Studio Update: COVID-19 Protocols
/in Behind the Scenes, COVID19, Events at Art With a Point, Matt Reiners, Scheduling Information, Tattoo News/by adminUPDATED December 28, 2022
And – thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation as we prioritize public health, the health of our clients and the health of our artists and our families. We appreciate you.
Prior to COVID, AWP has always practiced strict health protocols to prioritize the well-being of our clients and artists. Public Health is central to tattooing. Our studios are clean, Carol Ann!
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Photo ID is required. No exceptions. Neglecting to provide a photo ID at your appointment will forfeit both the appointment and the deposit.
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Payment is due at the time services are rendered. If you’re getting an extensive piece over several sessions, payment is due at each session. No exceptions.
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If you are – or have been – feeling unwell – or if you’re in contact with anyone feeling unwell – do not come to the studio. We know this isn’t *new*, but given how tired we all are of this – it bears repeating. We’re tough on this one – if your artist notices any symptoms during your time in the studio we will cancel your appointment and send you home. It would be awkward to have to send someone home in the middle of a tattoo. No-one wants awkward, right? We understand that it’s frustrating to postpone and wait even longer for your new tattoo. WE GET IT. Awen and Matt want to say healthy to avoid delays. If we’re exposed, every appointment gets delayed while we isolate (with the potential for more delays if we are actually sick and need time to recover). Besides, we want to keep the studio a healthy, safe place for you and every other client we see as well as keeping our families safe when we go home. If you know you’re feeling funky or have been around someone feeling funky, just let us know ASAP. Even if it ends up being at the last minute. Easy peasy. We good? Cool.
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Please minimize what you bring into the studio. A water bottle, earbuds, a basic day bag – all good. Several giant bags and sacks of fast food – not so much. Keeping it minimal helps ensure the tattoo workspace is as clean as possible.
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Masks are required for everyone for the duration of your time in the studio – regardless of vaccination status. YES WE STILL REQUIRE MASKS. Why, you ask? Because this is one of the few – or maybe the only – situation in which you’re sitting inches away from someone sharing air for hours at a time. As such, a tattoo session is completely different than a quick maskless dash into the grocery store or a hair cut. Masking supports public and personal health and it keeps small businesses – like ours – open. If Awen or Matt get sick, appointments get delayed. Noone wants that. We will provide each person with a new N-95 or surgical mask to wear for the duration of your time in the studio. The masks we provide you help ensure the tattoo workspace is as clean as possible. And yes – we completely support freedom of choice. If you choose not to wear the fresh surgical mask we provide, no problem – we will choose to reschedule your appointment.
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With masks on, the windows open, ventilation, air filtration, music playing and the buzz buzz buzzing of tattoo machines, it’s harder to hear one another which can make conversation tricky. You’re welcome to bring earbuds with to transport you to your happy place while getting inked. We provide complimentary internet so you can stream to your hearts content.
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Ventilation is key to interrupting the cycle of transmission for COVID. We cycle fresh – yes good ‘ol fresh outdoor Minnesota (even winter) air – into the studio. We adjust heating to balance this, but the studios run cool. Bringing a zip up hoodie is a great way to keep one arm covered while the other gets tattooed – or makes for a handy lap blanket if you feel chilly.
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Clients are expected to wear clean clothes to your appointment. If you are coming from anywhere other than your home, change into clean clothes before arriving.
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IMPORTANT: As we’ve all experienced, things like illness, injury and family emergencies come up at the last minute, so be sure to check your email before coming in for your appointment just in case there are last minute changes to the appointment. In the event rescheduling is necessary, we’ll email you as early as possible – and obviously sometimes things come up unpredictably, so be sure to check your email before traveling to the studio.
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REMEMBER: A fresh tattoo requires energy from your immune system to heal, and your immune system requires resilience to fight exposure to illness, so it’s necessary to be healthy when getting tattooed, to follow the care instructions and to make good choices during the first few days of healing following the tattoo.
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ALL studio hours, appointments, booking timelines and protocols are subject to change. If you have an appointment, be sure to check your email for updates prior to traveling to the studio.
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Our artists are trained in Prevention of Disease Transmission in Tattooing through the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, which we re-certify annually (most recently 11/29/22) – including continuing education on COVID-19 transmission and prevention.
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Everyone working at AWP is fully vaccinated – including boosters – and we mask. BOOM!
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We clean and disinfect throughout the studios, including public and common spaces, before and after each client as well as at the beginning and end of each work day.
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Artists will be wearing masks, gloves, scrubs or aprons and other PPE such as eye protection or face shields. Nothing to see here (or to take personally) – these practices provide protection to everyone.
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We circulate fresh air into the studios and filter air 5x hourly with HEPA filtration in every workstation.
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Studio air quality is monitored by C02 sensors, maintaining Co2 levels recommended by the CDC for COVID-19 indoor air quality.
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Single service disposable set ups are provided for each and every client. That means items used during your tattoo appointment – from needles to pigment to ink caps – are all discarded at the end of each appointment.
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Hand washing and hand sanitizer are available to clients throughout the duration of your appointment.
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Artists will postpone appointments if we have been exposed to COVID-19, if we have reservations about our own health or if we feel unwell. Thank you in advance for your understanding if we need to reschedule. Be sure to check your email for appointment updates prior to traveling to the studio.
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Our artists and studios are licensed by the Minneapolis Health Department and the Minnesota Department of Health.
