Category Issue 82

Point 82: Misty Forsberg

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By Efix Roy, Empire Body Arts

The first time I heard the name Misty Forsberg, it was attached to a photo of a beautiful and very well done scarification, and labeled as her very first piece ever. I immediately thought she was either a liar, or an extremely talented person. I was very happy to quickly find out she was indeed very skilled and knew exactly what she was doing. As a scarification artist myself, I followed her progression through this male dominated niche with great interest. Everything I would see from her on BME kept getting better and better, and I felt a wind of change coming as one of the rare women doing scarification professionally was making a name for herself.

Rapidly, her name was everywhere. I was reading her articles on Suspension.org, documenting the various activities and advancements in the body suspension community. I would see her running around the Dallas Suscons, quietly helping Allen Falkner make these events happen flawlessly. With his very special way of mentoring, she would soon discover a passion for education, teaching and training at suspension events all over the world. Her time and involvement within the body suspension world was rewarded in 2012 with the first A. “Spliff” Rosa Award for Advancement in Body Suspension. She went on to then co-found the International Suspension Alliance and sat as a Board Member on its first term.

All this being said, her biggest and most impressive achievement is probably her involvement in rewriting the body art legislation for the state of Arkansas. Teaming up with Steve Joyner and the Arkansas Body Modification Association, she embarked on a giant legal journey, fighting in the House and Senate against a state senator who used misinformation to try to ban certain body art practices such a scarification. From 2011 to 2013, they worked on stopping the ban on scarification while also passing safer legislation for the tattoo and piercing industry. From there, they worked on updating the body art rules and regulations for the state health department. The battle between their group and the senator was highly publicized, and as far as I’m aware, it was the first time the APP took a stance on a matter outside of the body piercing realm.

Although not actively piercing at this time, her interest in education and advancement of the piercing industry continues. Misty now focuses on laser tattoo removal  and is sought after for her extensive knowledge and amazing results. She still travels all around the world doing scarification, teaching, and facilitating body suspensions. Whenever she gets a bit of time off, you can find her on top of a mountain swearing at a bunch of rocks.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear old grandma sweaters, have a very quiet voice, and still kick more ass than Superman. Misty Forsberg is definitely one of the latter.

Point 82: Sarah Wooten

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By Elayne Angel, Rings of Desire, Reprinted from The Point Issue 64

President’s Award

One of my favorite things about serving as APP President is that I have the “job” of bestowing an annual award. There aren’t any formal or established criteria for me to follow, and in some ways that makes it even harder to reach a decision on the winner. That said, when I came up with the idea of naming this individual, I knew it was absolutely the right choice.

I wanted to make it clear during my brief speech at the banquet that it shouldn’t only be the super-sparkly, outgoing, attention-getting folks (such as myself) who are noticed. I wanted to recognize someone who is hardworking and highly participatory, but in a quieter, more behind-the-scenes way than some of us.

This person studied photography at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1992-93. They have been a professional piercer since 1998 and an APP member since 1999. This piercer worked in a studio as an employee for eight years, until 2006 when that business closed. They opened their own studio in 2007. This person is incredibly devoted, dedicated, consistent, and cares deeply about doing quality work.

This recipient has served admirably on the Conference Committee since it formed in 2008; she also volunteered at our annual events before that. She handles a task that is surely one of the most daunting and difficult with grace and compassion: She wrangles all of us speakers and our handouts and PowerPoint presentations so they are ready for Conference. Her patience and diligence are beyond measure. I’m a little embarrassed to admit she’s even had to goad me at times to extract my presentation materials.

Not only is this woman a wonderful piercer, a respected colleague, and a fantastic employer, she is also an amazing mother.

She has aptly been described as “The APP’s best kept secret.” This woman has earned my deepest respect and is so deserving of recognition for her efforts on behalf of the industry and this organization.

My selection for the 2013 recipient of the President’s Award is Sarah Wooten.

Thank you so much Sarah for all that you do. You earned this award so quietly and gently, yet thoroughly. Congratulations!

Preferring to make receiving the award a positive and pleasant experience, I did not require her to address the audience at the banquet. I am aware that this woman of many talents does not have public speaking high on her list of favorite things to do. So instead I suggested that she write something for The Point and here it is:

“I am feeling honored, humbled, and a little overwhelmed with having been chosen to receive the 2013 APP President’s Award. I like to joke around that I have some sort of obsession with volunteering, but the truth of the matter is that it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of having a career in this industry. I strongly believe that the APP has done an immeasurable amount of good for piercers, both for our industry and for our community. To me, the ability to give back by donating my time and energy in such a direct way is really gratifying. Being a part of the Conference Committee allows me to work closely with people I respect and admire, and to help create this wonderful educational event that benefits fellow piercers. I had no idea in advance just how much hard work goes into each year’s Conference, but the result makes the effort more than worth it.

