For more information on suspension visit – http://www.suspension.org/

Many of us have been watching closely as the city of Springfield Missouri decides what direction they will take in regulating the act of body suspension. As the situation unfolds, it seems that more and more people are stepping in to write these rules and regulations that have little to no understanding of what it is we do. The reality is that body suspension for many is so foreign and so beyond what they view as normal, that they will never be able to see the same beauty in it that we all do. Unfortunately, it is from this outsider’s view that decisions are being made that may very well tell those in Springfield how and where they can choose to take part in this incredible experience.

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Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come. – Tagore

Sunday a great silence passed through the suspension community worldwide as we learned that Arwen “Spliff” Rosa had passed away that morning. Those who met him and even those who hadn’t mourned together at the great loss to this community. I have been told before, that the clearest statement about the life someone led can be seen in the number of broken hearts when they leave. I think looking at that, we can all agree that Spliff lived more than most people who are around 100 years. He touched lives around the world, he brought the suspension community closer together, and was truly loved by more people that you could count.

Rather than let ourselves dwell on the sadness we feel, I would like everyone to take a minute to celebrate the incredible life that Spliff led. I haven’t met anyone who knew Spliff that didn’t have a great story to go with it. I would like to invite everyone to share any great memories they had with Spliff here so that we can all have a reminder of how lucky this community was to have him in it.

Memorial Service
Saturday October 22, 2011
Christopher T. Jordan
302 Long Beach Road
Island Park, NY 11558
2-4pm & 7-9pm

Money needs to be raised to pay for his service.  Any amount that you can spare would be appreciated very much.  Please donate through the Paypal link below.

Very recently, many of us in the suspension community have had our focus shift to events that are taking place in Springfield, Missouri. The act of body suspension, and in particular the AGRO Springfield team, has become the center of attention for local council members and media outlets. What started as a simple team suspension meeting place has quickly escalated into talk of passing city ordinances to possibly eliminate or restrict body suspension in outdoor or visible locations. It is certainly surprising news for many of us, and we all know that decisions like this don’t impact only those in that area but the community as a whole.

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Did we say competition?  So what’s this all about?  Well we’ll tell you…

Since the beginning of modern suspension the concept of hanging in public places has intrigued many practitioners. Of course suspending on a stage in front of an audience has it’s appeal, but for some this isn’t enough.  The idea of hanging out in the open in front of an unsuspecting crowd or in a location that might normally be forbidden brings with it an excitement and adrenaline rush that is difficult to describe.  In fact Stelarc, who is considered by many to be one the most influential suspension artists, experimented with many public suspensions.  Most infamous being the 1984 Street Suspension where he hung over a street in New York city.  Sadly, the performance was cut short when police pulled him into the building and asked this naked man for his ID.

Street Suspension © Stelarc Photograph: Nina Kuo

Have we gotten off topic?  Maybe a little, but any chance to write about Stelarc is always a good thing.  So we’re sure your wondering what this is all about.  A  Guerrilla Performance Art competition that involves suspension?  Yes folks.  The crew here at Hook Life has decided to put skills, courage and creativity to the test.  For more information on the contest read on…

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Today’s blog comes from our favorite green man (if you were at the Dallas Suscon you understand) Bradde Hamman

I was introduced about 4 years ago to this masquerade when I popped in the eve of the show to help throw hooks for some performances. To my surprise Theatre Bizarre was way more than I bargained for! This show was a lifestyle, a way of living, a career if you must. People sweat and toil year round to give the illusion that for one night the slums of “Detroilet” are a magical spell binding experience.

Having suspension intermingled throughout the grounds has always helped give a certain mystic to the venue. We have also done some main stage acts like the notorious “Devil’s Tight Rope.” John Dunivant approached us with this idea to have a man balance on a tight rope in the the middle of an energy pull, and we took it from there.

