Magen Marie Bouse makes money inking art onto the skin of paying customers.

But her creative talents are not limited to a single canvas. The York City tattoo artist is also a photographer, painter and jewelry maker. She even makes her own tea.

Hoping to help her colleagues find creative outlets beyond the tattoo studio, Bouse recently challenged her co-workers and online friends to paint a different canvas -- the platform of a skateboard, also known as a skate deck.

On Friday, a downtown gallery will host about 30 tattoo artists from across the country who responded to Bouse's challenge. Many are also local, including her co-workers at Built to Last Tattoo studio on East Market Street.

"I have decks from people

Tattoo artist Magen Marie Bouse of Spring Garden Township works on a skate deck last week at Built to Last Tattoo in Springettsbury Township. Bouse's work, along with pieces by about 30 tattoo artists from across the country, will be shown at the Parliament gallery, 116 E. King St., York during First Friday. (Randy Flaum photo)

Tattoo artists are a tight-knit bunch, Bouse said, but there's always an undercurrent of cutthroat competition.

"A lot of us are friends. But then, when it comes down to it, it's money. It's how we make our money," Bouse said. "My point of the show was just to kind of like forget all of that for a night."

The Parliament, a local group that promotes York's art and music scene, will host the show from 6 to 10 p.m. at its 116 E. King St. gallery. The show corresponds with York City's monthly First Friday celebration.

Bouse said she's expecting to have 50 or more skate decks on display and for sale. Prices are left to each artist's discretion but will probably start around $100, she said.

Fifteen percent of each sale will go to Parliament.

-- Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.

Randy Flaum photo (Randy Flaum photo)