“I’m incredibly thankful for the recognition. It makes me want to work harder and to do more. I’d also like to take this opportunity to encourage others to consider volunteering in some capacity. There are so many different ways to reach out and give something back, and I promise you’ll be glad that you did.”

Well said, Sarah!

Point 82: Alicia Cardenas

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By Casey Hosch, Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing

Casey: Who are you?

Alicia: My name is Alicia Cardenas. I am a professional body piercer, tattooer, modification artist, and business owner in Denver, Colorado.

CH: How long have you been in the industry?

AC: Since July of 1994, so 24 years.

CH: Tell me a little about your apprenticeship.

AC: It was a very non-traditional apprenticeship under a woman who was very involved in the BDSM community. Her name was PJ and she was a Fakir Intensive graduate. She ran a tattoo/piercing/ dungeon shop in Denver called Bound by Design. My apprenticeship was very traumatizing! It was an unethical fast track to ritual in piercing. I don’t have any regret regarding the way I was taught, but would never do that to someone else. I consider myself to be a lifetime apprentice, forever learning especially in and around my involvement with the APP. I apprenticed for about 3 months. I went from never touching a client to full time body piercer in that three month period. Benefits of such a difficult apprenticeship are that I learned very quickly what I did and did not want to be involved in. I learned boundaries by  having  my  boundaries  pushed too far. I learned respect from not receiving any. I learned that even women can be abusive to other women. I learned that there is no amount of money that can replace trauma.

CH: Can you comment on the duality of science versus ritual, the importance of both in the piercing industry? With such a short apprenticeship, when did you experience/delineate both sides?

AC: When I started in the industry, there was very little science involved. We didn’t even package tools in disposable pouches. Tools went from autoclave into drawers and we used glutaraldehydes (cold sterilization) to disinfect. There were no regulations, no standards, and even the APP was merely beginning. There was only ritual and it was based (because of my teacher) in BDSM. Quickly I learned that this was not my way, sexually that is, but that I liked the ritual aspect of it. The intention and layers of emotion and spirituality called to me. The science and aspects of mathematics like measurements and clinical practices came much later and also intrigued me. I definitely helped bring the science to it after I became involved with different movements to get the industry regulated. The NEHA Body Art Code that all states use as their model codes, that was me in 1999.

CH: When you started, what was it like being a woman in a male run industry?

AC: DIFFICULT!!! I had to work twice as hard for half as much. I learned quickly to work with the shortcomings of my male counterparts, so we could  thrive as a team. I basically learned to wipe everyone’s ass to make myself an asset. I protected myself by laying down boundaries, basically telling all the men that I would not sleep with them to make my way to the top.

CH: How long have you been a business owner?

AC: Since 1996. I opened Addictions Tattoo Company with Chris Chrome in ‘96. In the summer of 1997 I opened Twisted Sol with Mike Nichols, and in 2009 I opened Sol Tribe with Kevin Strawbridge. Now I am the sole owner of Sol Tribe. So 21 years.

CH: I find it interesting that all your business partners have been men? Touch on that and why you have decided to go solo.

AC: I guess that is true. I have had many different collaborators over the years and many of them are men. My experience around male counterparts has been all over the spectrum. I have grown from having known them, I have emulated aspects of them, and I have outgrown them. I no longer wish to collaborate with anyone on a business level mostly because I work circles around people. I work hard and I have a lot of raw experience (I have fucked up a lot). I am, however, extremely grateful for all my partners even the one I don’t communicate with anymore. Each person I worked with has given me gifts of which I would not have gained on my own. I consider all my partnerships to have been successful.

CH: Who helped you on your journey to being the boss?

AC: My mother is my greatest influence and taught me to run my own show. She helped me open Twisted Sol the same year she passed away. I was always a bossy girl though, so it came very naturally to me. Turns out that bossy just means you are a strong leader.

CH: Why was it important to you to own your own business?

AC: If I didn’t own my own business, I would want to work for someone like me. Until that someone comes along I will continue do this (run my business). It’s important to follow your dreams and allow your visions to be realized.

CH: What change have you seen in the industry in the last 20 years?

AC: OMG! It’s almost unrecognizable. It’s heartbreaking… there is what I see as serious lack of ethics and respect in the younger generations of piercers. I have observed that many are no longer concerned with our history or lineage. BUMMER! Social media has changed the world and has certainly changed our industry. In my opinion you can have a huge following, do mediocre work (but you just happen to be able to take a decent photo of it), be a nightmare human who is cruel to others and to clients, and still be a sensation. Some things are going to need to change, and people are going to need to stop hiding behind their screens and learn to be good humans again.

CH: Let’s talk cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation?

