“Patience? If I wanted any patience I would have become a fucking doctor” my old friend, Vancouver’s most notorious tattoo friend, used to say.
But nevertheless, hang in there: we are on our way. We negotiate, send letters, get mails, threats, fooled and cheated and the only reason why we keep going is to see what the heck is next. First of all, the fight is not over. The divorce, in fact. With the help of many of you we will open up a pop-up shop with a small gallery, book & merchandise store and a spot for guest tattoo artists. This all coming soon, we’ve just got the keys. Here we will do art shows, run our Blue Bone Society and coordinate the future building of the new Amsterdam Tattoo Museum. Soon all you supporters shall receive a membership card certificate and a shop plate to proof proudly our gratitude. This all as soon as the necessary administration, membership cards and certificates are out of ‘jail’. So stay patience a little bit longer…

We will continue our ‘Free the ATM’ activities from this new address and you can visit us again, also we will keep you informed about what we’ll do with your donation. Our crew will participate in support events around the globe. After Rotterdam and Antwerp, we will be in Paris, Sacramento and at the Fuck Cancer benefit for Louise in Huntington Beach California.

We will inform you all soon as we made the real estate deal. And sorry to ask, but please don’t stop supporting. We’re gonna need as much of your help as possible. So do a tat for us once in a while. Organize something. Set something up. Help us.
Let’s make a new museum.

Yours truly,

Hanky Panky

Thank everybody who has been incredible generous and has been donating to our funds!

Henk Schiffmacher and crew

Back to business. Which I noticed went very good the moment Tin Tin donated the money of this crazy tattoo he did. Shortly after that Dan Sinnes donated the money of a tattoo he did as well. Seriously, next year we should do a ‘Free Texas from her lack of tattoos’ fund thingy. Anyway, besides people donating tattoo money, we also had some people stopping by our booth for a little chat, showing their support. It may not look like I was paying attention, but I was, people. I’m a great listener, especially when sitting on the ground looking like shit. You guys are great. And my Dad loved it. I can immediately tell when he’s enjoying himself. He gets confident and starts to act like god (which he thinks he is 80% of the time). Dear Dad, you are not him, and NO, you can’t smoke a cigarette in your booth! I sound like I care, but my first reaction was to take a picture. Kids these days..

We also heard some super exciting great amazing news! But, it’s a secret. Ha-ha.

So I guess that’s it. I will now continue in telling a story about how I think I lost my passport, but I’m not sure because I haven’t unpacked my bag yet. It’s a short story and it’s called: Memory Loss.

You see, cheap vodka isn’t always the answer guys, it never is. But actually it always is when you are on a budget. And by budget, I mean broke. We started day 1 in McDonald’s, and unfortunately ended day 1 in McDonald’s. Somewhere in between that, we drank beers and listened to a Belgium dude talking about Racism in Belgium. I remember him being totally into this lecture he was giving us, talking about north and south, non racist and racist. But all I could think of, was how disgusting my beer was. A couple of minutes after that we were standing in front of this 4 story high wooden Christmas three. You could say we had a very confusing night.

Day 2 was fun. The pasta lady at the convention was telling us stories. Too bad it was in french. I don’t speak french, unless i’m drunk. In the evening we went for dinner at a Tex-Mex restaurant, where I was annoying not only myself, but also everyone surrounding me. Making up a joke and continuing to laugh about for about 40 minutes is not funny at all. Eventually we went back to our even cheaper vodka. There’s a vague memory of us having an intense conversation about the universe, or Hitler. Or something intellectual like that. Two hours later we accidentally stumbled upon some sort of rock bar. Beer was extremely cheap, so it wasn’t a complete surprise we ended up drunk in the Quick burger 3 hours later. Turns out we never bought something. Only thing I do remember is my friend laying on the floor of this night shop in search of 50 cents and asking for garlic cheese. Great night, huge hangover.

