Coney Island Tattoo & Motorcycle Fest
The mid-September crowd of some 100 people formed a seamless blur between performer, participant, and spectator at Coney Island's 21st annual Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival.
Started in 1986 in more raucous and edgy times, the event today is propelled by inertia and nostalgia, precious commodities as Coney Island experiences its first waves of gentrification. Gentrification is pandemic in the borough of Brooklyn and even neighborhoods like Coney Island farthest from Manhattan felt the changes development brought. The loose program of side-show performances, an expertly judged tattoo competition, motorcycle pageantry and iron trophies cast on premise delivered a mellow sense of satisfaction such that no one cared to know who won what or why before making their way home that Sunday evening.
Started in 1986 in more raucous and edgy times, the event today is propelled by inertia and nostalgia, precious commodities as Coney Island experiences its first waves of gentrification. Gentrification is pandemic in the borough of Brooklyn and even neighborhoods like Coney Island farthest from Manhattan felt the changes development brought. The loose program of side-show performances, an expertly judged tattoo competition, motorcycle pageantry and iron trophies cast on premise delivered a mellow sense of satisfaction such that no one cared to know who won what or why before making their way home that Sunday evening.