AC: WOW. That’s a huge subject, and almost an article of its own. Let’s just say cultural appropriation is taking something, or using sacred symbolism, that is not culturally yours, for your gain. And using it without acknowledgment or education or even sensitivity of its original intention. Now having said that I would like to introduce a new phrase we should all become familiar with and that is cultural fascism. Cultural fascism is trying to control other people’s creative and free expression around cultural experience.

CH: Recently there was an ad from a jewelry company that didn’t sit well with a lot of folks due to the idea of cultural appropriation? What are your thoughts on that?

AC: It’s Cultural Fascism! Social justice warriors who are using social justice as a weapon to destroy people without knowing the entirety of the story. In my opinion, this is a huge subject and deserves a lot of attention. In this situation things went way too far. If your attempt to right a wrong (point out cultural appropriation) results in you threatening to harm someone over it, you have gone way beyond doing the work based in justice and you need to reexamine your work and vision.

CH: How does that affect you as a woman of color?

AC: Watching a bunch of people work out their decolonization and indoctrination is no longer interesting to me, especially on the internet. What America needs to know is that we, as a culture, were raised with white supremacy at the core of our values. And it’s going to take a lot more than a black president to pull us away from that. I am sad that we get caught up with what other people are choosing to do with their bodies when we still live in a world where people don’t have clean water and healthcare. Everyone needs to check their privilege and be rooted in the abundance we have come to know and stop taking it for granted. As a woman of color I am still distraught that there are not more women or women of color in our industry. I am horrified that a huge amount of the women in our industry still are on the outskirts of the industry and are heavily undereducated. I am mystified that people of color are not encouraged to start career paths in tattooing and body piercing. An industry with balance and diversity makes for a far richer industry (society). PERIOD.

CH: What advice would you give a young woman for success in the workplace? Or how do you continue to support women in the workplace?

AC: I continue to support women in the industry by investing in them. Teaching them and empowering them. My shop is an example of that! It’s run by badass women.

CH: Who have you trained? What is your experience around training others?

AC: I have trained only three people with full on apprenticeships, and only one is a full time piercer. It’s not a job for the weak. It takes constant growth and attentiveness. I am lucky to have trained you and consider our apprenticeship together to be one of the most thorough trainings I have ever witnessed, which only has half to do with me!!!!

CH: You trained me, the interviewer, what was that like as a whole? Why did you pick me?

AC: I picked you because you called and emailed me like 40 times. You being gifted in customer service was huge. I trained you because you would not take no for an answer and in this industry you have to fight for what you want. You were a natural born fighter. I am grateful that you carry on my legacy, not only in the moment of clean and effective piercing, but in a warmth, compassion, and effectiveness in touching other’s hearts.

CH: How do you achieve your work/life balance?

AC: I don’t! hahaha!!! I still live, work, and screw up my personal life constantly. But I would say having a system in place for self-care is what I am currently working on.

CH: Has being a mother changed any facts or opinions of the industry for you?

AC: Being a mother changed everything. Suddenly I had two kids, the shop and my real kiddo. Everything I learned in piercing has prepared me for parenthood. Compassion and patience. My child has expanded my conscientiousness.

CH: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? 10 years?

AC: I will always do body art. ALWAYS. It’s a lifestyle, not a job. But I imagine I will focus more on artwork and parenting and let you (the interviewer) run the shop until my kid can help you run it. I’d like to disappear into the woods and make a retreat center for healing. I would also like to sing in a mariachi band someday! 😉

CH: Who are some of your influences? Shout outs!

AC: Professionally—Women in the professional piercing industry who have inspired me include Elayne Angel, Gigi Gits from Kolo Piercing, Crystal Sims from Evolution, Ericka Smicenski from Somatic, Kristin Otter from Metamorphosis, Christiane Lofblad from Pinpoint in Oslo. And the anthropological efforts of Erika Skadsen. My favorite piercers also include Luis Garcia, Derek Lowe, Casey Hosch, Aaron Foster, Danny Yerna, Ryan Ouellette, Courtney Jane Maxwell, Chris Jennell. And on a personal level, Dave Field, Ana Paula Escalante, Caitlin McDiarmid, Beverly DeOlivera, Monica Larrea, Theresa Preston, Corey Lolley, and Casey Hosch.

Point 82: Mama Duck Caitlin McDiarmid

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I’ve known Caitlin for many years now, and I have never stopped being astounded at the level of love and commitment she has for our industry. Many of you know only a small fraction of the tremendous amount of work that she does. But instead of giving you paragraphs full of work details, I would like to talk about something else that she has contributed to our industry…

Caitlin has a rare gift of not only being able to recognize the strengths in others, but to help others recognize and develop their own strengths.