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We’re card carrying Professional Members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists.
Be Well, take good care of yourselves and stay awesome!
~ Awen and Matt
COVID-19 Information
/in Behind the Scenes, COVID19, Events at Art With a Point, Matt Reiners, Scheduling Information, Tattoo News, Twin Cities/by adminArt With a Point is currently closed due to COVID-19.
MN Governor Walz issued Executive Order 20-08, “closing all places of public accommodation”, including all Body Art studios. The order is in place through at least 5/3, and likely to be extended.
How we are helping:
We support the measured approach Governor Walz and the Mn Department of Health (MDH) are taking to address this Pandemic. We are in communication with and actively monitoring updates from the MDH and CDC as well as health officials in Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Governor Walz has proactively requested recommendations from industry professionals on what protocols we already have in place to protect public health and what additional protocols we can put into place specific to COVID-19. The tattoo industry already practices strict prevention of disease transmission controls and we are exploring what additional protocols we can implement to enhance our existing standards. Tattoo artists and health officials in MN have a long history of working together. This proactive request from the State, and our timely response to them, is another example of collaborating to prioritize and benefit public health and safety. With this information, the State and the MDH will determine the timeline for future phasing in of reopening businesses.
Art With a Point proactively closed prior to business restrictions going into place, and donated all of our gloves and face masks to Hennepin County for distribution to Health Care workers. Tattoo artists across the nation have also donated – CNN interviewed Awen on 3/26.
Current Appointments:
All appointments are currently suspended. While COVID-19 determines its own timeline, we each are responsible for doing our part to slow the virus and flatten the curve by Staying at Home, wearing masks in public, social distancing, washing hands consistently and avoiding touching our faces. When Governor Walz lifts the business restrictions, when we receive a determination from the MDH and CDC that reopening is reasonably safe – and additionally, when our artists determine that it is reasonably safe – we will reopen. We will wait to reschedule appointments until we have a definitive date to reopen.
THANK YOU…
… for your understanding and patience. We know that you’re looking forward to your new ink! We are too! This is a difficult time for everyone, and in many different ways. As self employed artists, who love what we do and who miss our clients and community, closing the business is challenging both financially and creatively. And still it’s a no brainer. We have a responsibility to care for one another.
In the meantime, we’ll continue posting new and archived art as well as studio updates on Instagram (@artwithapoint, @awenink, @marvelousmatt) and Facebook (Art With a Point and Tattoos by Marvelous Matt). Find us there and keep in touch! If you’d like to support the studio, check out our online store where you’ll find AWP merch, gift cards and other assorted goodies. Thanks again for your support!
Be patient. Be kind to yourself – and to others. We can all use more kindness.
Be Well!
Awen
Studio Update
/in Behind the Scenes, Events at Art With a Point, Hey Tattoo Collectors!, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, Northern Minnesota, Scheduling Information, Tattoo News, Twin Cities/by adminIn light of recent updates from the MN Department of Health and City of Minneapolis, we’ve made the tough decision to proactively close the studio from 3/17 to 4/5.
Our three priorities are – and will always be – creating fantastic art, stewarding a welcoming environment and prioritizing strict health protocols. This is tough decision for two independent artists – and – we’re committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our community as a whole and to doing our part to slow, and prevent, transmission of the virus.
If you have an appointment during this time and haven’t heard from your artist – check your email.
In the meantime, thank you for your patience, understanding and support during this difficult time. We wish you and your loved ones health and peace of heart and mind.
Awen and Matt
Abstract Face – Complete
/in Abstract Tattoo, Black and Gray, Black Ink Tattoo, Fresh Ink, Line Work, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, The Story Behind the Tattoo, Twin Cities/by adminFresh ink by @marvelous.matt – custom design @rachelholle!
Abstract Face
/in Abstract Tattoo, Black and Gray, Black Ink Tattoo, Fresh Ink, Line Work, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, The Story Behind the Tattoo, Twin Cities/by adminMarvelous Matt laying down this sweet custom abstract face tattoo!
Koi Fish Panel by Matt
/in Animals, color, Events at Art With a Point, Hey Tattoo Collectors!, Japanese Tattoo, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, Tattoo News, Traditional Tattoo, Twin Cities/by adminMatt is interested in tattooing this Koi fish panel – and is offering it at a special rate. Email Matt to inquire!
Celtic Paw Print
/in Celtic, color, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, The Story Behind the Tattoo, Twin Cities/by adminFresh ink from Marvelous Matt! Sweet paw print with Celtic ornamentation on a longtime AWP client who is involved in dog rescue.
Matt’s Scheduling Update
/in Behind the Scenes, Events at Art With a Point, Hey Tattoo Collectors!, Matt Reiners, Scheduling Information, Tattoo News, Twin Cities/by adminImportant update from Marvelous Matt! Matt’s been Apprenticing with me for two years and is coming up on the end of his Apprenticeship and the beginning of his Professional Licensure! Book now to grab one of his last remaining appointments at discounted Apprenticeship rates!
Email Matt to inquire!
Two Headed Snake
/in Animals, Black and Gray, Fresh Ink, Matt Reiners, Minneapolis, Natural World, Twin Cities/by adminNice black and grey two headed snake wrap custom designed and tattooed by Marvelous Matt!
Art With A Point Custom Tattoo Studio
Locations:
711 West Lake Street, Suite 511
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55408
Superior National Forest, Ely MN
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awen@artwithapoint.com
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