Posts tagged safe piercing

Point 79: 12th Italian SusCon, 2016

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Bruno Valsecchi

English Version

The twelfth edition of the SusCon took place this year September from the 18 to the 20 in Tirrenia, Pisa, a convenient location we have used for a long time. The Conference was good, with 45 suspensions facilitated as well as pulling between six people. On a highly positive note, 30% of our suspendees were newbies, a sign that the cultural practice of corporal suspension is expanding.

Besides Italians, we had participants from Germany, Spain, Norway and New Zealand. The suspension groups that made the whole event possible were APTPI-ST and Wings of Desire (from Norway), whose leader Havve Fjell will officially be presenting the 3rd Symposium on corporal suspension, which will be held in Berlin this May.

As usual, during the three days of the Conference, theoretical lessons were offered. This year we had the honor to host Paul King; professional body piercer since 1991 and one of the few to hold the title of Master Piercer, given by Jim Ward in 1996. He is an active member of the APP and an avid student of ethno-anthropology, as well as the anthropology of the body modification community, having lectured on these topics at various universities.

Paul presented the “Traditions of Hook Swinging in South Asia,” “Suspension of Belief and Piercing Rituals of Plains,” and “Sundance.” The subjects were very interesting and much appreciated. They highlighted other points of view on the practice of suspension, especially with regard to the ritual purpose. Another novelty for this year saw some of the attendees participate in a social and anthropological study, led by the anthropologist Federica Manfredi. She is researching the reasons and feelings involved for those who suspend. From this research they will produce 12 individual projects, all different and all unique and personal.

A special “thank you” to all of the participants in our SusCon, speakers, sponsors, and especially all the volunteers that make this a reality each year. At every event, we see a lot of passion and dedication, rewarding us all with an emotionally engaging gathering.

We can’t wait for next year, with even more surprises planned!

Italian Version

La dodicesima edizione dell’Italian SusCon si è svolta quest’anno dal 18 al 20 settembre a Tirrenia, Pisa, comoda location ormai da molto tempo.

Ancora una volta la partecipazione è stata buona, con 45 sospensioni effettuate durante il convegno ed un pulling tra 6 persone. Nota altamente positiva, il 30 % dei suspendees erano neofiti, segno che la cultura della pratica della sospensione corporale si sta espandendo, anche e soprattutto tra i più giovani.

Oltre agli italiani, si segnalano partecipanti provenienti da Germania, Spagna, Norvegia e Nuova Zelanda; i gruppi di sospensione che hanno reso possibile tutto l’evento sono APTPI-ST e Wings of Desire (Norvegia), il cui leader, Havve Fjell, ha presentato ufficialmente il 3° Simposio sulle sospensioni corporali che sarà tenuto a Berlino nel maggio 2017.

Come di consueto, durante i 3 giorni del convegno, si tengono anche delle lezioni teoriche: abbiamo avutol’onore in questa edizione di ospitare Paul King, body piercer professionista fin dal 1991 ed insignito del titolo di Master Piercer da Jim Ward nel 1996. Membro attivo dell’APP, è anche avido studioso di etnoantropologia e di antropologia delle modificazioni del corpo e su questi argomenti ha tenuto diverse lezioni in varie Università.

Da noi ha proposto: “Traditions of Hook Swinging in South Asia,” Suspension of Believe and Piercing Rituals of Plains,” and “Sundance;” gli argomenti sono stati molto interessanti ed apprezzati, ed hanno messo in luce altri punti di vista sulla pratica della sospensione, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la finalità, non ludica ma rituale.

Altra novità, alcuni partecipanti hanno realizzato un progetto a sfondo sociale ed antropologico, condotto dall’antropologa Federica Manfredi, che ricerca i motivi, ma anche le sensazioni, che intervengono in chi si sospende. Dopo aver contattato alcune persone, ha stabilito una consegna: cercare, attraverso un’opera artistica, di rappresentare cosa, o come, la coscienza elabori l’atto di sospendersi. Sono stati così prodotti 12 progetti, tutti diversi e tutti unici e personali nel taglio e nella realizzazione, che ha coinvolto molto intensamente isoggetti.

Doveroso ringraziare tutti i partecipanti al SusCon, i relatori e gli sponsors, ma soprattutto tutti i volontari che rendono ogni anno tutto questo una realtà.

Vedere e sentire tanta passione e dedizione per una pratica apparentemente poco usuale e male accettata dalla comunità, ricompensa da ogni fatica e contribuisce a rendere questo evento così emotivamente coinvolgente dal punto di vista umano e culturale.