For more than a decade, she has overseen the groups of volunteers who assist us in running Conference every year. In the matter of a week’s time, she turns a group of relative strangers into a tight-knit and functional family. In addition to overseeing the largest event in our industry, she is also helping to instill in these volunteers a deep abiding love of serving our industry. She is somehow able to chan- nel being a friend/parent/sister/boss/teacher at exactly the moment each of these things is needed. Many of us have walked away from these experiences knowing ourselves better and with a strong desire to give back to this industry that we love. I feel like Caitlin is primarily responsible for this feeling.

Even after Conference, she makes a commitment to keep in touch with past volunteers, to offer support when needed, to pass along information about job openings, to spread the word when someone needs help, and to stay involved with this extended family. None of that is her job, that is simply dedication. To me, it shows how much her love for our industry extends beyond the confines of our profession, and into the lives of its practitioners. We are truly, truly lucky to have her.—Sarah Wooten

Caitlin “Mama Duck” McDiarmid is a pillar of power and the foundation of many facets of Conference. She’s the glue of the volunteer family and a prime example of what a strong, caring, and passionate person can do to affect change in the lives of others. I’m endlessly thankful to have her as a mentor, a leader, and an example of how to move through the world. She dances, she laughs, and she cries with us all, and she’s never afraid to get down in the mud with us and help us dig.- Dae Jedic

My first year at Conference was scary, but after meeting Caitlin and talking to her in person for the first time, all my anxiety went away because I could tell that no matter what she would be there to help me through the experience. And she did. I don’t know how the APP would function without her. She is the reason I come back year after year. —Aaron Foster

Many of you have heard me speak about Caitlin McDiarmid, who is often simply referred to as Mama Duck. I also have the distinct pleasure of referring to her as my twin;  we share the same birthday. But we also share so much more than that. I have been fortunate enough to celebrate this woman; during the 20th Annual Conference Banquet, I was able to stand in front of hundreds of you and tell every- one what I already knew – Caitlin is very special. I recited a piece of writing about pie. Pie is never the easy choice, but it is always worth the effort it takes. A perfect reminder that behind the scenes for many years there has been someone putting in the love, the long hours, the team building, the hard work, and all of if for us. I am lucky enough to have had this powerhouse of a woman as a boss, an employee, a men- tor, and most importantly as a friend. She has changed my life and lives of many others. So it is only fitting in an issue where we honour some of the many women who have lost sleep, spilled tears, and shed blood for their tribe, that we get out of our chairs and give this woman a standing ovation. This organization would not be the same without her and all she has done over the last decade.—Kendra Jane B

I met Caitlin only a short time ago but in a mere few months, she has single handedly changed my life, whether she is aware of it or not. I have her to thank for who I am growing into as a person and as a professional. During my overwhelming time (for myself and those around me) at the 2017 Conference, Cait- lin was at my beckoning if I needed her at all. For anything that I needed to speak about, cry about, or just to sit with. She put her needs aside for all of those who volunteered prior and present to help make the Conference happen every year. Our Mama Duck lived a turbulent year in 2017, but none of it stopped her from moving forward and keeping the APP alive and well, making sure our needs were met, that we were healthy and taken care of. She especially has impacted me to become more aware of my mental health and to take action on it. I hadn’t realized I needed to make a serious reality check on myself prior to my first Conference. She spoke to me gently and with immense professionalism, making sure that I fully understood where she was coming from as a Mama Duck. I have her to thank for the path that I am leading now. She truly is a strong warrior danc- ing queen. Mama Duck never quits; she works all year long for us and with us. Caitlin is a victorious manager and lead- er for our growing industry and I thank her for always keepin’ on. I love you, Caitlin.—Love always, Duckling Nina Mikulin

Caitlin’s title might be Administrator, but her expertise is far more than office management. She very much speaks the language of the industry and knows what’s happening before the rest of us. Piercers, studio owners, environmental health agencies, educators, jewelry companies, and health care providers all reach out to the organization for help. That makes Caitlin the first contact many of them have. She has to understand their needs and speak a language they understand. A school nurse’s needs will be different than a health inspector and Caitlin is proficient in communicating with both. Sometimes she needs to refer people requesting information and help to piercers in the APP community. This means she needs to be aware of who has certain skill sets and experiences and best suited for the job. If nothing else she must be an expert at delegating. Caitlin is great at her job and that can only happen if she loves what she does. So it’s obvious she has a lot of love for piercing, and whether or not you’re an APP Member, you benefit from her hard work.—John Johnson

Caitlin McDiarmid was the first person to really give me a shot at participating in  the APP. She helped me get some of my ideas incorporated into Conference; I’m happy to see both the Mentor Program and the workshop style of classes succeed because of that chance. Caitlin is a true inspiration to a generation of piercers who want to volunteer and see the industry and our organization grow. Thanks Caitlin! —Ryan Ouellette

Point 82: Raelyn Gallina

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By James Weber, Past APP President & Past Point Editor

The following appeared in issue 69 of The Point:

On September 6, 2014, the body modification industry lost one of its pioneers. After a long battle with cancer, Raelyn Gallina passed away.

