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

In life there is a simple truth. We all die. What we do with the time that we have is important. When this mortal coil winds to an end, what is left?

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How should one spend their days? For some it’s a pursuit to amass wealth and fortune. Others may seek experience and adventure. Should we quest for glory? Enlightenment? Discover the unknown? Who’s to say what is the right path in life? For me personally I feel that it is our legacy that holds real value. The people we influence and the lives we change gives meaning to it all. To be remembered and to make a difference is, in my humble opinion, the true measure of one’s existence.

Who was Shannon Larratt? I feel that there are better people to describe him and to tell his tales. I have no doubt that (e)books will be written and memoirs published on his behalf. Yes this blog is about the man, just not his personal life. Instead I want to focus on the community he helped to spawn. Read more

Any time a book on the topic of modern body suspension is announced, I get incredibly excited. When that book is by an incredibly talented photographer like Stefano Moscardini, I find myself going from simply excited to checking my inbox daily for when it is ready to release. There are far too few books on the topic, and luckily after today you can add Suspension of Disbelief to your list that you absolutely must have. Stefano is such a valuable part of the European suspension community. He dedicates much of his time to helping document events and suspension gatherings with his beautiful photography. He is one of the rare additions to our community who although he doesn’t suspend himself, finds much of the same joy and love for it that we all feel. He was nice enough to take a moment to tell us a little more about his history with suspension, and his new e-book on the topic, including a sneak peek into the book at the end of the interview!

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Recently, WNWO News took some time to interview Bradde and Bethany of Mercury Suspensions at their studio Open Minded in Van Wert, OH. In their small town, they seem to be an exception to the negative reception many people feel from their local communities when it comes to modification and  body suspension. Previously, they have been in the news for the support the city has shown them in opening their studio, and now they are being shown the same support with the suspensions they offer. We all know media can be a touchy thing to approach; often you have no real guarantee of what kind of spin they will put on the final presentation when it airs. It’s definitely wonderful to see two people who are such a great addition to our community being treated so well in the media. As opposed to it being presented as a shocking and scary practice, the video gives them a chance to explain what it is they do and answer some questions about it. I recently had the chance to ask Bradde and Bethany a few questions about their experiences with being so open and public about what they offer, and how they feel it might impact the legality of suspension as it becomes more and more visible to law makers. Although laws regarding suspension are pretty limited in the US, it is something that I think we will see more of as time goes by and the suspension community continues to grow. I honestly can’t say which side of the fence I am on; is it better to be proactive and put out there what you do so that you might have the chance to educate those making laws regarding suspension in the future or to remain under the radar and be forced to possibly have to play catch up when states begin to look more in depth at our craft? Either way, I am happy that if there are going to be faces in the spotlight representing what we do, it is two people who are not only fantastic individuals, but also skilled and responsible practitioners.

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I was told once that the more it hurts to lose someone, the greater the life they led. It’s the first thing that comes to my mind for comfort when someone I care for passes away. To me, those words make the pain have a purpose. Every tear you shed for someone lost is because they earned it during their life. Every kindness they offered, every moment of friendship they shared with you is repaid in the tears that fall from the loss and the smiles that come from the memories you have to hold onto.

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Yes, the rumors are true.  This year the 2013 Dallas Suspension Convention will be featuring a large scale live suspension performance that will be open to the general public.  (We have not set a price as of yet, but not to worry if you are a paid attendee to the suscon, your admission is free)    The performance will feature a collaboration between Stelarc and Håvve Fjell of Wings of Desire, with help from several attendees of the suscon.  The suspension will be unique, but if you would like a bit of insight into what you might expect.  Below is a video from the last time these two pioneers worked together in Norway at the 2012 Oslo Symposium:  (WARNING the video contains nudity and may be NSFW)

The performance will be held the evening of Saturday March 30th, 2103 in Dallas, Texas.  Please check back closer to the date for more details on pricing and location.

