Family and Community of Hookers

If the name Aztlan Arts Suspension sounds familiar, you may have been lucky enough to see them perform on their current tour with Immersed In Ink Tattoo and Arts Festival. Their group formed almost three years ago, they began by doing small shows, and progressed on to traveling the country performing at tattoo conventions and artistic venues. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting a few of these guys in Tulsa at an AGRO meet, it was a wonderful time. Watching them work and suspend, you can definitely tell that they love what they do.

Read more

No, this is not a blog about the 1999 April Fool’s image of the baby hanging from hooks.  Yes, in retrospect that wasn’t the smartest prank, but boy did it get a lot of press. It even won D Magazine’s worst ad of the millennium.  Actually today’s post showcase’s some beautiful photos of Kelvikta the Blade shot by Travis Haight.  (BTW Travis is a proud member of the tattoo, piercing, and general weirdo culture…but shhhhh don’t tell anyone)

Read more

For those of you that keep up with suspension shenanigans, this next video is not new news to you. But for the readership that missed this little gem, from the Tulsa Oklahoma chapter of AGRO, well let’s just say you gotta love the crazy people in this world.  Back in March, Jesse Star with the help of Rick Pierceall‘s crew experimented with a mini bike and some hooks.  Enjoy:

When you think of dangerous suspensions what comes to mind?  I’m sure one of the two helicopter suspensions might be your first thought.  Yes two, Criss Angel was the second.  Joey Strange did it first 5 years prior but that’s another blog all together.  Maybe it’s one of the crane suspensions.  Stelarc did hang over 200 feet (61 meters) in the air from a tower crane back in 1985. There is a beautiful video of him suspended in the center of Copenhagen, but we have yet to find a clip a online.  Possibly one of the human mobiles?  Again another entry you will see in the future, but today’s blog deals with something a lot smaller, but potentially just as dangerous, the 360.  The video below compiled by Ron Garza shows some clips using the device, created by Steel Fetish, with multiple warnings included.

We realize, to many people, suspension is all about pushing boundaries, but safety cannot and should not be sacrificed in the name of performance art.  If you do have a wild hair and feel like trying something that’s never been done before, please do the research, test the physics and check your math.  Being the first has its rewards, but putting yourself or your team at risk is never worth the glory.

Saturday September 25th the crew from Nassau Chainsaw are doing a show at Cha Cha’s to benefit the members of DisGraceLanD Hook Squad that were injured in a serious SUV Accident back in July.  All proceeds from the door and a portion of merch sales will be going to the benefit fund.  So if you’re in the NYC area please come out and support this worthy cause.

If you’re not familiar with Nassau Chainsaw check out their video below, Behind Enemy Line, for a little taste of the Nassau Chainsaw DisGraceLanD Demolition Committee experience:

Besides, the show being a benefit and getting to see NCDDC live, there are still even more reason’s to come check out the show.  Strip for Pain, Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow and God’s Green Earth will all be performing that night as well.  Some come out, enjoy the show and feel good about giving your money to a worth while cause.

From the band – “I would like to just say thanks to everyone in the suspension community around the world for being there for our brother Spliff. Much Love + Respect…”

We are proud to announce that Pain Solution will be performing in Croatia. They will be doing a suspension performance show in Zagreb, at Dvorana “Jedinstvo” on Saturday, September 11th. You can check the details on www.zagrebi.com

Read more

I don’t know exactly what it is about resurrection suspensions, but they always catch my attention. It seems like every time I am browsing through pictures I find myself staring at those images more than any others. I think visually it is how graceful it looks. The arched back, the way the skin lifts with the hooks, the relaxed position of the body, it all comes together to create a beautiful image of intensity and serenity all captured in the same moment.

Read more

If you look through suspension pictures online, you will see the same shots repeated over and over: blood, close up of hooks, blood, stretched skin, blood…  you get the idea. But occasionally you are lucky enough to come across a great photographer who is out for more than just shock value. Helene Fjell is definitely one of those exceptions. Her photography manages to show the beauty in suspension without giving up the powerful imagery of hooks and flesh.

Read more

Here’s a rather interesting way to promote a product.  In the video below, shot at the South Florida Tattoo Expo, Nicola of Skin Mechanics Suspension is suspended in a modified sitting position while Chris Blinston of No Hard Feelings (suspending in a body harness) uses the Free Wire wireless machine to tattoo her leg.

The South Florida Tattoo Expo is the largest event in Florida for body suspension. Each year, groups from across the country come together to entertain and amaze crowds that may not otherwise have the opportunity to witness our art form in person.

Read more