In the early days of modern body modification, it was definitely a man’s world. Doug Malloy, Jim Ward, and Fakir are credited as being the “fathers” of the modern piercing movement, but while they were servicing a primarily male clientele, Raelyn was blazing a trail among women, offering piercing, branding, and scarification in the lesbian BDSM community. While Doug, Jim, and Fakir get the lion’s share of the credit for what modern piercing has become since it emerged in the late 70s, Raelyn’s name has often been little more than a footnote—and that’s a shame. (It is called “his-story,” after all.)

While she made her home in California’s Bay Area (the center of the modern body modification resurgence in the U.S. through the late 70s and 80s), Raelyn also had a tremendous impact on early body modification on the East Coast thanks to her travels. In the early 90s, she would see clients and do workshops in and around the Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore areas, offering not only piercing, but also branding and scarification. At a time when feminists were leading the movement to politicize the body, she was creating a safe space for lesbians, leatherwomen, butches, femmes, the queer-identified, and even the occasional man. She presided over a women’s space, but welcomed everyone from the local queer communities.

Raelyn battled inflammatory breast cancer over ten years ago, and last May she found herself dealing with a recurrence that affected parts of her brain, bones, mediastinum, and lungs. She finished a course of 25 radiation sessions in June of 2013, and spent the fall and winter recovering. Although that radiation did a good job on many sites, Raelyn was still undergoing radiation treatments. Sadly, she lost that long, final battle. Raelyn was a pioneer in piercing, branding, and scarification, and even one of the early organizers of the APP, and without her influence our industry would not be where it is today. The world is poorer for her passing.

Point 82: Michaela Grey

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By Marina Pecorino, Point Editor

Michaela Grey in 1995. The photo was taken for PFIQ Issue 45 commemorating Gauntlet’s 20th Anniversary

Obviously, Jim Ward is widely regarded as the “father” of the modern, American piercing movement, but who is considered the mother? In my personal opinion, that  honorary title should go to Michaela Grey. At a piercing clinic in New York, Michaela met Jim Ward; she was a student at Sarah Lawrence at the time. Prior to this meeting, Michaela and her then girlfriend were performing piercings out of their dorm room, but Jim made such an impression on Michaela that she decided to move to San Francisco and seek an apprenticeship. In May 1991, Michaela was hired as a summer counter person at Gauntlet, and soon advanced into an apprenticeship position under Scott Shatsky and Karen Hurt.

An excerpt from Running the Gauntlet:

“By 1993 the mass proliferation of body piercing studios staffed with inadequately trained piercers was causing grave concern with health departments and legislators. In some places there was talk of outlawing body piercing altogether. We at Gauntlet had tried repeatedly to get others in the industry to police and regulate themselves, but with minimal success. It became apparent that unless we banded together and became proactive, we could very well find ourselves out of business. We knew that if body piercing were made illegal, the only piercers continuing to operate would be doing so clandestinely, and piercing clients would be no better off than they already were.

Any Gauntlet Senior Piercer who wanted to get their Master Piercer certification was required to undertake a special project. Michaela was ready to make this advancement, and her special project, the magnitude of which we didn’t realize at the time, was to attempt to create a network of responsible studios willing to work together with healthcare professionals and legislators to set reasonable standards for the industry and regulate rather than outlaw it. This became so time consuming that friction developed between Michaela and her coworkers. The store manager wanted to fire her. […]

Despite her rough edges, it was apparent to me that Michaela had too many things going for her to simply turn her out in the street. So rather than abandon her I made the decision to mentor her and take her on at corporate as my assistant. This gave her the time and freedom to work on a number of projects, including what eventually became the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). […]

In 1994 the State of California was poised to pass legislation (Assembly Bill 3787) that would regulate body piercing, tattooing, and permanent cosmetics. A handful of piercers from several studios began to network and strategize how best to assure that these forms of body modification were not outlawed. Those who met at the Gauntlet corporate office for those early meetings included Raelyn Gallina, several representatives from Body Manipulations, Nomad, and Primeval Body in L.A. Along with some of his students, including Idexa, Fakir also attended. The office was full. As the pending legislation grew closer to passing, a group got together and drove to Sacramento. Michaela spoke on behalf of the industry during one of the hearings for the bill. She also did a number of television interviews. The bill ultimately failed thanks to lobbying by the ear-piercing gun manufacturers. However, this did not end the threats to the industry, and the need for a professional organization to deal with them.

