Boyhood Hero Is Tattoo Partner -- Courant.com

When Patrick MacDonald was in the fifth grade he wrote an essay about his hero, Jon Squier.

[Paul]

Jon Spencer's writing and Rick Hartford's photograph are exceptional. Pat and Jon are a great team.

[James]

They say the reaction to the shop has been positive and they hope it will become a community gathering place. Squier also intends to offer gallery space to local artists.

Communbity gathering place????
That is Sick-- as in being mentally missfit.Tatooing is a perverse abomination just as any other appearance altering body modifacation such as but not llimited to lip stretching with insertion plates ,filing teeth to points ,and other body piercings.

[Caitlin]

To some, tattooing may seem like a "perverse abomination," but it is an art that has been practiced for thousands of years in many cultures. For many years there had been distaste for tattoos because they were worn by people who were 'rough around the edges' such as sailors or bikers; more recently tattoos have become more common on people of all ages and backgrounds. I am tattooed myself and consider them to be a collection of art that I can take with me everywhere.

The town of Collinsville is already heavily occupied by artists and art appreciators, so a tattoo shop right below one of the most popular spots in town, could easily be incorporated as a community place. At the very least it could provide a familiar place for those who are - as was so eloquently written before me - "mentally misfit" for having chosen a look which includes body modifications.

[CHARLIE TRAILSIDE]

Collinsville...What a terrific place!!! Looking forward to Halloween.

[cantonkid]

I think that its a form of art and if certain people want it great, if you dont want a tat then dont go there. I dont have any tats but i dont mind if others do. Most people get one for a certain reason each one can tell a story.

[John]

I think JonArt is cartoonish and pretty amateur looking stuff, but if you want his 'art' on your body forever, that's your issue.

[Chaz-inked]

Every one has to get started some place. I did a little research and he did his apprenticeship in Torrington under Raz who is a very well know artist in the Tattoo community.
Jon is now on his own a certified tattooist. I have been in his shop several times and every one has been very pleased with his work. The 3 pieces I saw 2 completed and on a work in progress to be done in several sittings was all very good work.
I have been getting inked since 1983 USN and now a biker so I guess that is what you all want to call me because I ride a Harley.
I am a professional business man, I work am a manager for a world wide business and have been there for 10 years. Hmmm am I a dirt bag because I have tattoos and I served for 6 years in the Navy and ride a Harley? Hey it is not the 70’s any more. We are now an open minded country. You may not like what you see what you here but like the old saying goes……Don’t judge the book by it’s cover.
Many of my tattoos are my own art work and I chose to put them on my body because I lost a lot of my paper art work due to many uncontrollable circumstances, water, fire dogs etc.
So keep an open mind and see the tattoos as a form of art and expression not a "perverse abomination,".
Ask nicely to see some ones tattoos and ask them what is the significance and what does the tattoo mean to them. You may be surprised what you here let alone shed a tear.

[Patrick Macdonald]

I currently do not work at Jon Art tattoo and i do dont associate with that man anymore, the studio's unclean and unprofessional atmosphere was way too much to take, somebody tattooing on their own should undergo a proper apprenticeship, Jon wasnt even taught how to properly sterilize his equipment. His involvement in tattooing is purely for kitsch value, i think that is very dangerous considering that tattooing involves procedures where human blood are present on a regular basis. you must undergo hundreds of hours of training to safely preform a tattoo and Jon Squier certainly has not!

Im working at a very professional and clean tattoo shop in Berlin now called Liberty Tattoo LLC visit our website at www.Libertytattoollc.com .

[John Zacchi R N]

Have two tattoos. One by Raz, and another by his daughter Sara. Both do beautiful work. If Jon successfully completed his training under Raz I'm sure his work is excellent

[Pat Harwinton CT]

My 17 year old (today) wants to get a tattoo on his shoulder. I'm unsure if i want to 'ok' it to be done (because of him being underage, I'm sure I have to sign for it) I have heard many, many wonderful things about "Jon Art" in Canton and I was looking forward to going there and seeing some of his work and checking the place out. But with some of these comments, not sure I want to. Is it really as bad as some of you are saying, or maybe it's just that you work somewhere else and are trying to take away his business? Come on, someone please, tell me the truth before I truck all the way out there!! Thanks

[Sour Grapes]

Patrick Macdonald wrote:

I currently do not work at Jon Art tattoo and i do dont associate with that man anymore, the studio's unclean and unprofessional atmosphere was way too much to take, somebody tattooing on their own should undergo a proper apprenticeship, Jon wasnt even taught how to properly sterilize his equipment. His involvement in tattooing is purely for kitsch value, i think that is very dangerous considering that tattooing involves procedures where human blood are present on a regular basis. you must undergo hundreds of hours of training to safely preform a tattoo and Jon Squier certainly has not!
Im working at a very professional and clean tattoo shop in Berlin now called Liberty Tattoo LLC visit our website at www.Libertytattoollc.com .

Sounds like sour grapes from a terminated employee. Thanks for telling us where you work. I'll be sure to stay clear of the place and recommend my friends do the same.

[Brad]

Sour grapes is the understatement. I have 7 pieces from Jon Art, and they are all excellent. His shop is fine, no worries there people. As for sterility, there are no problems there either. Single use needles, autoclave sterilization, certified in blood born pathogen prevention are all part of John's work ethic. I have been getting tattooed since 1983, and Jon's shop is no different than many of the old schooler's here in the state of CT. Raz doesn't apprentice just anyone either, and he is fanatical about his art form.

Ol' Patrick MacDonald is a bitter person who is doing everything he can to sabotage Jon Art. The 2 obviously had a falling out and now he is simply trying to discredit a legitimate artist and tattooist. Typical behavior from one who is only a child. As for the "cartoonish & amateur" looking, one obviously has not seen the bulk of his work, and I am not so sure you should say much yourself Patrick, as your work is published on the website as well, pretty standard stuff. Some designs are cartoonish, that is the intent. Others are not, and they do not show as such. John is a life long artist, not a fly by night "I want to be a tattoo artist 'cuz I saw Miami Ink" person.

Make your own decisions, and check John out yourself. Everyone has an opinion. That doesn't make it fact. In this case, it is simply a slanderous attempt at revenge for a partnership gone sour. It happens.

Check out John's website @ www.jonarttattoo.com and give him a call yourself, or stop by.