HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – A few weeks ago WHSV reported on TJ Warsing, a longtime Harrisonburg tattoo artist, and instructor who was looking for the community’s help to save his business. Now thanks to the community’s help ‘T.J.’s Dermagraphics Tattoo’s’ in Harrisonburg won’t be going anywhere.
“I’m so excited that I didn’t know what to do here but be thankful for that the community has given us the opportunity to keep us here and to keep the school going. I thank all the community,” said Warsing in an interview with WHSV on Tuesday.
Warsing’s business had to close its doors for four months after a ceiling break in September flooded the business with 10,000 gallons of water, this caused Warsing to fall behind on the business’s rent payments.
He had needed to raise $4,000 by January 3, to save his businesses and he was able to do just that thanks to donations from many individuals in the community including former Harrisonburg Mayor Rodney Eagle and Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk Chaz Haywood, and organizations like the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary.
”I really appreciate the community working with us. I’m just flabbergasted over this good faith of the community thinking this would be a great idea to keep the school in this location,” said Warsing. “I’m glad that everything worked out and I thank the community for allowing this to happen and keeping it going in this area.”
Warsing runs a state-licensed school for aspiring tattoo artists and thanks to the community’s help he’ll be welcoming new students next week. As he prepares to welcome his newest batch of students he is ready to begin looking for a successor to one day take over the school when he retires.
“New blood will come within this business to train them in exactly what they need to know in this industry. I look forward to seeing whoever is interested and I will give some consideration of new individuals to take over,” said Warsing.
Warsing said to take over the school someone would need an instructor’s license from the state as well as at least five years of experience in the tattoo industry.
“I want to make sure they understand all the rules and regulations in maintaining this establishment. If they’re interested in buying me out, hey wonderful, but the thing is I’ll continue my work in the industry and keep tattooing as long as I can,” he said.
With his business back on his feet and his students set to return Warsing does have his eye on another future art project he hopes to create in Harrisonburg.
He said he wants to create a large memorial to welcome people to the Friendly City that would include paintings of the flags of every country that students in Harrisonburg City Public Schools come from.
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