Vi aspettiamo alla prossima edizione, con altre sorprese!

Point 79: UKAPP Update

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Nicole Holmes
UKAPP President

The UKAPP hasn’t been quiet over winter; even if you haven’t heard much from us, we have been busy. Growing in number from six to 14 full members since September, we  now have a members locator on our site and traffic is growing steadily.

There have been two social functions – one in Liverpool and another in Bristol – and lots of online activity. All this activity has allowed us to talk and hash out ideas with people interested in the industry, membership, or involvement at many other levels.

Our now annual Conference is heading into its third year and has proven to be such a huge success that this year we are including a lot more to see and do. Vendors, lessons, our rooms, and discussion groups are all being expanded. We have even added a raffle and photo competition. So, definitely more excitement as we do all our planning and our Conference gets closer!

This year  the conference will be spread over three days, 9/17 through 9/19 at the Raddison in Birmingham. We hope to see you there.

Point 79: BPA: Jewelry Exhibit

Comments Off on Point 79: BPA: Jewelry Exhibit read Body Piercing Archives, Conference, Issue 79
Matte Erickson
The Body Piercing Archive

The Body Piercing Archive will celebrate another first at this year’s conference; we are so excited to have an exhibit booth on the Expo floor.

Yes, we will have jewelry—LOTS of it! However, none of it is for sale. The exhibit will consist of steel and titanium jewelry, merchandise, and advertising from past and present manufacturers. Everything we have was released prior to 2007. This provides ten years of history to allow for a distinct perspective of the past.

This exhibit has been a labor of love over this last year. Many emails, Facebook messages, and phone calls have been exchanged. There was even an awesome day trip to LA to visit a jewelry legend! The outpouring of love for this project has been overwhelming with so many companies sending items. Many private collectors have also stepped forward, offering to bring items to Vegas or ship them to me, so I can include them in the exhibit. All of this, for the love of the jewelry and education. For us, the importance of body jewelry styles and innovations cannot be overstated. The jewelry defines much of how we view ourselves as piercers and how the world perceives body piercing.

This jewelry exhibit is just the start. Over time, we expect to grow, develop, and expand this concept into other materials with harder to find items and obscure companies. That being said, we can’t do it without your help. Maybe you have a box from the shop that you haven’t looked in for years? Perhaps you know a shop owner that is also a hoarder? This is where we find historic gold (literally and figuratively). So, please visit the Expo floor booth, ask us questions, give us feedback. This is your history! This is your exhibit.

Point 79: Update from the Secretary

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Aaron Pollack
APP Secretary

The APP has a lot going on this summer, and we want you to join us! Read through for all the latest updates on Conference, Camp APP, important changes to our Membership Standards, and the Members’ Meeting Notice.

Members’ Meeting Notice

The APP’s Members’ Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 14, 7-8pm at Bally’s Las Ve- gas. This meeting will cover all current APP business for the membership. Voting members will sign in to determine if the meeting has met the required quorum. Non-voting members are welcome to attend, as well as one representative from each APP Corporate Sponsor. If you wish to address the Board and membership, you may reserve a time slot by emailing secretary@ safepiercing.org.

There will be a Members’ Mingle before the meeting from 6:30-7:00pm. Refreshments will be served.

This is shaping up to be the biggest APP Conference ever! You do not want to miss it!

Conference Photography Update

This year at Conference we will have a ded-icated portrait photographer available on Wednesday and Thursday near the registration booth. Portrait time slots will now be available for purchase for $20.00. You can purchase your time slot at the merchandise booth and schedule your time with the portrait photographer at the portrait booth.

This time slot will allow for multiple shots, and you are free to bring a friend and do quick group shots. This fee will guarantee you one or more professionally shot and edited photo(s) for private use.

For those of you who wish to use your photo for business purposes, you may purchase the rights to use your photo however you wish for an additional $30.00.

We are excited to offer attendees a smoother portrait experience and an inexpensive way to obtain a professional quality headshot for their business needs.

New Environmental Criteria for Membership

All piercers working at an APP Member studio, members or non-members, will only use appropriate jewelry for initial piercings as listed in the current APP minimum standard. Any use of non-compliant jewelry for initial piercing by any person, member or non-member, in the studio is considered a breach of environmental standards and can be grounds for losing membership.

All studios will have until Jan 1, 2018 to become compliant with this new environmental standard.

