Deciding on who should receive the President’s Award seemed like a daunting task to me, until I realized that Derek Lowe hadn’t yet been a recipient of it. I cannot imagine the Association of Professional Piercers without Derek. I believe that one of the reasons the Conference Committee had chosen Derek Lowe as the speaker for our Conference’s Orientation for so long is that Derek embodies so many qualities that we want our organization to represent: strong, rational, mature, friendly and always there when you need him. Derek is a member of the Oversight Committee, and in that position is a resource to the Board offering historical context and insight when necessary. He has been an enormous influence on me as a person, a piercer, and an APP Member. It was truly an honor to be able to present the award to him, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to do so.
Posts tagged award winner
Point 80: Creative Innovator Award
Tether Jewelry & Other Couture for the “Olympica” Design
At this year’s Exposition, Tether Jewelry & Other Couture won the Creative Innovator’s Award with their “Olympica” design. This design is available in yellow and rose gold, naked, and obsidian as part of Tether’s Noachis Terra collection. I had the opportunity to interview Paul Shinichi from Tether about this design and his experiences in the Expo.
Marina: This is your second year as a vendor at Conference. How were the two experiences different?
Tether Jewelry: It felt really good my second year to have studios and piercers come to our booth the first day specifically seeking us out, eager & excited to see the new collection. It makes me extremely happy knowing some- thing I designed is bringing someone joy and excitement when they wear it. It feels like I’m on the right path.
Last year I was so nervous, honestly now it is a giant blur. I made some rookie mistakes, but I definitely learned a lot! From a logistics standpoint, just knowing what to expect this year made it so much easier. We bring quite a bit of inventory to the Expo, so studios can take all the jewels home with them. This year, I had one person specifically handling all jewelry operations and that made everything smoother and quicker. Actually, I would like to shout out to my crew for making this year’s experience amazing. Eleni Evangelatos, Lilly O’Neill, and Sara Martin—y’all are magnificent!
Marina: You were awarded the Creative Innovator Award last year as well. How did that influence your submission in 2017?
Tether Jewelry: I really wanted to collaborate with someone for this year’s entry. Mike Knight, owner, designer, and jeweler for Other Couture, and I had been sharing little sneak peeks at what we had been working on in months previous. He is someone I have a lot of respect for, and he always pushes to do more innovative and detail oriented work, super inspiring stuff. So it just made sense to work together.
Marina: Tell us about the Olympica design. What makes it so special?
Tether Jewelry: I’ve been wanting to design a large gauge hidden hinge ring for quite some time. I just thought ‘wouldn’t it be cool if it was one continuous design and you almost can’t figure out where the seam is, almost like a puzzle!?’ After many failed attempts, I finally got it. This design in particular had several iterations because steel is so difficult to work with, especially when you are casting it. What works in gold and silver might not work in steel. It’s a great design idea and I’m already planning more larger-gauge hidden-hinge concepts for next year!
Marina: Aside from the Olympica design, do you have a personal favorite in this year’s collection?
Tether Jewelry: I’m a big fan of the Vitae design. I’m actually wearing them right now. That’s one of the perks of being a designer, designing things for yourself! This design is a nod to my love of marquise cut stones.
Marina: Last year, we asked if you had words of wisdom to share with small manufacturers getting their start in the body modification industry. You answered to “plan for the long game.” Can you expand on that advice?
Tether Jewelry: I am the new guy and I’m still learning how to run this business the best that I can. However, I’m not new to the industry. I’m putting in the time to Tether, much like I did in my piercing career. You need to put in as much time as possible, and just make it work. It can be super challenging at times. I mean, I still drive for Uber on the weekends. Also, it’s not always about designing jewelry. It’s about learning the business side too. I read and listen to a crazy amount of entrepreneurial articles, books, and podcasts. I can make a pretty decent customized spreadsheet now!
The definition of success can vary dramatically from one artist to the next. For me it has changed and evolved over time.
