Posts tagged app 2013

Point #64: Maya Coe’s Conference Experience

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Point64-Maya Coe headshotBy Maya Coe

The whirlwind of adjectives that appear in my mind when I go to describe my experience at my first APP Conference is blindingly overwhelming. Ever since my return from Vegas, every time I’ve been asked to talk about my trip I am at a loss of words. So now I’m going to take the time to finally sit down and spill the details of my wonderful experience at Conference.

Let’s back up to how I was even able to attend. I became aware of a scholarship being offered by a group of piercers generous enough to help send those in need to Conference, and so I applied. Soon after, I was accepted as a recipient and my Conference experience began. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I was in a state of constant motion, both physically and mentally. At first it was a bit nerve wracking to be amongst so many people I had only read about (and even written reports on), but as I began to meet others the feelings of uneasiness quickly dissolved. Everyone was friendly, relaxed, and accepting. If you at all ever found yourself wanting company it was not a problem, and if you found yourself just needing a bit of solitude, again, not a problem. This being the valuable outcome of being surrounded by people that are just as socially sensitive as you.

Being an apprentice, I opted to take full advantage of my trip and attended 13 classes and two meetings. 2013 APP Classroom Exposition (3)These classes included information on jewelry, aftercare, anatomy, Statim usage, medical risk assessment, how to prevent cross-contamination, and ways to use tools. I also renewed my bloodborne pathogens. The amount of information I was being taught was stunning. The anatomy classes I attended were instructed by Elayne Angel, and it felt totally exhilarating to be taught by one of the original piercers that helped shape our industry. I also felt privileged to receive instruction from David Vidra being that this was his last year teaching courses at Conference. (He is particularly inviting to learn from due to his ability to mix humor with otherwise dry and heavy subject matter.) Aside from the more technical classes, I also treated myself to Fakir’s class on making effective piercing rituals. This class touched on a spiritual level, and is part of what makes piercing so appealing to me. And again, being instructed by such a legend of the industry was very inspiring. I left every class I attended with something new, which has impacted my career much more than if I had only studied the subjects via books and the internet.

When I was not in class you could usually find me relaxing at the little bar in the casino of Bally’s with my beer and cigar, soaking in my surroundings or leisurely chatting with whoever was sitting next to me. If not there, I was getting as much rest as I could! I only explored outside of the hotel a few times during my stay, just to get fresh air and a change of scenery or bite to eat. (One of these nights included the scholarship dinner, in which all of the recipients got to meet the people who helped us get to Conference, and when all 25 of us piled in a van and went off to eat delicious Ethiopian food.)

2013 APP Event (11)I often reiterated the following statement when asked how I was doing while at Conference: I’ve never felt so exhausted yet awesome in my life. Not only was I learning and networking, but I was also making new friends and experiencing Vegas for the first time—and the ability to network with piercers from around the world was something I felt extremely appreciative of. It’s safe to say that I feel I have benefited in a HUGE way from attendance. I wouldn’t trade my time at Conference for anything, and I look forward to attending many more.

Point #64: Innovator’s Award Winner for Technical Innovation: Jimmy Buddha – Diablo Organics

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SONY DSCInterview by Shanna Dickey

Shanna Dickey: Congratulations on winning the Technical Innovator Award this year.
Jimmy Buddha: I appreciate it, and a big “thank you” to the APP community and everyone who was a part of this year’s Conference. We couldn’t be happier to bring home the Technical Innovator Award. In a craft that has been around for thousands of years, it is difficult to come up with new, innovative concepts, and to be recognized among a community of trail blazers is a great honor.

SD: How do you come up with your ideas?
JB: As a piercer for more than 15 years, I have insight into body jewelry function and design. When I work with people who have specific body modification needs, I love the challenge; that’s what gets me going in the morning.

SD: What is your design process?Point64-Buddha Award Winning Jewelry 2
JB: It’s really organic and depends upon the materials around me. I just start playing with a design and incorporate function for that specific material. If I like something, I run with it.

SD: Who inspires you?
JB: I get inspiration from our industry’s wide array of individuals. That’s what keeps me here: the independence and originality.

