by Chuck Foster - September 2008

I first met Bubba Greenacres about six years ago, a jolly fellow, full of dreams and desires. At the time, he was putting on Bubble Rally, a free yearly show held at Volunteer Park during the summer, and hosting the popular radio show Nerd Rock. The Bubble Rally was where we became connected. It was a concept based event on exposing our youth to diverse cultures through bubbles, music and performance. Yes bubbles. Since then Bubba has left the Emerald City, following his passion of being a tattoo artist in Olympia, where he now resides. As with anyone who gives up life as they know it to pursue a dream, envy for that individual's bravery becomes a close friend. It's that envy for all that Bubba has accomplished in such a short time that has put him and I here together. While the bubbles may have blown adrift with summers past, his passion for life, art and the future has not.

Hailing from Oklahoma, it's easy to figure out where the "Greenacres" tag comes from. "I picked the last name Greenacres for myself because like Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, my sensibilities and sense of humor are a curious blend of citified and country fried." He then says that he "copped the whole name" and a "reverendship" to do his old radio show, Nerd Rock. Since tattooing was illegal in Oklahoma until 2006, Bubba says that his interest in tattooing came a bit later in life than for most tattooist, but he's had a pencil in hand, drawing pictures before he could write.

I asked Bubba how tough this journey has been for him? "Getting started tattooing was pretty rough," fuelled mostly by his "ego." He started his apprenticeship at 28, when most tattooists are well into their careers by then. He says that it was "intimidating", even more so since he was basically a janitor and counter person for a year and a half before he was ever allowed to touch a tattoo machine. To make matters worse, he says the person instructing him had a "pretty foul temper which tended toward sociopathy". He also had to work a few part time jobs, averaging only a few hours of sleep per night, to cover the expense of his gear. After a tough run, Bubba's luck broke. "Eventually, after getting tattooed at the Electric Rose enough times, and asking questions, getting technical help and advice, they offered me a job when a position came open. Working there has been an excellent and humbling experience. I work with artists who are really amazing, and encourage me to always strive to be better."

I requested Bubba conceive an image about 9/11 and our state of the nation for our front cover. He explained it, saying, "In trying to sum up my own feelings about the state of the union, a snake that devours itself and forgets what it eats comes to mind. I wanted to convey the opposite of that other snake, the Ouroboros, a symbol of infinity, which is eating it's own tail forever. We are feeding and forgetting, and running out of food fast." I then asked him where he stood on the 9/11 controversy. "The events of September 11 are a tragedy. We'll never know the particular truths about it, like most other terrible things that happen. Evil in this day and age seems to me to operate on this: There are too many people on the planet, all of whom are trying to consume a finite amount of resources. Our country seems to take a certain delight in consuming more than anyone else in the world. So while the events of that day are shocking and saddening, it seems to me that until we change that need to over-consume, we should not be surprised at the eventual repercussions of our greed."

I asked one last political question: Obama or McCain? "I'd love to say that I was really well-read and active when it came to politics. I cannot truthfully claim that. I do feel like no one really gave Obama a serious thought until Oprah Winfrey backed him up. Then all of a sudden he's mainstream America's darling. I can't take the opinion seriously of a woman who sends a helicopter halfway across the country for fried chicken, whether it's an opinion on what book to read this month, or who to vote for in the presidential campaign. I also think that McCain is too old and looks like he is wearing a rubber novelty mask of himself. While neither of these things are a responsible basis for voting for president, I won't be voting for either of them."

Politics aside, Bubba tells every upcoming artist, regardless of age, to never stop drawing, to ask lots of questions and try to learn something from every piece, and then do a better one next time. To find out more about Bubba and his art, check out: www.inkbleedin.com or myspace.com/revbubba. Bubba can also be found in real life at the Electric Rose Tattoo in Olympia, Wa.