Standards Update: Initial jewelry & Rose Gold This change was made after input from our membership, information provided by a workgroup at Camp APP, and consultation with major gold manufacturers. Please review the updated standard below:

Gold (yellow, white, or rose) is appropriate for initial piercings if it is solid 14k or 18k, alloyed for biocompatibility, and free from nickel or cadmium. Gold higher than 18k is too soft for body jewelry because it can easily be scratched or nicked. Gold lower than 14k, gold plated, gold-filled, or gold overlay/vermeil jewelry is not acceptable for fresh piercings.

3rd Annual Camp APP Members Retreat Registration for Camp APP 2017 will be opening soon. Camp APP will be October 3-7, 2017  at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Rutledge, GA.

Camp APP is a great alternative for people who can’t attend Conference or for anyone who wants to add to their educational experience.  It is a week filled with great food, new friends, hands-on educational opportunities and summer camp style fun. To find out about registration first join the Facebook event page

Point 79: The 90s

Comments Off on Point 79: The 90s read Industry History, Issue 79, Lifestyle
…FORGET THE REST THERE’S NOTHING ELSE BEYOND THE BODY…
Brian Skellie

THE NINETIES
COMPILATION BY KENDRA JANE B
The Point Editor

“What can I say about the nineties? Those ten years shaped and influenced the rest of my life more than any other decade I have experienced. I graduated high school, had my first serious boyfriend, went to university, lost my virginity, found my fem- inist voice and became a regis- tered voter, lived on my own for the first time, and got my first body piercings.” —Kendra Jane B.  

“The early 90s were the golden years of ‘celebrity piercer.‘ Recognized piercers were treated like rock stars. These ‘good ol’ days’ weren’t ‘better times,’ but they were certainly more wild.”—Paul King

“The 90s were my coming of age in several ways; both as a young man and as a piercer.”—Luis Garcia

“The 90s was when I first discovered music, sex, and body piercing (in that order). I saw pierced nipples on MTV in 1995, and here I am now.”—Cody Vaughn

“My formative years were in the 90s. In 7th grade I heard “Smells like Teen Spirit,” and it’s impossible to explain how much influence that one song had on the rest of my life. By 1999 I had graduated high school and begun my career as a body piercer.”—Jef Saunders

“It was anarchy really? No rules, just putting needles anywhere you could grab. It was equal parts awesome and ridiculous.”-Ryan Ouellette

Whether showing off by the pool or volunteering for the APP, Brian Skellie’s passion for our industry hasn’t changed since the 90s.

Conference has come along way since the 90s but if you look hard enough you might see some familiar faces, ones that still make our Conference great, decades later.

Point 79: The President’s Corner – Jef Saunders

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Jef Saunders
APP President

I vividly remember my first APP Conference experience. I had about $300 to my name, and I was waiting on a check to clear when I landed in Las Vegas. When I arrived I had no money at all to get to the Conference hotel; this was in the Riviera days. I actually looked through my junk mail, activated a credit card, and took a $20 cash advance to catch a cab to the hotel. When I arrived I was intimidated and excited, but before long I wasn’t amongst strangers, I was with friends.

I image that many attendees have similar experiences their first year. I know that many arrive at our Conference for the first time, low on money, but with an abundance of nerves. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. Everyone has had a first  Conference.  I say it like that, because very few attendees have just one Conference. There is a special kind of magic that surrounds the entire event. We all end up making relationships that last a lifetime. We are learning together. We are buying jewelry and supplies from our hardworking vendors. A lucky few of us will even win raffle prizes that will alter the course of our careers. It is hard to put into words how special our Conference really is.

Until my involvement with the Board, I didn’t have an understanding of all the work that goes into the magic that is our collective learning, sharing, and growing experience. Since Conference continues to grow, more and more thought is required in addition to a tremendous amount of work and cooperation. Our volunteers, instructors, vendors, sponsors, mentors, board, officers and employees put in so much all year for this one week. They have my thanks for all the good times I have had over the years.

I’d love to be able to point to one moment in particular that cemented my love of Conference, but how could I? I was there when Rob Hill proposed to Stephanie Hill during the banquet (I mean right there, sitting next to them!) I was in the 20 years of APP roundtable listening to my heroes talk about the behind the scenes history of the APP. I got to teach a class about nostril piercing with Alicia Cardenas to a room about twice as full as I was counting on. I saw one of my closest friends, Cody Vaughn, win a huge raffle prize within months of opening his new shop. The list goes on and on.

