The true story of a strong, successful, and independent woman tattooist and artist through her own words and art; the third book in a series about the Wagner tattooist family.? Lotteva Wagner Davis was an American original-a tattooist and western artist in the early to mid-20th century. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Gus and Maud Wagner-famous tattoo artists and carnival performers-Lotteva was raised in the carnival and started tattooing in 1919, when she was just nine years old. Like her father, she used only hand tools, eschewing electric tattoo machines. She was one of few tattooists to have completely bare skin; her mother forbade her father to tattoo her, relenting only after his death, but Lotteva didn't want to be tattooed by anyone but her father. This is the third book in the series on the Wagner family, Last of the Hand Tattoo Artists, and is based on interviews with Lotteva and her cousin, Patricia Hook. It includes tattoo flash by Lotteva and her father, Gus, comparing their artistic styles and showing the evolution of hand tattoos from one generation to the next. Lotteva was also a prolific artist, focusing on western US and carnival themes. She also restored carousel horses and painted signs for carousels, carnivals, and other businesses. According to her cousin, Lotteva was ?a person with one foot grounded in the ordinary world and the other in this crazy carnival world. Most people would never dare to do the stuff she did.? AUTHOR: Alan Govenar is an award-winning writer, folklorist, photographer, and filmmaker. He founded Documentary Arts, a nonprofit organization advancing perspectives on historical issues and diverse cultures. Govenar is a Guggenheim fellow and the author of over 30 books. He lives in Dallas, Texas. SELLING POINTS: . The Only Book of Its Kind: The only book devoted to Lotteva Wagner Davis, an independent and strong-minded woman who became a well-known and respected mid-20th century female artist, specializing in the lost art of hand tattooing as well as drawings and paintings of the American West. . A Series Continuation: This is the third of a series of three books, Last of the Hand Tattoo Artists. The first book focused on husband, Gus Wagner, ?the most artistically marked-up man in America;? the second book featured his wife, Maud, a contortionist, tattoo artist, and carnival performer. This third book focuses on their daughter, tattoo artist Lotteva, and how her parents' influence shaped her independent spirit. . Penned by an Award-Winning Author and Documentarian: Alan Govenar is a Guggenheim fellow and the author of more than 30 books on tattoos and US history. An exhibit of Gus Wagner's flash, photos, and tools owned by Govenar and his wife, Kaleeta Doolin, was displayed at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York. 167 colour and b/w photographs and illustrations