SD: What was your new technical innovation?
JB: I designed spreader hooks for JP. They were created from 28-million-year-old megalodon teeth unearthed in the deltas of the southeastern US. They took about eight months to complete, from sourcing the material to designing the piece.

SD: How are spreader hooks innovative?
JB: People with large stretched lobes want to wear heavy weight without permanently damaging their ears. Heavy weights can leave sore spots and even cause thinning of the lobe itself. The spreader hooks help to distribute the weight over a larger surface area than traditional hooks. It also turned out to be a pretty sexy design element for the piece overall.

SD: Do you create custom orders for a lot of people?
JB: I put a lot of time and energy into custom orders and try not to overextend myself. Sometimes they can take a year to complete. A lot of the designs we create have limited availability, so we have to reshape and transform to stay current. That way even our “classic” products are limited and have a custom feel.

SD: How is working with an individual different than designing for your new lines?
JB: Everybody’s needs are different. With regular catalog designs, I have to compromise. With custom orders, I have the opportunity to really focus on their specific modification needs.

Point64-Buddha Award Winning JewelrySD: What did you think of this year’s fashion show?
JB: I was really excited to be a part of the fashion show. I think it was a great success and an important direction to move in for body modification, fashion, and jewelry. Everyone really stepped up to the plate, and we made each other look good.

SD: What was most memorable at this year’s APP Conference?
JB: The APP Conference is a family reunion of sorts. I have built some really strong relationships over the years, and APP gives me the opportunity to visit with friends I don’t otherwise get to see. It’s also my chance to make connections with our new clients and continue to build those relationships.

SD: What are you currently working on?
JB: I want to make sure our designs stay fresh and relevant. We are a wholesale company and customers have a lot of different shopping options today. We want to keep our clients in the loop and remain competitive. I have assembled a great team to help with every step of the way.

SD: Tell me a little bit about your team?
JB: Jenny and Shanna are holding down the fort in Austin five days a week, always willing to answer any questions. Lauren is traveling around the States in “La Diablita”—our little red Diablo Organics’ car—and heading to a shop near you. We are really focusing on customer service and providing a good product to our clients. Our designs have been really well received, and we continue to evolve as a company and team.

SD: What do you have in store for the next year?
JB: I’ve been focused on creating a strong infrastructure in Austin. I feel like now I can really begin to search for different raw materials, and continue to look for new methods, techniques, designs for that next big thing. I’ll let you know when I find it…

Point #64: Innovator’s Award Winner for Creative Innovation: Joe Amato – Skin Mechanics

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Mike coonsInterview by Mike Coons

Joe Amato is a man who wears many hats: piercer and owner at No Hard Feelings Tattoo Gallery in Coral Springs, FL; Executive Director of DisgraceLanD Entertainment; Director of Skin Mechanics Suspensions; and owner/lead fabricator for Skin Mechanics Steelworks, which is the entity that brought us this year’s winner of the Creative Innovation Award.

Skin Mechanics Steelworks “Art Hook” line is a beautiful twist on the Gilson hook design. It fuses custom-shaped side plates (boat anchors with captain’s wheels and brass knuckles to name a few) with gems and tricked-out anodization to create something that is both aesthetically pleasing and still safe for human suspension.

As some of you know, Joe is a bit of an introvert, so as his friend and business partner (at DisGraceLanD Entertainment), I felt I would be able to get a little more out of him than some other interviewer. I sat down with Joe to hear his thoughts on winning this year’s Creative Innovations award, the future of Skin Mechanics, and the future of the suspension and piercing communities.

Point64-Award Winning Hooks 2Mike Coons: So tell us Joe, what are your thoughts on winning this year’s Creative Innovation Award at the APP Conference?
Joe Amato: My first thought now is, thank god we are doing this interview! I was so ecstatic at the banquet when they announced it that all I could do was smile, say thanks, and run back to my seat, so I left a lot unsaid.

