• This One Time at Piercer Camp P. 8 • Initial Piercing Jewelry P. 20 the POINT the QUARTERLY JOURNAL of the ASSOCIATION of PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS
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• This One Time at Piercer Camp p. 8 • Initial Piercing Jewelry p. 20 THE POINT THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brian Skellie—President Cody Vaughn—Vice-President Aaron Pollack—Secretary Paul King—Treasurer (currently vacant)—Medical Liaison Ash Misako—Outreach Coordinator Miro Hernandez—Public Relations Director Steve Joyner—Legislation Liaison Jef Saunders—Membership Liaison ADMINISTRATOR Caitlin McDiarmid EDITORIAL STAFF Managing Editor of Design & Layout—Jim Ward Managing Editor of Content & Archives—Kendra Jane Berndt Managing Editor of Content & Statistics—Marina Pecorino Contributing Editor—Elayne Angel ADVERTISING [email protected] Front Cover: Rob Hill entertaining at Camp APP Photo by April Thomas ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS 1.888.888.1APP • safepiercing.org • [email protected] Donations to The Point are always appreciated. The Association of Professional Piercers is a California-based, interna- tional non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination of vital health and safety information about body piercing to piercers, health care professionals, legislators, and the general public. Material submitted for publication is subject to editing. Submissions should be sent via email to [email protected]. The Point is not responsible for claims made by our advertisers. However, we reserve the right to reject advertising that is unsuitable for our publication. ISSUE 73 3 that further change in practices were to come as a re- However, even with this global reserve of knowledge, FROM THE EDITORS INSIDE THIS ISSUE sult of attendance. I was so fortunate to be a part of that there are still specific concerns that only affect certain group and those changes. areas. In this issue, we are sharing some of those con- JIM WARD PRESIDENT’S CORNER–6 As an organization the APP stands poised for its next cerns seen during the revision process of body art laws KENDRA BERNDT change with the anticipated election of three new Board and rules and regulations within the state of Ohio. You MARINA PECORINO THIS ONE TIME AT PIERCER CAMP–8 Members this winter. This year there are a number of will also get a glimpse into the newly formed UKAPP The Point Editors outstanding candidates that will be in the running for and the issues specific to body modification artists in the COUNT ALL THE THINGS–16 these positions. We, as a membership, are so fortunate to European Union and the United Kingdom. have the ability to directly drive the changes that shape We hope that these articles help you gain an under- As most of our readers know, I do • Jim Ward our organization. So when your ballot arrives, remember standing and greater world view of what is happening the design and layout of The Point. INITIAL PIERCING JEWELRY–20 you have a voice and it should be heard. within the professional realm of your peers. ovember 17th this year When I was sent the image for this I hope you enjoy Issue 73 of The Point as we take a marked the 40th anni- issue’s cover I was a bit taken aback OHIO LEGISLATION–24 look at some of the current issues and changes on the versary of Gauntlet, the by the lack of visible body modifica- horizon for body piercing. world’s first body piercing tions. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a great PORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY –26 Nstudio. For most of you reading this, image of Rob Hill, a well-known and • Marina Pecorino it will be difficult to conceive what respected member of the APP com- CHILDRENS’ EAR PIERCINGS–28 I realized that in planning my pieces for this issue, I things were like for body mod enthu- munity. But what, I asked my fellow composed my outlines in terms of an almost methodical siasts back in those days. For many editors and the APP Board, did it LBP UPDATE–34 past—present—future format. As a result, it has become of us, our piercings were a sexual have to do with piercing. The re- apparent to me that even when planning to discuss the fetish that were well concealed un- sponse stunned me: “We are seeing RINGS ARE NOT THE DEVIL–38 current events of our industry, I can’t help but relate it der our clothing and revealed only more and more people that work in back to where we came from and what has brought us to to our most intimate of friends and our industry who are choosing not THE UKAPP–46 this point. acquaintances. We remained firmly to have visible modifications. We In the past, current events within the body modifi- in the closet. also realize that not everyone that