So, anyone who took the time to read that bunch of crap, surely has enough time on their hands to spread the cause. Or to become a member of the Blue Bone Society, or to donate money. Or whatever you do best. Every social network is overflowing with awesome drawings (after ‘Free texas from her lack of tattoos’ we should definitely do a ‘Free texas from having plain walls’ benefit) Anyway, I want my whatever I lost at the museum back. And i’m pretty sure my dad wants his collection back. I mean, he’s God for Christ sake.

Oh, and I didn’t loose my passport. I did loose my dogs leash. Funny, cause I left my dog at Louise for the weekend.

Cheerio!

Henk explaining how the museum got in this terrible situation and why we need your support! How can you help? Check out this page.

Things are very much on their way. Every minute, every hour is filled with progression, support, donations, accusations, bad and good news. It is what the elite troops of H.M. Royal SAS call: “It is rather lively!”. I freely use the quote because of my family connection with this corps to the late Jerry Walters a.k.a. Permanent Dad, “who dares wins”. Enough popular talk, next to an update. I’d like to answer first a few of the questions that raise. One and most asked: what the fuck is happening? Why? What went wrong? How come? Therefore I will update you all with videos. The first one will come up in a few hours!!

Henk ‘Hanky Panky” Schiffmacher

Henk Schiffmacher

First of all we are overwhelmed by the support we’re receiving from all over the world!! We can’t thank you enough. Here’s a little history about the museum. What happened and how come it is like it is now.

Henk’s been collecting tattoo related stuff for over 35 years, he knows a lot about the history and is very passionate about the legacy. Especially nowadays, when about everyone can buy a tattoo machine from the internet and start tattooing without knowing shit.

After the closing of a small museum in the Red Light District, Henk still had the wish to show the whole collection to the public. By coincidence he met a woman, Madame Jeannette, who had made a small fortune with a reintegration company. She needed a place to put people, who’d been unemployed for a long time, to work. The idea of a cooperation was born. With the profits of her company she would pay the rent (for the first 10 years) and the salaries. In return the museum would provide working places for people in her project. That’s how her company would make money. Due to a lack of time and in good trust we started building the museum without making a contract. By the opening of the museum last year, the economy had gone bad and the political climate had changed. No more money was put into reintegration projects and the company was making hardly any money. All the profits of the museum were going to her company so  she could pay the rent and salaries. Of course this was not enough. It’s a museum.. Bills were not paid and the tension got worse. Small discussions turned into bigger ones and the fact that there still wasn’t a solid contract didn’t help either. In the meantime board members left, some just gave up because of the nasty negotiations and personal accusations. At one point, the new board of the foundation Amsterdam Tattoo Museum decided to end the cooperation with Madame Jeannette’s company, Partners aan het Werk. The unpleasant way the meetings went had a lot to do with this decision. Then, last week we received a letter from madame Jeannette that told us we were all banned from the building: Henk, Louise, his kids, the board, his employees and crew. Apart from this we were given 14 days to get the collection out of the museum.

What will happen now? We’re negotiating with several parties. The most important is to get Henk’s collection back. We hope we can stay at the Plantage Middenlaan but there is a chance we have to look for a new building. One thing is sure: we need money. To continue by ourselves in our old building or to build a new museum somewhere else in Amsterdam.

We have faith we can do it. Especially we’ve seen the worldwide support from the tattoo family. This is really enormous! There are lots of donations, small and big, people who make t-shirts, auction art work and machines, organize a day of tattooing for the museum and other benifit events. It’s crazy! We’ll put a list on our website of all the people donating and organizing. If you miss something or organizing an event to raise some money yourself let us know!

Thank you all so much for everything, all the support, donations & offered help.

Hope to welcome you all soon in our museum.

The ATM crew

It’s heartwarming to see you all jump in to help in this absurd situation! Personally I am so so grateful. I never saw Henk this defeated but then you all jumped in. I want to ask you please continue as long as it takes cause the four years of sitting around tables, planning, drawing, looking for a building, endless conversations and in the end only three months to complete the best we could before the opening last year. All your work, all your donations in cash or art, wow we couldn’t believe our happiness. I for one was, still am, so proud of what Henk and all our supporters achieved together with our international tattoo family which became larger, better and way less political.