The APP founding members, left to right, Irwin Kane (Gauntlet), Raelyn Gallina, Vaughn (Body Manipulations), Michaela Grey (Gauntlet), Melisa Kaye (Body Manipulations), Richard Carter (Primeval Body), JoAnn Wyman (Body Manipulations), Elizabeth Brassil (Body Manipulations), Drew Ward (Gauntlet); kneeling, Blake Perlingieri (Nomad), Kristian White (Nomad)

Future meetings were held after hoursat the Market Street store. From these the APP came into being. Not surprisingly, there was much wrangling, many heated discussions, and some friction. Some of those who attended left in a huff never to return or to come back many years later. Blake Perlingieri helped Michaela with registering the organization for nonprofit status, opening a joint bank account for the funds, and starting its newsletter The Point. With the assistance of Ghadi Elias from Mastodon in San Diego, APP moved forward and organized its first board.”

Michaela served as the original Chair (later retitled “President”) of the Association of Professional Piercers, starting from its inception in 1994 until she transitioned to the International Liaison in June 1997. During this transition of the Board, in The Point: Issue 10, Kent Fazekas, incoming Chair, wrote the following about her:

“Michaela Grey. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude the APP has for you. The amount of work you have put forth toward the APP is remarkable. As chairperson of the APP your workload is enormous, and I can only imagine the amount of time per day you donate to the APP (I may be finding out real soon). You have a very pure heart Michaela and your actions show that you truly believe in the APP’s mission. We love you Michaela.”

During the fledgling years of the organization, in addition to her APP Chair responsibilities, she worked diligently to produce early issues of The Point. She also served as the co-editor for PFIQ, helping to redirect its focus from male/leather, to a more female friendly perspective. In PFIQ #45, Michaela wrote the following:

I do not discern between the experience of being pierced, the healing process, and the completed, integrated adornment; they are wholistic and inter-relative. Being pierced is a natural extension of my need to create an intentional environment for myself–a world of spiritual completeness, practicality, and uniqueness. I fiercely intend not to live an unexamined, blind life.

I started at the San Francisco Gauntlet in 1991. Prior to that, I spent two years as one of those uneducated hack piercers against whom I now crusade. My current responsibilities as an educator and media disseminator put me in the position of being able to make a real difference in the piercing experiences of others, for whom I am grateful. Piercing and other body-affirming practices are becoming ever more popular in defiance of an increasingly depersonalizing world. I am proud to be one of those spreading this message.

Michaela worked closely with Jim Ward to develop a piercer training curriculum for Gauntlet and co-author  a  written  manual called Responsible Body Piercing in 1993; she later became the director and primary instructor for these seminars, with other Gauntlet piercers co-teaching.

In 1998, prior to the existence of the President’s Award, the Board dedicated the “Jack Yount Memorial Certificate of Recognition” to Michaela, for her efforts in promoting excellence in professional piercing.

The Jack Yount Award, 1998

Due to friction with others in the industry because of her so called “conservative” views, Michaela stepped away from body modification to pursue a career in graphic design and production art. Later she went back to school for costume design and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles.

In 2005, the APP presented Michaela with a Lifetime Achievement award, stating that “her work to secure the stability of the [APP] in the early days were critical to its survival. Piercers have had the opportunity to speak to the regulations which govern them worldwide as a result of her efforts.” You can read more about this special award in  The Point: Issue 48.

This was originally intended to be an interview with Michaela Grey, but unfortunately, she declined the opportunity. She made it clear that she “left the industry due to gross persistent misogyny and disrespect for piercing’s history and elders” and as a result would prefer to keep her distance. Michaela is not alone in these feelings, and this underlying tone illustrates precisely why this issue of The Point is themed around the women in our industry, past and present.

From Brian Skellie:

Michaela knows that some of us commiserate with her for the rough times she had with APP, and how much I and many other people still hold her in high esteem. We should ensure our archive reflects Michaela with honor and respect as a person not just an integral past political figure. She worked tirelessly as an ally to our mission, no matter how uncomfortable or stressful it was. She took on so much in her role at 23 years old, put up with hard work and difficult debates along with the good, and much of it was thankless. Without Michaela, the APP could have just been a tiny, short lived CA endeavor. Thankfully she helped clear away some of the nonsense that gets in the way of the good work. There is much more to her personality and her work than the awards we gave her and back issues of The Point can illuminate.

We have kept in touch since her APP years. Michaela’s ever present wit shines in our interaction when I brought up the Archive and asked for her to reflect upon her involvement and share her ideas:

“Aside from the looming threat of ill-conceived legislation, I was forming the APP at the time I was running two Gauntlet piercer seminars a month. I observed a wide cross section of the piercers currently working, from folks I admired and respected to a lot of people I wouldn’t want piercing an apple juice carton with a straw. If I seemed excessively cautious it’s largely due to the truly scary folks I encountered in the seminars, and knowing that they represented a likely majority of the industry at the time (and sadly, probably still today).”

