GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Tonight at First Friday, the Raw Canvas will celebrate its one-year anniversary since owner Justin Nordine expanded his tattoo studio into an art gallery at 755 Rood Ave.

Seventeen artists who rent exhibition space at The Raw Canvas custom tattoo studio and working artist gallery, will show new works through mid-September, with the opening reception Friday, Aug. 5, from 6-10 p.m.

The theme is paper and because skin is one of Nordine's canvases; he's created works that mesh the two concepts together.

For this exhibit Nordine solicited eight volunteers who agreed to Nordine creating a tattoo on their body from one of a series of three drawings shown to them.

The goal was to take a brush and water drawing and try and recreate it on skin; to look at tattoos as fine art, Nordine said.

Nordine photographed each of those tattoos and inserted them into framed panels with the other two drawings.

Also included in the Raw Canvas exhibit are works of glass, photography, graphic art, pin-striping, charcoal sketches, mixed media, contemporary, and fine arts.

All pieces are for sale, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the artist, Nordine said.

Two members of the rock band Intertwined will perform an acoustic set during the event. Wine from Grand River Vineyards will be available.