I have so many thoughts; it is hard to pick one thing to say. I could say “thank you” all day long, because this is a huge team effort. It is no longer just me and a machine shop: in addition to Nicola Sands, Brandon Pearce, Joshua Fisher, and Nathan Mahle, there is the big team with Marc Gagneir and Jason Coale—of Painful Pleasures—who make our titanium pins. In fact, I owe these guys a lot. (They carry our entire line of hooks and rigs, and we are going to be selling the new art hooks and art rigs exclusively through their website). Both the Art Hooks and the Gilson Hooks are thanks to the collective effort of all these people.

But I still can’t believe this happened. Looking at my hooks in that showcase during Conference, it was hard to conceive of winning. My hooks were sitting next to my very inspirations; that was pretty cool.

MC: What was your inspiration for the new hook design?Point64-Award Winning Hooks 3
JA: I was in the workshop, playing with a chrome-plated 12-point bolt that I had to buy to make a hook with, and I decided I wanted to do special editions of really cool artsy hooks. Some I would always offer, and some I would do like 5-pairs of and that would be it.

I thought about Jimmy Buddha’s jewelry while we were making it . I love his large gemmed jewelry and his style, and I was inspired to find big crystals to put into some fresh, new designs.

We got right to drawing. That night we drafted up 6 new hooks, and in two weeks they were assembled and in my hands. I could hardly believe we got them done so fast, but the work was so exciting we went non-stop.

MC: Suspension hook design has primarily stuck to functionality over form. Why go the other direction?
JA: Even from the start (with the rigs) I have always wanted to make functional art. We have spent years working on function, manufacturing processes, new finishes, and making the rigs more artistic, but the hooks still felt like parts. It was time. This idea will give us something new and fun to make, and add to the art of suspension. Not to mention that there are a lot of people doing suspension photo shoots, and I think this can add a lot to that too. The possibilities are so exciting—and almost endless—from the variety of materials I can use to the different plating, anodization, overlay, and customization options; this idea has a long way to grow.

Point64-Award Winning Hooks 4MC: What else does Skin Mechanics produce?
JA: We make a lot of suspension gear—almost 30 different suspension rig plates, and all are available in many finishes plus anodizing options. There are custom rig plates, Gilson hooks and wrenches (these are also available in three finishes and two different materials), and now there are the art hooks and even our own cord.

But we are a growing job shop at heart; it’s not just suspension gear. We make arcade cabinets and parts for them. We make a single-player, arcade-style controller that works on PS3, Xbox 360 and even retro systems. We make a lot of parts for other people, too. Some are completely finished, from bottle openers to—one my favorites—a sewing jig for a CNC sewing machine that makes Ballistics Body Armor…we make whatever comes up really.

My favorite part about what we make is that we do almost everything in house. We get to play with the processes and be artistic with them as opposed to outsourcing, where you would never gain that experience nor would you have the control to do custom work.

Who knows what type of stuff we’ll make in the future; I don’t want to limit myself on what I make, because I never imagined I would be making most of the things I am now, and I love new projects.

MC: Let’s shift gears here for a second. What are your thoughts on the suspension community as a whole?
JA: It is growing so much on every level: acceptance is greater, shows are getting better. Events like Dallas SusCon have evolved and education is huge deal right now. With all the people working hard to make it so, the suspension community is growing quickly, and safely, and I couldn’t be happier. Suspension is evolving too, the huge regional groups are still there, but there are a lot of smaller local groups now, so a lot more people are getting involved on that end.

MC: Where do you see suspension going, and what’s your place in its future?
JA: Just like the progression we have seen with tattoo and piercing shops—people go from apprentice to artist to opening a shop—in the suspension community they go from member to team leader to starting a group of their own.

This is a good thing for suspension. The information is there and everyone wants to share it with you. There are events based around learning, and many people that never would have will suspend because of it. Members of groups all over will start new groups, and in time, this cycle will start over again. It’s awesome to watch because even as old as suspension is, it is still so new.Point64-Award Winning Hooks

Being a supplier to the groups, I may have a unique view of this. Since September—when I announced a wholesale offer to groups—I have sent out more hooks than every year previous combined. I have spoken with so many new groups, and got them safe stuff to work with. I have also helped existing groups get more gear, which was the hope with the wholesale program in the first place.

