Black Cat Tattoo finds a home at Emerald Coast Plaza

Black Cat Tattoo finds a home at Emerald Coast Plaza

By Deborah Wheeler

debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com

Art is recognized in many different forms - even tattoos.

Black Cat Tattoo opened in Emerald Coast Plaza the first of December. The studio specializes in tattoos, but also sells hanging artwork and sculptures by the studio's artists.

The studio is the second location for owner Albee Heis, who goes by only the name Albee. His Panama City Beach location has been open for 11 years.

Albee first learned the skill of tattoo art in Panama City Beach 26 years ago.

Originally an airbrush artist, it occurred to him that his artwork on a T-shirt is disposable.

"I didn't want my art to be disposed of," he said, and began reading about tattooing.

He opened his first Black Cat studio in Atlanta in 1991. He was there for eight years before opening in Panama City Beach in 1998. Four tattoo artists work that busy shop on the strip. He opened in Santa Rosa Beach the first of December. Tattoo artist Dave Harbin works for him here.

"I was ready for a change," said Albee. "We get mostly tourists in Panama City Beach. Spring break is crazy over there. Here, I get mostly local clientele."

Since 1991, Albee has appeared in all the tattoo magazines and has won numerous awards at major tattoo conventions, which line the walls of his shop.

"I am one of the best," he said confidently.

The most famous client graced with artwork by Albee was former middleweight world boxing champ, Terry Norris, whom he did in the 1980s.

While most tattoos that people get are unusual, said Albee, the incident that stands out in his mind is when a woman came in wanting two sparrow's nests on her chest to match the sparrows on her husband's chest. She got them.

And there was the time a whole family of women came in at one time to get tattoos.

While the recent interest in tattoos seems to have surged, "Tattooing has been around since the beginning of time," said Albee. "Cave men had them and 5,000-year-old mummies have been found with tattoos."

Black Cat is located at 3906 U.S. Highway 98W and is open from noon - 9 p.m. daily except Sundays, when closed. Phone (850) 267-0094 or check out the Web site at www.blackcattat2.com.

In the near future, Albee might also be seen performing locally with his bluegrass band Hellalujah.