The long game is complicated. Most makers don’t want to make production pieces or outsource and I completely understand why. The long game, in my opinion, rests on the success of brick and mortar studios. If more makers in our industry build interesting products that will sustain a reselling market it’s a win/win. I think there is a huge void in our industry of mid-range retail products that are well made, interesting, and made from steel alloys.
The biggest hurdle for me as a designer was switching my mindset from “I want to make the best quality, most bad-ass jewelry ever” to “I want to make well built, bad-ass jewelry, that studios can sell to a wider audience.”
Marina: Is there anything else you’d like to share with The Point readership?
Tether Jewelry: Do more 14 gauge piercings!
Point 80: Technical Innovator Award
Buddha Jewelry Organics for the “Halo” Design
Buddha Jewelry Organics took home the Technical Innovator’s Award for their “Halo” design. I had the opportunity to interview Katrina Wickersham regarding the history of their company and their inspiration for this design.
Marina: Tell us a little about the history of Buddha Jewelry Organics. Your website has a synopsis, but it sounds like quite a journey. Tell us more.
Buddha Jewelry Organics: In 1991 Rion began piercing and in 1998 began designing and carving wood jewelry for the original Organics company. During a trip to Bali in 2002, Rion started collaborating with local artisans and Buddha Jewelry Organics was officially established! In 2004 Rion and I partnered personally and professionally. I have always had a love for piercing and jewelry, but came from an international business/fashion background. We quickly realized that our design aesthetics both contrasted and complemented the others in a unique way, and thus the Buddha Jewelry Organics design perspective was born. We have three piercing and tattoo studios in the Seattle area, which give us a unique insight into the studio owner/ jewelry buyer perspective, as well as the end client’s experience. Between our studios and traveling often for our jewelry, Rion and I stay pretty hands on. When Cassidi joined our team in 2013, she elevated BJO to new heights. BJO really is a team effort and that collaboration has a wonderful impact on both the direction of the company and our jewelry designs.
Marina: How has that unique history influenced the company you are now?
Buddha Jewelry Organics: We express who we are as people and what we love about life through our jewelry. We love to travel; we love to study cultures both traditional and modern, people, architecture, landscapes, art. We find inspiration everywhere, and love translating our experiences into new designs. Nature is an element that strongly influences our jewelry. Rion and I initially connected over our shared passion for outdoor activities like snowboarding, surfing, and hiking. We have a huge respect for the inherent beauty of natural materials and often our jewelry is about showcasing that in a progressive, wearable way. I design jewelry that I want to wear, usually from a more couture point of view. Rion is definitely more innovative and comes up with the most amazing ideas. We definitely inspire each other. Cassidi has also brought a new perspective and has had a great impact on our designs as well. There’s definitely a synergy, we’re super blessed to have the small team we do.
Marina: What was the inspiration behind the “Halo” design? What makes this design unique?
Buddha Jewelry Organics: We are slightly obsessed with stones and crystals… shocking right? I have a very edgy, high-fashion point of view and Rion is insanely creative. Our goal was to showcase the raw beauty of the crystal- line structure and the stone, but in a very modern structural way. We played around with different variations and combinations until we just knew that we had something we wanted to wear every day. For us, that’s the win.
Marina: Buddha offers a diverse collection of styles. Do you all have any personal favorites?
Kat: I have so many personal favorites, when you design something and see it brought from an idea to a physical creation it’s a sort of birth, and I get attached to those designs. I’m a nerd, I can’t help it. Right now I’m really into our Osiris weights for everyday and of course my pair of Halo weights.
Rion: I wear the Idol plugs almost every day, or the Luxe weights. I also really love the Deco fans.
Cassidi: I love the Muse hoops, I’m obsessed with the crystalline rawness mixed with the streamline metal. I also really love the Deco weights, I can wear them to work and a fancy event, they look great anywhere. I really love anything vintage inspired.
Marina: As a well-known and established jewelry company, do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to share with up-and-coming manufacturers in our industry?
Buddha Jewelry Organics: Stay true to yourself and your style. The wonderful thing about jewelry is that each designer brings a unique perspective and adds a new dimension.