I believe her caution was sensible. She is skillfully self critical, and never needed my opinion or assistance. Some others at the time seemed to play the devil’s advocate and enjoy getting strong responses. This treatment of her efforts was lamentable. She should be remembered as a great gift to the trade. She saw video of the 20th Anniversary panel discussion and noted:

“I’m usually never thinking about that part of my life. It was very moving to see so many old cohorts gathered at that table to talk about the early days of the organization. All water under the bridge. I’m mostly pleasantly surprised. Allen’s mention of me was unexpected and got me a little misty. As he said, we butted heads often. It’s good to see that we both did it from love of the craft. It’s also interesting to see that some quandaries like “do we let crap jewelry manufacturers on the Expo floor” persist to the present day.”

Some companies have learned what it takes to make standard quality jewelry, and done well. Others still are dodging any light we shine on them, but we hope they will come around.

“I’m awed and humbled to see how the APP has grown. I’m also loving the international outreach! I have a number of the new Members from Mexico and Italy on my FB feed and it’s awesome to see it grow.”

Michaela with Jim Ward at the APP Banquet 2005 when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award

Point 82: An Interview with Bethrah Szumski

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By Sean Dowdell, Club Tattoo

Atlanta, Georgia: Virtue and Vice

Athens, Georgia: Pain and Wonder

SD: How did you get your start in the piercing and tattoo industry?

Bethrah: I started with my husband at the time Cap Szumski. I started Virtue and Vice in 1994.

In 1999 we bought Pain and Wonder and felt the name was strong enough to keep and grow.

In 2005 we were divorced and had to do a complete business partnership split. From this I developed a business management skill set that I never anticipated. I had the business know how to run and own both businesses.

SD: Do you find it hard to promote two different brands?

Bethrah: Not at all, they are in two different cities and each have a strong presence on their own! Each has its own unique identity, although there are aspects that crossover. The studios use the same logo and the interior colors are similar rather than completely different. They don’t need to conform, but rather reach each other in a progressive approach that ties together organically and through marketing. They reflect each other while the personality of the individual studio still comes through.

SD: Where and where were you born and raised?

Bethrah: I was born in 1971 in Berkeley, California but have travelled and lived all over including Albuquerque, Atlanta, New Mexico, Australia, and Ecuador. I even lived in a school bus for a year!

SD: Can you give us a little background as to how you came to be interested in piercing?

Bethrah: Dumb Luck lol, I was 16/17 and had my daughter at 16. I was a hostess and waitress at Village Inn. That was in 1987/1988. The only tattoo shop in town was Fineline Tattoo which was Brian Everett’s Studio and I was hanging out there a lot. I was dating a few of the bikers that were at the shop. Brian eventually hired Cap, and eventually he and I started dating and we fell in love. We ended up together for 16 years and he eventually adopted my daughter.

In the early 1990’s he became burned out and had saved some money. We took this money and travelled and eventually moved to Atlanta. We opened Timeless together and I was learning to tattoo. The following year I learned how to pierce.

This is when I called and spoke to Elayne Angel for advice in starting my piercing career. She advised me to take the Gauntlet course and invited me to come down. She was a GREAT source of information as far as simple anatomy and troubleshooting and approaching each piercing.

SD: Were you scared when you started; and if so of what and why?

Bethrah: I had nightmares for quite a while about guest spotting in New Orleans, but Elayne really taught me to change and grow. She really instilled the ability to learn and evolve and keep an open mind. It was a great experience actually and to have her as a mentor was just incredible.

I also helped Elayne develop a portfolio system which had enormous value. It allowed the capability of showing clients what piercings were actually going to look like and have discussions with the specific clientele. It was something that I was actually able to give back.

SD: What is something positive that comes from our industry?

Bethrah: What we provide as a service is important. It is an opportunity to mark an occasion in someone’s life. It can add a tremendous value to someone’s personal life experience. It can also improve aesthetics, sexual function, and quality of life in some cases. It can make people feel better about themselves which is great!

SD: What would you like to see change in our industry and why?

Bethrah: I would like to see female piercers getting a little more respect and adulation from the masses. Men in our industry seem to get much more acceptance and praise in our industry.

Secondly, “the freehand gods” should realize that there are so many more ways to do things and to be efficient. There is more than one correct way to do things. (Sean: BTW, I couldn’t agree more!)

 SD: Who was most influential to you in the early years and why?

Bethrah: Elayne Angel was instrumental in my career growth.

SD: What type of things have you contributed to our industry?

Bethrah: There is an enormous risk and bravery of accepting gray area. Meaning that anything that is left unproven or unexplainable can still be of benefit. It is okay to continue to do them. Otherwise you are selling yourself short in the interest of your client.

SD: What are your current interests, hobbies?

Bethrah: Most of my energy, brain power and effort goes toward improving the business or my work with the APP. Is cleaning house a hobby? I really like getting that done.