BMXNET–50 cation community were defined within small regional With the exception of tattoos, reads our publication is a piercer or groups, making the reach and influence fairly limited. other body mods were rare or non- modification artist and we want to the wheels in motion. I am a firm Then as piercing enthusiasts became less closeted and existent in the United States. Unless increase our readership, even having believer in the idea that everyone more prevalent, conferences like the APP Conference you lived in a colorful ethnic neigh- an article specifically aimed at reach- can make a difference, and together and BMXnet, publications like PFIQ (Piercing Fans In- borhood, you were likely to see only ing our clients in this issue.” [empha- a lot of small differences can lead to ternational Quarterly), and internet communities like piercings of the ears. Even then peo- sis mine] great change. We can all have a voice BME became available. With this, the barriers of geogra- ple with visible piercings could lose I have to laugh. It has been 40 and make sure that it is heard. This phy were broken and current events were defined more their jobs. Despite Gauntlet’s efforts, years, and we have come full circle. is not to say that everyone will listen by the shared interests of individual communities. This it was almost 15 years before things While people may be choosing to to your voice, nor will they like what allowed for a broader reach of knowledge and experi- began to change. When that change keep their piercings private again, you have to say, but neither of these ence, and for enthusiasts to have more choice available came, it was explosive. I can’t help wondering if piercings reasons should ever stop you from in their involvement with specific interests. But informa- Modern Primitives appeared in will ever be as erotic as they were all using your voice. That is one of the tion still had a trickling spread; trends were slower to be 1989 and soon thereafter Shannon those years ago. things I like about the body pierc- replaced with a newer, better, shinier thing. Larratt began advocating for more ing industry as a whole; there are With the overwhelming prevalence of social media extreme body mods. Piercing shops • Kendra Jane B so many accepted ways to get to the and technology, the wealth of knowledge available is in- began springing up like fungi after Change: it is the only thing that same final product. We may not all credible and the reach of information is limitless. Trends a spring rain. We saw fashion mod- is certain in life (other than death agree on how to get there, but for the change almost as quickly as they are born; in a matter els strutting down runways sporting and taxes). So why is it that change most part we are all open minded of days, sweeping interest in a particular piercing place- navel and nostril rings. Alicia Sil- is so hard for so many? I am one of enough to realize that this is the case. ment or jewelry style can become global. Unfortunately, verstone appeared in the Aerosmith those many. I consider myself in the Very recently we were able to get the same can be true in regards to misinformation and music video Cryin’ getting her navel know when it comes to what is hip a lot of these different opinions to- misconceptions surrounding placements, techniques, “pierced” by Paul King (admittedly, and cool these days, but in all actual- gether in the same room at the first jewelry, and aftercare. It is our shared responsibility to the piercing was staged). Suddenly, ity I struggle everyday with the fast ever APP Members Retreat in Geor- ensure the quality and validity of piercing specific in- visible body mods were everywhere. paced, significant changes that are gia. You could see change happen- formation available to our peers and the general pub- They have become so common that happening in the world around us. ing—changes in perspectives, meth- lic. Please be mindful of what you are sharing with the virtually no one raises an eyebrow In order for any change to happen, odologies, self esteem—and know world. anymore. small or big, someone has to start Shea Lloyd—photo by Kerry Tasker 4 THE POINT ISSUE 73 5 PRESIDENT’S CORNER “ ”* BRIAN SKELLIE Essential reading… APP President running he APP is always going to be a precautions beyond what our sort- Consulting LLC. “That’s rightly so the gauntlet work in progress, since stan- of minimally invasive ear piercing because that is where the bulk of An Intimate History of the Modern Body Piercing Movement by Jim Ward dards are ever changing with procedures require for antisepsis it is. But whenever you are doing In this revealing autobiography, Jim Ward, considered by many to be the father of the modern piercing new evidence. Lauded among and sterility.