SOUTH BEND – David Martin, owner of Bicycle Gallery and Body Art along with members of The Pokagon Band, Aaron Perri, executive director of Downtown South Bend; and City of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, attended a ribbon cutting recently at Bicycle Gallery in downtown.
After participating in DTSB’s Holiday Pop-Up Shop program, Martin decided to make Bicycle Gallery’s permanent home in downtown South Bend. The location serves as both a gallery as well as studio space for practicing body artists. As the body art industry continues to grow, many shops are stepping away from the old stereotype driven street shops and focusing more on creating high quality artistic images in the skin within a modern and clean business-like setting.
Martin, known in the South Bend artistic community as “Half Pint,” is an established fine and body artist in his own right, as well as a drummer, dancer, and member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
“David is a multi-talented artist. Many of his works – whether they be regalia, paintings or beadwork – bring a unique Potawatomi cultural element to Pokagon Band government buildings and Four Winds facilities,” said tribal treasurer John Warren, who grew up in South Bend. “His Pokagon family is proud that he’s bringing some of that downtown.”