Now an outcry from me personally. Everything that has to be done and build with the unfortunate fact that I am very sick…. Now I didn’t wanna to go into this personal misfit but now things have changed and I became worse. My hepatitis C turned into cancer and for now we are not sure if I can get the transplantation I need… The 29th of this month I get my second chemo treatment and I’ll be worthless for my husband. And so I ask all of you to look out for him and keep this international fire burning! I’m ok if he is. I don’t want to sound cheap with this writing, but I thought it was maybe time for the whole world to know.

This museum is our sacred ground, our temple, our religion. I like to pray and even go to confession in my own church! Stay with my man and all the good ones until we meet again in our tattoo holy land.

Sincerely,

Louise Schiffmacher

808 Ink Magazine

808 Tattoo – Honolulu Hawaii

A La Faveur de la Nuit, Milan Italia

ACID Tattoo – Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Adam Machinttc
Adrian Cipollone

Advise di Stefano

Alessandro Negrini

Alex Wu

Alexandra Bay – Love Tattoos & family – Paris, France

Alexandra Rivetta

Alkmaar Tattoo Centre

Andre van Zomeren, Kintaro Publishing
Andrew Moore

Angela Giuglino

Anna Friedman, USA

April Martin/ Jeremy Justice – New Orleans, USA

Arkham Tattoo – Bogota, Colombia

Ash Thorburn

Auke Atema

Baba Vintage Tattoo – Los Angeles, USA

Bartosz Jasinski

Bernhard Mitteregger

Beto Carbajal

Billy Whitney ant the 808 crew, Hawaii

Bishop Rotary Machines

Bonel, Arnhem

Brendan Tangel

Brian Carr
Brian Pagan

Britton Mcfetridge – Sacramento, US

Bruno Kea

Buzzy Jenkins, Fine Tattoo Work – Orange County, California, US
Bristol Tattoo Club

Carlos Andres Torres, Colombia

CeCe Pitts Henderson

Cecilia Pyke

Chili Joe, Thailand

Chris Earl

Chris Garver

Chris Sawyer

Christian Fixl – Cologne

Christoph Streckeisen

Christopher Collins

Chuey Quintanar, Deer’s Eye Studio – Santa Fe Springs, California, USA
Claudia Hek

Clay Decker – USA

Color Crimes
Costa Tattoo Studio

Crez & Stefy, Adrenalink, Venice Italy

Cult-Art shop Tattoos

Curt Baer, Championship Tattoo – Redding, California, USA
Da Tonk Studio – Groningen, The Netherlands
Dave Brobrick – San Francisco, USA

Dan Dringenberg

Dan Sinnes

Dave Davies

David Adams

David Brewer

Derek Baker

Dirk Baeder

Dirk Reuter & Crew – Leib und Seele Dorsten, Germany

Dragon Tattoo – Greg & Jim Orie, Amar, Sacha

Emil Klein Tattoo

English Joe – Antwerp, Belgium

Enzo Brandi Tattooing

Eric Evans

Eric Gonzales

Eric Perfect

Eric the Thumb and Dave de Crom, Black Wolf Tattooing

Erik van Cuyck

Eru, Wizzard Tattoo Supply, Japan

EyeCandy Tattoo – New Orleans

Ezequiel Mateo Olszak

Ferry Scharn

Florian Santus

Forever tattoo

FOUR – Amsterdam

Friz Tattoo

Gary Grove

George Bone – London, UK

Greg Rojas

Harisumi, Puerto Rico

Heiko Kantelberg, Top Notch Germany

Hidden Hand, Seattle, USA

Hollywood Mark Tattoo Amsterdam

Horichuy

Hr B J Kooyman

Imke Kuipers

Infamous Studio

Inge Norlin

Inkstitution Tattooing – Errol & crew – Rotterdam, Holland

Into You – Alex Binnie – London UK

J. Sawyer & crew, Players Club Tattoo, Huntington Beach – California, USA
Plurabella – USA
Por Vida Tony Salgado– Upland, California,