So where do I see myself in it’s future? Well, I hope that trend stays true. As this grows, we have grown with it. There is so much ground left to cover, so many areas untouched, and so much left to innovate. Suspension is the creative love of my life, so I just hope I can keep being creative with it as long as this world will let me.

MC: It sometimes gets overlooked, but you are also an accomplished body piercer. How are things at the shop these days?
JA: Things at the shop are great. No Hard Feelings Tattoo And Piercing is the best we have ever been. We are big team, so there is always a lot of people and good vibes going around the place. There are seven tattooists, two counter people, and four piercers—Nicola, Brandon, Josh, and I—so there is a cool dynamic that I really enjoy, especially since I am used to being the only piercer at a shop.

MC: How do you find time to pierce with everything you have going on?
JA: I work seven days a week to try to fit it all in. I work weekdays at the waterjet and do steelworks at night, or visa/versa. This leaves weekends for the shop (and piercing). After working so hard all week, the shop is like heaven: air conditioning, and awesome work in a social environment with cool clients; it’s the best. Even though I am working, it feels like a few days off.

MC: I’m gonna go ahead and slip this in there. Are you going to MECCA?
JA: Without a doubt, MECCA is actually the biggest production we will be doing all summer. We at Skin Mechanics Steelworks will be sponsoring MECCA with free Gilson Hooks to any attendee that wants to use them. They can then buy them or give them, back. We are shooting to have 500 Gilsons, plus tools, by MECCA. Last year, when we did this sponsorship on a smaller scale, we noticed a lot more people suspending, and people suspending multiple times in the weekend, because they weren’t limited by the amount of hooks they brought with them, and we are hoping to see an even greater turnout this year.

MC: I have to mention it, the new look: the hair, the beard…it kinda has a Charles Manson/crazy scientist feel. What do you have going on it that head of yours? What can we expect from the mind of Joe Amato in the future?
JA: Hahaha, I kinda feel like a crazy scientist. I have been making jokes that the hair and beard have been growing as long as I have been in the machine shop. It’s kinda true. But seriously, I started growing it out because I want to attempt a beard lift with Jason the Illustrated Penguin Boy of the Freak Kings. He is about 70 pounds, and I want to suspend him at the South Florida Tattoo Expo in August before I shave it off for my 30th birthday, on August 19.

As far as what to come, the best I could hope for is that we continue to grow and acquire more machinery to keep adding things to the line. We have tons of ideas. We would like to branch out in the future as well, but all things at the right time. One thing I have learned is when you have cool ideas is that it’s better to build suspense than blow the surprise. So you’ll just have to wait and see. Whatever it is you can be sure we are always trying to be innovative, and we’re doing it for the right reasons.

Point #64: Al D. Scholar – Parker Webb

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parker webb headshotBy Parker Webb

I must admit that I’m not one for expressing myself through written words. My dedication to the industry is conveyed through my lifestyle, so these words may be all over the place, but I hope they convey my love for the work I did at the 18th Annual Conference and Exposition as much as the actions of my work did.

After a two month process of applying for this scholarship, collecting references,and going through the phone interviews, I really couldn’t have had a better learning venture. For the past eight years I have worked in the piercing/tattoo industry, but this experience—by far—reassured the fact that I am in fact in the right field.  All the knowledge I’ve collected has given me more confidence and made me more aware of my trade, and being in a place surrounded by like-minded people in such mass was pretty amazing.

Being that I am not a piercer there has always been a lot of uncertainty about where my place was in the body modification world, not necessarily by others but by myself. However, as soon as I became an Al D recipient my role became clearer; I am very passionate about body modification, and I don’t necessarily need to be piercing to find happiness in this community. The kind of love and welcome I felt at APP is something rare, and something I will always cherish.

The moments, the memories, those few seconds at the dinner when there was a roar of cheer at the announcement of my name, they are all thanks to the Al D scholarship, and for that I am forever grateful.

Point #64: President’s Award – Sarah Wooten

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Elayne Angel_high resBy Elayne Angel

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.

Sarah WootenMy 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!