & ARTS festival
Stampede BMO Center
Calgary Alberta, Canada
To book and appointment email me at dkaszas@hotmail.com
Dec
2 & 3
2017
Indigenous Ink Tattoo and Arts Festival
Corban Estate Arts Centre
Auckland New Zealand
To book and appointment email me at dkaszas@hotmail.com
Contact
If you would like to get in contact with me for an appointment, drop me a line by entering your name email and a message in the box below and I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can.
Or you call the shop at (250) 804-0155 I am not in the shop everyday so easiest thing is to contact me via email.
Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.