The Revolutionist: Tell us a bit about the history of the First Street Tattoo Parlor. When did you open?
Tobias Peltier: First Street opened its doors on Halloween 2019. Prior to opening, I’d spent some time tattooing across the U.S., Asia and Europe, and after seeing so much and learning how other artists do it, my business partner, Paul Massison, and I came up with a plan to kill our former shop, completely rebrand, and build a brand new space built to our specs. In the last five years, we’ve grown from a three-person crew to a ten, sometimes 11-person crew and have expanded the shop twice to accommodate.
There’s a culture that exists at First Street that I’ve never felt at any other shop or any other work place—there’s so much love, so much respect—I am eternally grateful to the brothers and sisters that I share the space with for helping to cultivate something so beautiful.
TR: What is it about tattooing that speaks to you?
TP: That’s a tough question. Everything good in my life is because of tattooing—my home, my missus, my friendships. In my brain, tattooing is so much more than an art form. It’s an energy, or a guiding force, and I think it’s important to focus on what I have to contribute to it versus what I stand to gain from it. Every day there’s an opportunity to make the best tattoo I’ve ever made, and it’s a blessing to be given the opportunity to work with each client. It’s humbling to know that I get to carry that with me.
I think the direct connection we have to history is also really amazing. Traditionally, tattooing is passed between mentor and apprentice, and if you’re one of the lucky ones, you can trace your lineage back to the very beginning of American Traditional Tattooing. Before our apprentice, Goob, graduated, we spent a lot of time researching ours, and it is as follows:
Charlie Barr (1870-1960) > Bert Grimm (1900-1985) > Lyle Tuttle (1931-2019) > Dean Dennis (1950?-2012) > Jane Nemhauser (1952?-2012) > Pam Davison > Jason Bradham > Robbie Campbell > Tobias Peltier > Goob Fuentes
TR: What sets you and your artist apart from other shops in town?
TP: You know, we tend to keep our heads down and focus on what we have going on. Undoubtedly, there are amazing things happening in other shops around town—GJ plays host to some incredible talent.
We focus on maintaining the high vibe of the shop and hope that everyone who visits us feels welcomed and leaves feeling like they are a part of our family. That’s the beautiful thing about tattooing—if you’re doing it right, the walls come down and you build a larger table instead.
TR: What’s the Lowbrow Art Classic all about? What is the difference between fine art and the art people will see at the Lowbrow Classic?
TP: We initially started the Lowbrow Classic as a means to make some space for new blood in the art scene and sort of blur the lines between traditional/alternative art. The First Street Crew are fantastic tattoo artists, and that talent translates well to other mediums. A few of us reached out to a local gallery about potentially showing some of our art in their spot, and they weren’t super responsive. I think that tattooing is still intimidating to the stuffy, fine artist crowd—I understand that we look a certain way and might not be aligned with the image that they have for their clientele. So we just said “fuck it, lets do our own thing.” Let’s keep the candle burning for as many people as we can, not snuff it out because we think we have some better understanding of “art”. Let’s encourage people to start something and finish it. There’s a quote i just found in a Brandon Sanderson book that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately—
“One of the greatest tragedies of life is knowing how many people in the world are made to soar, paint, sing, or steer—except they never get the chance to find out.”
I don’t think there is a major distinction in fine art vs. the art you’ll see at the Lowbrow Classic—I think it’s the venue and the people involved that set this thing apart. This is a space with open minds and open hearts and a willingness to understand.
There’s enough of that bullshit mass-produced Thomas Kincade calendar art available at T.J. Maxx anyways.
TR: Why skateboard decks?
TP: Skateboarding, punk rock, tattooing. It all goes hand in hand. I think the decks pay homage to the places we spent our time during our formative years that ultimately led to the birth of the Lowbrow Classic and even First Street Tattoo Parlor—basement shows, skateparks, criminal mischief, graffiti, touring with our bands, etc. Personally, they invoke feelings of youth and freedom, and it adds a lot of depth to the art they play host to.
Having a uniform canvas also helps with the display and flow of the show itself—the number of boards this year are well into the triple digits, and space is something to think about.
Also, a skateboard hanging on the wall looks fuckin’ sick. Shoutout to our homies at Skateboard Connection for making it easy for us.
TR: What effects does lowbrow art (of all types) have on culture or counterculture?
TP: Art is reflective of the artist, and I think that the creative process embodies much of who that artist is—their past, present, and future, trauma, healing, and emotion, familial and ancestral ties and so on.
Representation is validation, and having a dignified spot where you can display your art, no matter your background or training, is valuable to the respective culture or counterculture you represent. Maybe it helps steady the ground you stand on, maybe it helps connect you to others like you, and maybe (hopefully) it affords others a chance to learn about you.
TR: When is the Lowbrow Art Classic this year? What can people expect when they attend?
TP: The Lowbrow Classic takes place on December 14th, at 6:00 pm at First Street Tattoo Parlor—1119 N. 1st St. Unit B. The event is free of charge, and while some of the skateboards may be for sale, there is absolutely no obligation to make a purchase. The holiday season is hard enough as it is, and we want our space to be an escape from the Consumer Hell that we are all subjected to at this time of year.
This year, we have over 100 artists showing, and somewhere around 120-130 skateboards on display—expect a wide array of mediums and styles from artists all over the region. We had around 1000 people through the door in 2023 and expect to double that number this year. Our hope is that you come and witness the absolutely incredible talent on display, shake some hands, have some conversations, find some inspiration, and ultimately take part in community— “a rising tide lifts all boats”.
Our neighbors at No Coast Sushi are designing a special Lowbrow Classic menu to accompany the show, and our besties at Jitterz Coffee will be in attendance, whipping up coffee drinks to enjoy while perusing the art.
I think it’s important to note that while the Lowbrow Classic is hosted by a tattoo shop, the shop is merely a venue—if tattooing isn’t your thing, please know that this isn’t a tattoo-related event.
TR: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and photos of The Lowbrow Classic 2023. See you Saterday!
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