Jacob Leos

Jaime Briseno

Jakub Krzysztof Settgast – Seven Devils Tattoo – Berlin

Jan Jesse

Jason Berryman

Jayme Whitaker

Jeff Cornell

Jennifer McLellan

Jens Dohmen

Jeroen Franken – Seven Seas Tattoos – Breda, Holland

Jesse Gordon, Inksmith and Rogers – USA
Jim & Archi/Roderik ten Hoopen – Utrecht, Holland

JJ and Players Club tattoo parlor

Jocelyn Gallon

Joe Dynamite – Antwerpen, Belgium

Joe Vegas – Thunderbolt Tattoo USA

Johan Urban Bergquist

John Bentrup
John Hinton

John Krijos, Belgium

John Miller

John Niederkorn

Johnny Stone – USA
Jojo Ackermann

Jonathan Mc Tigue

Jondix – Barcelona, Spain

Joost Bohnen

Jorg Roder

Jorge Rodriguez – museo del tatuaje latino america – Bogota, Colombia

Jorre – Black Lotus – Antwerp, Belgium

Joshua Wright

Juan Bautista

Junko Shimada

Kadillac Tattoo – Eric Perfect & Mike Hooligan – Philadelphia

Karien Mulder

Karina Figueroa

Katharine Suchard

Kelly Harris

Kelly Vinke

Kiko and friends – Ibiza, Spain
Kaitlyn Bull – Melbourne, Australia

Kim Lbtc

Kim Nguyen

Kings Street

Kirsteen Dalziel

Koolsville Tattoos, Las Vegas, USA

Kristin Schubert

La Leo

Lal Hardy

Lastport Tattoo Parlor

Leo Jarva

Leu Family Iron, Switzerland

Little Star Tattoo

Louis Perez – Shamrock Tattoo – Los Angeles, USA

Love Ink

Luca Ballabio

Lucky 777 – Holland

Lucky bastard

Lucky Bastard – Fine Tattoo Work California

Lucky Seven Supplies

Luke Atkinson – Checker Demon Tattoo – Stuttgart, Germany

M Tattoo

Mademoisel Rat

Mao Tattooing – Madrid, Spain

Marco Bratt – Noordwijk, Holland

Marco Pisa – Art Tatoo Studio – Bologna Italy

Marco Rossettini

Marco Serio

Marely Bloemendal

Marianne Cornelia Velzeboer

Mark de Kock

Martin Jan de Groot

Martin Jenkins

Martin McNicholas

Matt Quale

Matteo Gubbini – Kingkaya

Mauretto Oldschool

Mauro Grazianni de Carvalho

Maya Taborsky

Melissa Szeto

Michael Hastings

Michael Pucciarelli

Michael Schweigert

Mick from Zurich

Micromutazioni

Mike Tweed, Influence Lubbock

Mireille Edelbroek

Montree Setang

Moose Tattoo – Rotterdam, Holland

Mr. Headcheese

Nathalie Verdon

Nathaniel Robertson

New general Tattoo art gallery studio

Nicholas Collela

Nicolas Vargas D

Nicole Ferner

Norberto Lopez & Zek Tattoo Club – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Oliver Peck, Dallas, USA

Paul van der Zwaard

Paul Verhagen

Paulo Benvides

Peggy Jordan

Pepe, Zuno, Ricardo Electric Tattooing, Viareggio, Italy

Perdition Tattooing Co.