If you’ve attended before, I’m sure you have your own moments like these. If this is your first Conference, I’m sure you’ll make your own memories that will stay with you a lifetime. If you ask me what my absolute favorite experience at Conference is, my answer is: the next one. The next time I get goosebumps. The next time I learn something that changes the way I pierce forever. The next time I cry because Caitlin is crying. That’s my favorite.

Point 79: From the Editor – Kendra Jane

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Kendra Jane B.
Managing Editor of Content & Archives

What can I say about the nineties? They shaped and influenced the rest of my life, more than any other decade I have  experienced thus far.

During those ten years, I graduated high school, had my first serious boyfriend, went to university, lost my virginity, found my feminist voice, became a registered voter, lived on my own for the first time, and got my first body piercings (other than my lobes as a baby).

My first piercing of choice came merely weeks after I turned 16 and could sign for myself. I had decided on something I thought I could easily hide from my parents, my tongue. Because although I was rebelling and going against the grain, I knew they would not understand or approve. I took the bus downtown to a local tattoo and piercing shop and signed myself up for a tongue piercing. A few hours later I had a very long externally threaded, acrylic beaded barbell in my mouth. That was my entry into the world of body modification, and although the bulk of my journey would not happen for two more decades, it all started in the nineties.

So flip the page and take a look back to where our Board of Directors may have been in the nineties. Read about celebrated photographer Charles Gatewood in a preview of this year’s Body Piercing Archive Exhibit. Matte Erickson’s teaser article on his jewelry exhibit will have us all yearning for the collector’s items of years gone by. So whether this is your first Conference or you have been to all twenty-one, get ready to strap on those Doc Martens and cut Footloose. This pre-Conference issue highlights the best of Conference and gives you a sweet taste of the nineties goodness that awaits us all June 11-16 in Las Vegas.

Point 79: From the Editor – Marina Pecorino

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Marina Pecorino
Managing Editor of Content & Statistics

Conference is coming!

It happened last year and it’ll happen next, but each year is a unique opportunity to meet new colleagues, share information, and purchase some of the best body jewelry available. Personally, this year, I’m most looking forward to the in-person support I get from my industry tribe and the volunteer family.

As we prepare for that life changing week, here are a few updates and things to you may want to consider:

  • Register for your preferred schedule— Classes are already filling up and the wait list system has been activated. The sooner you register the better your chance of getting all the classes you want.
  • Book your hotel room—We strongly encourage you to book in the APP Room Block. You’ll be closer to the excitement. Resort fees will be optional (covering in-room wifi and fitness center access), so you can choose to have more moola to spend on pretties in the Expo. And to top it off, you’ll be helping the APP maintain our privileges and position at Bally’s.
  • Alternatives to the Bar (A.T.T.B) are new this year!—For many of us, the Splash Bar can become tiresome, but we still want the opportunity to network and hang out, sans cigarette smoke and drunk shenanigans, please. Now you have more options; games in the lounge, Statim discussions with Brian Skellie, an after-hours Talk APP session, and a Body Piercing Archives pajama movie night! Check the Conference mobile app for more information.
  • Opening Pool Party Upgrade—This year, head over to the beautifully updated Go  Pool at the Flamingo Hotel across the street. Also new for this year, there will be a strictly enforced wristband policy for the pool party. You’ll find your wristband in your registration packet, so please remember to grab   it when you don that Speedo.
  • Conference mobile app—This year, along with the handy maps, schedules, and speaker information in our Conference mobile app, you’ll also find a fun new game. Play “Click” to win prizes through a photo scavenger hunt designed to get you to network and socialize. This is an especially handy addition for new attendees and those of us who favor the shy side.

Still feeling unprepared or have questions? Our ever-evolving checklist of don’t forgets and survival tips has become a staple reference guide for Conference goers. If you’re ready for a reminder, check out this checklist/ survival guide from Issue 71.

Shifting gears to non-Conference news,

Kendra, Jim, and I are very happy to announce two new additions to The Point team. We would like to welcome Ryan Clark and Badur Ramji to The Point committee. Ryan’s experience with editing and InDesign are already proving useful in the final stages of our publication processes. We will be utilizing Badur’s expertise in social media and web management to further engage our readership and develop the publication’s online presence. If you have ideas for any of us or just want to welcome our new committee members, please send an email to editor@safepiercing.org.

All of that said, start drinking your water and taking your vitamins now; I can’t wait to see you all in Las Vegas in a few short weeks!