Tucson’s only nonprofit tattoo shop, Spark Project Collective is attempting to beat the Guinness World Record for most tattoos done in 12 hours by 12 artists. 

Currently, the world record is set at 836 total tattoos held by Alessandra Bonacorsi’s team of artists in Italy. Spark is attempting to hit 900 tattoos, and if it beats the record, it will be the first in the United States to break it. No one has attempted to beat the record in almost 10 years. 

The attempt will take place Friday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Owner Johnny Vasquez said the event will be held at the Tucson Expo Center located at 3750 E. Irvington Road. The event is free to attend, but there will be almost 100 vendors. 

The shop’s goal is to schedule at least 450 people and require each person to get two tattoos each. Bookings will be $100, and all tattoos must be prepaid and booked. You can sign up now on the Spark Project Collective website. Clients will be required to check in an hour before their reservation. People are allowed to get multiple tattoos.

All tattoos are about 4 square inches, 2 inches tall and 2 inches wide. Clients can either get both tattoos on one arm or leg or one tattoo on each arm or leg. The only colors allowed are black and red. Images of the offered tattoos can be found on the Spark Project Collective website.

To adhere to the requirements that the “Guinness Book of World Records” have placed, Spark Project Collective will not allow any changes to the tattoo designs. 

“They’re not the little tiny ones that are just lines. They’ll have shading, saturation, all the really pretty, boujee stuff. The fun stuff,” tattoo apprentice Jena Haro said. 

Haro started working at Spark Project Collective in 2020 and eventually became an apprentice. She plans to be one of the artists in the attempt to break the world record.

Haro said that Vasquez pushes her and the other artists to show them how strong they are. 

“I have a lot of confidence in the team. The whole purpose behind doing this is teaching them how to try to strive for things that are tough to reach or that most people don’t try to attempt,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez is really looking forward to this opportunity to launch the careers of the artists and get their names out there. 

“It’s showing me that I am capable of more than I’m letting myself believe that I can [do],” Haro said. She hasn’t had the opportunity to try new things before this and can’t wait to do it. “It’s something I’ve never done before, and even though it sounds scary, I am ridiculously excited for it.” 

Along with Haro, fellow tattoo artist Sarah Drottz also plans to be tattooing at the record attempt. Drottz has also been with Spark Project Collective for almost three years. She said that she’s excited for her career to take off and to be known after the world record-breaking attempt.

“To show the artwork that I can do with the speed that I have,” Drottz said. She believes that Spark will become a powerhouse after. 

If you would like to support another way, they are asking people to volunteer. You can sign up for volunteering on the Spark Collective website as well. 

Tattoos and piercings for Friday, Oct. 13, will also be offered separately at the event in a different section.  

You will also receive a commemorative keychain for your participation in helping Spark attempt to break the record.

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