The Skull Project

Opens Fri., July 20, 7-10 p.m., Jinxed Clothing, 620 S. Fourth St.

by Rachel Frankford

gallery

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Without human skulls, there would be far fewer tattoos (there would also be far fewer, if any, humans with heads, but heads are rarely tattooed anyway). This Friday, Jinxed Gallery celebrates the publication of tattoo artist Matthew Amey's The Skull Project. Amey, owner of Independent Tattoo in Selby, Del., compiled 151 paintings of skulls by 151 (counting himself) tattoo artists from 18 countries. The Skull Project grew out of Amey's previous book, The Skull Reference, for which he completed 151 contour line drawings of the human skull from different angles. Amey then started to think about a book of finished paintings and began contacting artists he had met over the years or whose work he had seen. The result is a catalogue of styles, with pictures by turns psychedelic, funny and macabre. "I didn't realize until I got the book back in my hand as a tangible object the extent of what I'd put together," says Amey. Copies of a signed, limited edition of the book will be on sale at the reception.

Opens Fri., July 20, 7-10 p.m., Jinxed Clothing, 620 S. Fourth St., 215-978-JINX,

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