When most people ask for help, they are usually asking you to make a financial contribution to their cause. Well what if you could make a difference that could change someone’s life simply by posting online? We do it a hundred times a day through facebook, twitter, and other social media sites, and it’s all that J.C. Potts of Pangea Piercing is asking us to do to help make a difference in a young man’s life. Chris Huckstadt is an aspiring piercer in Long Island who, at only 15, is fighting a very aggressive form of cancer. He is barely old enough to be a part of our modification community, and yet he is facing something harder than many of us as adults will ever have to go through. Rather than dwell on his situation or ask for sympathy, Chris’ only request is to meet his idol, J.C. Potts.

J.C. has contacted many major airlines to try and arrange for them to donate flights for him and his film crew to make it to Long Island to visit Chris, but so far has been told he isn’t a big enough celebrity for them to do anything. So he is out to prove just how big the modification world is, by asking all of us to politely tag, message, or post about this to get their attention. We are by no means a small community, and what he is asking literally takes less than 5 minutes out of your day. Please watch the video and post to these companies. Help us get them the support to make this kid’s day a little brighter. We have proven before how fiercely we can pull together, let’s show Chris and his mom just how amazing this community is that he wants to be a part of.

As most of you know, the registration fees for the 2013 Dallas Suscon increased by $100 on February 1st. For many people this means that the event is no longer within their budget, but not to worry. Håvve Fjell from Wings of Desire has decided to donate registration fees to someone in need.

If you would like to attend the 2013 Dallas Suscon, but can’t seem to afford it this year, please write a letter and email it to Håvve explaining your situation and he will decide who Wings of Desire will be sponsoring.  Please have your letter submitted to the email below no later than Sunday February 10th.  His decision and the announcement will be made on Monday February 11th.

Huge thank you to Håvve, Wings of Desire and the crew of Pain Solution for their generous donation!

****Update – Thanks to everyone that submitted emails to Håvve.  It was a tough decision but after reading through all the entries, LeQueeta from the group The Suspendables was chosen.***

Thanks again to everyone.  We hope to see you all at suscon.

“Truly ahead of his time.”   This phrase has been used throughout the ages to describe a myriad of different people.  However, within the suspension community, this sentence illustrates no one better than Stelarc.

For those who do not know his name, Stelarc is one of the most famous and influential suspension pioneers.  Between the years of 1976 and 1989, several years before the beginning of the age of modern body suspension, Stelarc had performed 25 extraordinarily difficult and breathtaking beautiful suspensions.  Several of which are featured here on his website – http://stelarc.org/?catID=20316

Over the next few days or weeks you will definitely be seeing more about Stelarc here on Hook Life, including some official announcements about his upcoming lecture and performance at the 2013 Dallas Suspension Convention.  In the meantime, I would like to present a video that gives a bit more insight into the artist’s work spanning far beyond the topic of suspension.  Enjoy:

Tune in today October 20th, 2012 at 2pm CST (12:00 PST, 13:00 MST, 15:00 EST) for a LIVE suspension broadcast from Oslo, Norway: (WARNING nudity NSFW)

SPINNING / BREATHING
Event for Multiple Suspensions
A performance devised by Stelarc
For the Oslo Suspension Symposium 2012
Facilitated by Håvve Fjell and Wings of Desire

Video can be found here: http://www.wingsofdesire.org/

There is an unsettling battle that is currently being fought by a small number of individuals within the suspension community; the right to have children if you take part in body suspension. I know many people might regard this as an issue that doesn’t impact their part of the world, but keep in mind this is something that is not solely occurring in the United States right now. Even for those of us who don’t have children  we must consider the message that these court decisions are relaying to the world. We are being called deviants and, in the words of one judge, compared to child molesters and criminals for our participation in this beautiful act. Every time an action like this takes place, it sets up one more piece of ammunition for the next case and the next.

One woman facing this horrible treatment from the courts, who must remain anonymous to prevent further consequences, has taken the time to tell us a little about the fight she is in to get her child back after losing custody due to her involvement with body suspension.

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