Pere Bonmati Caulas

Permanent Mark & crew, Golden Eagle Tattoo – Santa Barbara, USA
Pere Wong

Pierangela Nanni

Rachel Irwin

Richard Burdine

Ringo Tattoo Art, Germany

Robert Atkinson, USA

Robert Mahurin

Robin Doolin

Ron Rijks & Steve Maddock – Alkmaar

Ruben Gomez Robles

Ruben Vissers

Rupa Charan van Teylingen

Ryan Dodson

Samantha Vigliaturo

Sandra Zuidema – Lucky Dice Music

Sanitary Electric Tattoo Inc.

Sara Strusz

Sarah Settgast

Saraya Art

Schiffmacher & Veldhoen – Amsterdam, Holland

Scott Lukacs – Rebel Prints

Sean Boon

Sebastian Kempff

Sebastiano Caudullo

Sergio Cobra

Seven Devils Tattoo, Berlin, Germany
Simone, Capex Tattoo Italia

Sol Acatzin – Mexico
Solysly Pich Jones

South Ink Tattoo Shop

Sparkling Blue Tattoo – Sankt Moritz, Switzerland

Spencer Hodgson

Stefano C. – Frith St. Tattoo, London

Steve Godspeed – USA

Sullen Clothing, USA

Susen-ann Sandrock

Sven Rayen – Sin Sin Tattoo – Antwerp, Belgium
Syndicat National des artistes Tatoueurs Du France

TAM Tattoo Artist Magazine, USA

Tattoo Family

Tattoo Platform

Tattoo Point

Tattoo Rich and Bong – Honolulu, Hawaii

Tattoo Rinto – Burgum, Holland

Tattooed Heart, Auckland, New Zealand

The Preachers Son – Amsterdam, Holland

The Underline Tattoo Company

Think – USA
Thomas Asher, Reykyavik, Iceland

Thomas Jabalee

Thomas Morgan, Huntington Beach, USA

Tim Gillman

Tim Hendricks – Saltwater Tattoo – USA

Tim Sanderz

Tin Tin – Paris

Tjitse de Vries

Tom Sands

Tom von Lucky, Belgium

Ulrich Schildhauer

Under the Needle Tattoos – Seatle USA

Underline Tattoo Company

Vincent Penning

Vinnie Stones – Sin Sin Tattoo – Antwerp, Belgium

Vlad Roce

Wade Hex – USA
Wido de Marval, Lausanne, Switzerland

Wild Ink Tattoo

William Thidemann, Kaze gallery – Denver USA

Wooster Street Social Club – Luke Wessman, Eddy Ospina, Guy Waisman, Rodrigo Canteras – Wytse Sterk

Yoni Zilber, NY Adorned

Zac Tattoo Studio

Some people have chosen to remain anonomyous

Comrades at arms!

It is been overwhelming, we’re blown away by the enormous support we’ve had the last 24 hours. Never before in my whole history as a tattoo artist I’ve come across such an enormous exposion of positive energy. Reactions worldwide, tweets and retweets, pictures on instagram, posts on facebook, etc. It’s a though fight, but we’re in to win this.

Again today we were denied access to our museum. Locks have been changed, negotiations with the police to get personal matters like tattoo machines were neccesary. A tidal wave of local and national press were served all day. Negotiations with landlords, lawyers and businessmen took place. Do not despair my friend. We will fight this with success. Stay tuned!

Ps. lawsuit is about 1,5 million of euros and has no ground at all. Come see us december 8th. Help us fight for our art, fight for our history, fight for our future, fight for our museum!

How can you help us?

- First of all, keep spreading the word!
- Make a donation on paypal, big or smal (info@bluebonesociety.com)
- Make a tattoo for the museum, donate, take a picture and participate in the 1000 tattoos for the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum competition
- Sing a song on Youtube
- Make a ‘save the ATM’ t-shirt
- Bake cookies
- Throw a party
- Become a member of the Blue Bone Society
- Put us in your will
- Sell your body
- Throw us a gig
- Rob a bank
- Organize an auction
- Participate in the December 2nd worldwide Tattoos for History day in participation with www.tattooplatform.nl

Keep up the fight!

Yours truly, Hanky Panky, Louise, Annemarie & Tessa