SD: Do you have any regrets or things you would do differently?

Bethrah: I wish I had stopped worrying about pleasing everyone  much  earlier.  Most   people go around worrying about their position in the status quo. Mob mentality and popular opinion are terrible things to measure by.

SD: What would you like others to know about you that may not know about you?

Bethrah: Oh my god, that’s hard! My employees say that I speak Spanish and have a “matter of fact” and shame free manner. For myself it’s that I have great respect for people who work hard for the greater good even when I dislike them in every other way. A lot of people talk a good game about what they would do or what others should do to make things better but very few people actually jump in and do the work. True dedication trumps everything for me. Also, maybe that I keep a go bag handy with basic survival items and a gas mask. I’ve figured out the best way out of my city on foot or bike and my dream house on my land would be essentially a box car bunker.

SD: When did you feel like you were going to be a success?

Bethrah: I’m still not sure! I feel like we are all one natural disaster away from being homeless.

SD: Tell me about your involvement with APP? Why did you get involved with the APP?

Bethrah: I believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the organization. I was taught early on that getting involved is important. I stay involved now with things I still have passion for. Teaching and Camp are the big ones. Over the years I served as Secretary for 10 years and president for three. I’ve served on many committees and covered a lot of different duties.

SD: It has been an honor to interview one of the key piercers in our industry that I feel should get a lot more credit for the contributions and sacrifices she has made to the industry. Thank you so much Bethrah

Bethrah on kitchen duty Camp APP 2017

Point 82: The President’s Corner: Bethrah Szumski

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By Jef Saunders, APP President

This issue of The Point is focused on Women in the Piercing Industry. There are countless women who have  inspired  me and  who I could thank for my own personal voyage. That said, I’d like to put the spotlight on someone who I couldn’t imagine the Association of Professional Piercers without: Bethrah Szumski.

Bethrah served the APP as Secretary for many, many years, and it was Bethrah who called me when I was elected to the Board to give me advice. Being a Board Member involves a lot of responsibility, and the learning curve is steep. Were it not for Bethrah explaining the ins and outs of joining the Board, I would have been lost. In hindsight she may regret making that phone call to me, because I have leaned on her for advice in all aspects of my life ever since. Very rarely does more than a month go by without me reaching out to her for insight, advice, or just a shoulder to lean on.

For those not in the know, Bethrah has been with the APP since just about the beginning. She has served as President and Secretary, but also was deeply involved in our Conference for years. She also spearheaded some of our organization’s forays into international Conferences in Amsterdam in the early 2000s. These Conferences helped inspire piercers in Europe to start their own organizations. There is virtually no part of the APP that has not benefited from Bethrah’s involvement.

It is tough for us today to remember that the APP was once a very young organization that could have disappeared without spectacular leadership and tremendous sacrifice by our early volunteers. Bethrah’s commitment to the APP and its mission led her to put in countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears. As someone who has benefited tremendously from the efforts of the early APP, I have huge amounts of gratitude for all of the early Board Members and volunteers. That gratitude knows no bounds when I think of Bethrah.

As she segued out of her role as Secretary (and in the process trained our current Secretary, Aaron Pollack), Bethrah pitched the Board a new idea: “Why don’t we do something for our Members that is different than Conference. Something in nature where they can learn and bond and relax together. It can be a Member’s Retreat where we all camp together”. A lot of people would have come up with the idea and then asked other people to do the work. Not Bethrah. She immediately found appropriate locations, developed a budget, figured out all of the things that would go into a wonderful camp experience and then made it happen. To say it has been a success is a gross understatement. Camp APP has quickly become a must-attend event, and once again it is due to the vision, leadership, and hard work of Bethrah Szumski.

Along with Bethrah, I’d like to send a special thank you to all of the women who make the piercing community a better place. The APP and the piercing industry as a whole are benefactors of your leadership, intelligence, strength, wit, and talent.

Point 82: Women of our Industry – Editorial by Marina Pecorino

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Marina Pecorino, Point Editor

There have been a large number of influential and instrumental women in modern body piercing. This issue has been cultivated specifically to highlight some of these figures. As you might expect, it would be impossible to cover all the incredible females of our industry’s history within one issue, but we hope to initiate a dialogue and bring awareness to the often overlooked female pioneers.

From the early years of Gauntlet to current, women have played an integral role in the development and progress of our industry. All too often though, these piercers and body modification practitioners have not been represented in the forefront of the movement.

My personal journey within the body modification world has been greatly influenced by my female clients, coworkers, and predecessors, but probably the biggest impact on my life within the industry has come from Caitlin McDiarmid. Without her, this organization and my own personal journey would be in a very different place.

As you read through these pages, we hope you find knowledge, inspiration, and empowerment.