#BCANFFSpotlight | Fruit Camp Tattoo
Photo Credit - Kyle Pompey of Nice Shot Media LLC
FRUIT CAMP TATTOO
Founders - Emi Lynn Holler and Georgia McCandlish
Established - 2019
Newly founded Fruit Camp Tattoos is the brainchild of self-taught tattooers Georgia McCandlish and Emi Lynn Holler, both of whom met in the now-shuttered artist run space The Bell Foundry.
After having their own experiences and exchanges with the more mainstream tattoo spaces (which too often operate with practices steeped in racism, sexism, and trans and homophobia). The duo knew that they could come together to offer an alternative.
In the words of co-founder Emi Holler, “being a safe space isn’t something we feel like we can promise - but as a tattoo shop and artists we are striving to make our space inclusive and approachable and with a focus on prioritizing consent.”
We stopped by the Remington-based shop to take a sneak peak before their official launch, and hear more from the duo about their visions for the space.
How have your shared backgrounds as fine artists played a role in forming both your style of tattooing and the type environment you want to create at Fruit Camp?
EMI - The biggest thing at first was feeling a sense of isolation, especially from other artists, and being able to connect to more technical information. Since being self-taught is so stigmatized it is really hard to gain access and entry to the industry. Which keeps a lot of people from receiving important safety information and really being able to know how to use the materials in front of them.
And a big part of Fruit Camp is people being able to ask questions and be curious about the medium.
GEORGIA - On the flip-side also we are so lucky and we are living in the day and age that we are. There is really a wide and beautiful community of self taught tattooers out there. Many of whom are queer and excited about connecting and sharing tips and tricks with each other and just generally being supportive. And that supportive, close knit network is really how we’ve been able to get where we are.
You are about to open a storefront location - can you tell why opening a shop was so important to you?
EMI - In order tom be able to have more space and hold more people to was important to create a studio that going to be able to larger then either of oir practices. At Fruit Camp Tattoo we are able to push the space wider to have more people.
GEORGIA - Tattooing is maybe on the few personal creative practices that has a really amazing capacity to turn into a mode of living.
I feel really lukcy that I am able to to this full time. Part of having studios upstairs for other artists is having a space where we feel in community and is dialoge with other POC and queers makers color that we know and love.
What is your collective vision for the future of Fruit Camp Tattoo?
GEORGIA - We’ve got really big dreams…but also we really want a stable and anchor space - for ourselves and guests artists. As we expand we also want to transition to this being a worker-owned cooperative.
EMI - Our vision is to have more artists in the space. It is very important to use that people have a pathway to agency that is why being a worker-owned co-op is so important
As a Baltimore-based creative entrepreneur, how do you see participating in the BCAN Founder Fellowship shaping your futures as business owners?
GEORGIA - One of the most amazing things has been (especially as a young business) has been being able to be in dialogue with other folks who are doing the same thing. The BCAN Founder Fellowship has been both affirmative and challenging!
EMI - The resources were totally essential! It made the process of launching and opening much easier and smoother. It made us feel so much more supported. Also it really helped us to learn how to talk about our business and craft a strong vision for ourselves.