This show has been going on for 11 years now and unfortunately the last two have not been able to be on the grounds due to some safety codes. I am asking for any help and/or donations which will go to getting this event put back on the sacred grounds from which Zombo was created. I leave you with a teaser trailer to a documentary to help fund and return all the lost souls to the grounds.

Theatre Bizarre Website: http://theatrebizarre.com/

Theatre Bizarre FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Theatre-Bizarre/123786143679

Theatre Bizarre Documentary FB: https://www.facebook.com/theatrebizarredoc?sk=wall

Zombo The Clown FB: https://www.facebook.com/zombotheclown

This is a note from Joe Amato to let the suspension community know about two concepts he has been working with.

Hello Hookers,
I would like to show you some pictures and video from two recent shows where we got to field test some fresh ideas. The bandaged Gilson Hook, and the “art rig”. These are both ideas that have been drawn and redrawn in notebooks of mine, and finally come to fruition. These ideas have come a long way, and have a long way to go.  So, I am excited to see what the rest of the community will do with them, and how they will evolve.

The Bandaged Gilson
So here is the idea, cover and seal a Gilson hook up so that you can suspend, over a crowd, or in an unusual costume, with peace of mind that you are not going to make a bio mess of everything .

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Any time that the media gets involved with body suspension, it makes me a little nervous. Although many of us couldn’t possibly see our craft as being anything other than a beautiful form of self expression, that isn’t always the opinion of others. The hardest part is that it is so easy to distort a story simply through editing, and no matter how careful you are with choosing your words, they can be cropped and edited as seen fit. Luckily, in this recent special report on KETV, the team being interviewed is the very talented Hooked Suspension Team, run by Mike Coons. It seems like they made a wonderful impression on the reporter, and the story comes across as professional and positive. I think it says a lot about where we are as a community to see information about what we do and who we are presented as newsworthy information rather than being used simply for shock and awe.

It’s a great piece to watch if you’d like to check it out.  If you happen to be somewhere that you can’t watch the video, the article included with it sums everything up nicely as well. Congratulations to everyone in Hooked. Now to just get one of their reporters to try it out for the next segment.

A year ago today 4 members of our community were involved in a very serious accident.  Three of them have recovered, one has not.  Our brother Arwen “Spliff” Rosa is still paralyzed, but he is in my opinion a very fortunate man.  How so?  Well let me tell you a story.

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The suspension community is well known for being a close knit group, with many of us considering one another to be family. We celebrate each others successes, and pull together through the rough patches. Many of you may have heard about Jelly Boy the Clown‘s serious injuries he received in a recent house fire. From what we’ve been told, he was sleeping at a friend’s after a performance at Coney Island with the Squidling Brothers. He woke up to the  apartment being in flames, and passed out from smoke inhalation before he could escape. He was rescued by the fire department, but suffered serious burns to most of his body.

He has made many friends in this community through his work with sideshow performance, not to mention helping out when others have been in need.  Well now it’s our chance to repay the favor. Nassau Chainsaw has posted information about the accident if you would like to find out more, as well as including links to benefit shows you can attend and a Paypal account where donations can be made. Please take a minute to visit their website and help out if you can.

We’re back for our third year of the freakiest fetish event yet! This is the official opening party for the Dallas Suscon and it’s going to be crazier and hotter than last year. We’ve got Swing Shift Side Show as seen on America’s Got Talent and we’re bringing back fetish sensation Mosh and your favorite headmaster, Havve Fjell of Pain Solution! Lots of other awesome things happening that you’ll just have to come out to see.

Featuring performances by:

Swing Shift Side Show
(Las Vegas) swingshiftsideshow.com

Mosh
(Los Angeles) themoshroom.com

Fashion Show by Genne Laakso

Your host: The Headmaster, Havve Fjell
(Oslo, Norway) painsolution.net

Suspensions by Southtownbaby
http://www.suspension.org/hooklife/

Doors open at 9:00
18 and over welcome

Admission: $10 over / $15 under 21 / $5 off with dog tag or Church VIP

For more information visit – The Church Dallas