Marina: Is there anything else you’d like to share with The Point readership?
Buddha Jewelry Organics: We’re just really grateful for all of the continued support! We’re excited to see our industry evolving and look forward to sharing our new collection with everyone!
Point 80: Single Booth Award- Uzu Organics & Phoenix Revival Jewelry
At this year’s Exposition, Uzu Organics and Phoenix Revival Jewelry won the single booth award with their joint display. Their olive overtones were a hot topic of discussion amongst many Expo-goers. I had the opportunity to interview Cale Belford of Uzu Organics and Dustin Allor of Phoenix Revival Jewelry.
Marina: How long have you been producing body jewelry and how did you get started? Was there a particular inspiration or genesis event?
Uzu Organics: I’ve been making jewelry for years, but began weights for stretched ears about five years ago. I’ve always been a knitter/crocheter and I was looking to try something different with my craft. I love body jewelry (being a piercer, of course) and my goal was to combine my passion for both crochet and jewelry. After a few experimental pieces, friends started making orders with me and it just branched out from there.
Phoenix Revival: No particular genesis. One of my first jobs in the industry when I was 18 was working at Dakota Steel where the Fakir line of body jewelry was produced. I have always created jewelry in one form or another, but about seven years ago I began taking jewelry making classes and started producing some of my own designs for body piercings and stretched ears.
Marina: Are all of your products completely handmade? Do you use any special tools during your process?
Uzu Organics: I’d say about 95% of my product is created with my own hands. I bend the majority of my own brass and titanium, but this last couple of years I’ve been using large gauge hooks to attach some of the pieces to, and though they are handmade, they are not by my hands. I try to keep it from my hands only as much as I possibly can!
Phoenix Revival: The originals are all handmade, but I use a lot of tools. Once I have a master of a design I can make copies, depending on the design. There are tons of special tools used depending on what process I’m using; fabrication versus casting for example. They each have specialized tools, but nothing I make is automated and there are always hands in the process.
Marina: You offer a wide variety of styles and materials. Do you have a personal favorite?
Uzu Organics: I love making the crochet earrings. For a time, it was the only ear jewelry I created. I’ve progressed a lot these last few years and they are looking better than ever! Most of the crochet weights are one of a kind and rarely made twice. I also enjoy making terrarium weights, which I’ve had a line of for the last three years. I have some really great terrarium stuff in the works currently and can’t wait to reveal the pieces for Conference.
Phoenix Revival: I have a favorite process. I really enjoy carving and casting. Carving something out of wax and turning it into metal is pretty awesome.
Marina: Tell us about your booth display.
Uzu Organics: I try to keep it simple and organic, as I don’t want to take away from the pieces themselves. I try to use contrasting colors in the display to visually stimulate the look of the jewelry.
Phoenix Revival: I’m still a pretty small company so compact is key to avoiding hefty fees with the facility. Everything needs to break down and fit in one suitcase and has to display the jewelry nicely. This year I went with picture frames of various sizes that nested in each other for travel and had damask skull backgrounds in them. Piercers were going crazy online about olives, so I decided to have a mini olive bar at the booth. It was a great way to break the ice and get some laughs. The reactions of love or disgust were hilarious. I even had a few brave olive haters try an olive just to make sure their tastes hadn’t changed!
Marina: How was your Expo experience? Do you have anything to share with other small jewelry manufacturers that might be thinking about vending at a future APP Conference and Expo?
Uzu Organics: This was my fourth year vending at Conference and this year I split my booth with someone new (Phoenix Revival Jewelry) and got a different location on the Expo floor. I think moving my booth made a huge impact on sales and people just coming over to look at my product. My booth mate and I also won Best Small Booth! It can definitely be challenging as smaller vendor, especially one with very unique pieces that are not for everyone, but I’ve just been keeping up with it and release new de- signs each year. This keeps people interested! Though, I do have a wonderful following and I couldn’t do any of this without them.
Phoenix Revival: The Expo was good. It was my third year of having a booth and it’s always a learning experience. Learning what designs people connect with and what they pass over, how the reception for different designs changes from year to year. What things I should have left at home and what things I should have made ten more of. I would suggest other small scale jewelers try similar methods of having a display that packs down into one case and to keep notes on what works and what doesn’t so you remember what you want to adjust for future expos.
Marina: Do you have any suggestions about how to handle and display your jewelry in studio displays? How about recommendations once your pieces find a forever home?
Uzu Organics: Like any specialty pieces, it is important to not be aggressive with the jewelry, especially the crochet designs. I suggest keeping them hung on hooks or any other hanging display. There are a couple of studios who have used old picture frames to display the crochet pieces… I find that adorable! You can also just lay them on a flat surface. At home you will want to treat them similarly. Don’t just throw them in a pile with your other stuff as it may damage the threading!
Phoenix Revival: I love working with stones that have flash. Labradorite, spectrolite, moonstone and pieter- site are some favorites. At the right angles and in the right light those stones come to life and the wrong angle and light makes them look dull, so adjusting the placement under lights and height in a display case can really change how these stone present. I’d suggest playing around with the placement until you find a spot that highlights the beauty of the stones. I love to work in sterling, which tarnishes. The tarnish can be attractive or not depending on the design and keeping a polishing cloth on hand can help brighten up the silver if the details get lost over time.
At home, storing them in a way that they are protected from elements and not in a pile with other jew- elry is going to prolong their life. I am guilty of the pile method myself and I occasionally pay the price with broken jewelry.
Marina: Is there anything else you’d like to share withThe Point readership?
Uzu Organics: Thank you so much for taking an interest in my company! Find me and Uzu Organics at the APP Conference again in 2018! I’ll have some great new designs to show off. You can find my jewelry and other accessories I create on Etsy, and I’m always posting on Instagram.
Phoenix Revival: Yeah, olives rule!
Point #71: President’s Corner – Brian Skellie
Brian Skellie
APP President
In an organization comprised of exceptional participants who have gladly offered countless hours of work and traveled across the planet to share their ardor for safe body adornment, it is the privilege and great pleasure of the President each year to shine a light upon one who has exemplified our mission. To offer a special award in esteem of the outstanding contributions of this volunteer is equally to recognize the potential we all have to achieve the goals set forth by our Association.
In a field of iconoclasts, in which we must each be self reliant during our daily procedures, some of our fellow piercers have demonstrated proficiency at organizing and working together for the benefit of our community.
In a time where our colleagues have researched, debated, and negotiated fair regulations to respect and protect their fellow piercers and body artists, there are certain among us who excel at diplomacy and bringing forward our purpose. These individuals are honoured with the President’s award. We have showcased the winners of this award in several previous issues of The Point, starting with Issue 26 in 2003 (pg 3-5) as well as in 2009 with Issue 48 (pg 2-3).
Since 2009, when the sitting president James Weber presented to Raelyn Gallina, we have had five new honorees, including yours truly in 2014.
• 2010 Danny Yerna, presented by Jim Weber
• 2011 Allen Falkner, presented by Jim Weber
• 2012 Steve Joyner, presented by Elayne Angel
• 2013 Sarah Wooten, presented by Elayne Angel
• 2014 Brian Skellie, presented by Elayne Angel
Before the existence of the President’s award, the Jack Yount Memorial Certificate of Recognition for Promoting Excellence in Professional Piercing was dedicated to Michaela Grey, Founder of the APP, as a special award chosen by the appointed Board in 1998. This can be recalled as a time when people who had worked alongside her felt a need to show respect for her efforts in coalescing the Association, and as a nod to the gentle persuasion towards exploration and excellence Jack Yount had shared with us.
“He passed away in Hospital in Copenhagen Denmark on July 15, 1995 at the age of 68.”
Michaela Grey was again recognized in 2005 with a special Lifetime Achievement award from a subsequent APP Board, for her contributions to our industry.
Point #64: Innovator’s Award Winner for Creative Innovation: Joe Amato – Skin Mechanics
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.
Mike 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?
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.
MC: 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.
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.