It came to me as I lay in bed battling insomnia at this time last year. The idea rose unbidden into my mind, and tugged at me, refusing to go away. I didn't sleep until after I had promised myself that I would bring this idea to life. The next afternoon, I walked into Foxx Works and my first surface piercing was born in the back room. It was beautiful, and as I stood contorted in front of the full length that hung on the wall of the small studio, I fell in love.
At A Glance Author GunmetalSpikes Contact gunmetalspikes@hotmail.com When A year ago Artist Russ Foxx Studio Foxx Works Body Modifications Location Alliston, ON Centered in the middle of a black work band that I'd had tattooed across my lower back two years previous, the small barbell gleamed wickedly at me as I strained to see it by looking over my shoulder. Russ held another mirror in front of me, and as my eyes caught the full effect of it, a smile bloomed over my face. It completed the tattoo perfectly, looking like it belonged there. It was as if it had always been a part of me.
I was thrilled with it, but I was more thrilled with other people's responses. Most of my friends had liked the other piercings I had, all of them being facial, but the surface piercing gained me some mixed reactions. Many people thought it was "gross", but some asked in all seriousness if I was considering suspension. Those people I'd actually engage in conversation, the others I just giggled at.
Unfortunately, about two weeks after having it done, I destroyed it. I was getting ready to go to bed, cleaning it as usual, when I accidentally loosened the top ball. It was difficult enough trying to clean my own back while twisted around in front of the bathroom mirror, but when I tried to tighten the ball, I ended up turning it the wrong way. It slipped out of my damp fingers and went happily bouncing across the tiles. It was nearly midnight. I couldn't call anyone to come over and put it back on for me, and Russ had long since closed up shop and gone home for the night, so I was left with one alternative.
After trying to thread it back on in front of the mirror, and having no luck because of that little "mirror image" trick, I moved to the couch and tried doing it by feel alone. Nearly an hour later, bloody and so swollen that the ball couldn't have been threaded all the way back on anyways, I gave up and pulled the barbell out.
I walked into the studio the following day and handed Russ the jewelry. When I told him what had happened, he commiserated with me over my loss and offered to put it back in at cost once I'd completely healed. I was disappointed at having to wait, but agreed.
Six weeks later, after constantly moisturizing the scar and cleaning it every time I washed my hands(maybe a little too often), I was back at Foxx Works, itching to be stabbed.
Russ carefully examined the scar, and then began to explain to me what "freehand" piercing is. I was apprehensive because of the pain, but after hearing more about it, I decided to go for it. Without clamps there would be less swelling and bruising, less bruising and I'd heal quicker because my skin wouldn't have to be pulled up and away from my body to be pierced. Russ chose a slightly longer barbell than he had before, explaining that the piercing would be the same length, but this would give me more room to swell and heal.
After having me sign a waver and setting up, Russ was ready. He swabbed my back and told me to take a couple of deep breaths. I felt the gentle pressure of his fingertips on the small of my back. He told me to take a deep breath in, and as I did, I felt the needle begin to slide into my skin. Slowly, it slid along the underside of the old scar. Russ told me to exhale. I did as I was told. Bright waves of hot pain began to spread outwards from the small of my back as the needle was carefully guided along the curve of it's path. I kept breathing, trying to stay as relaxed as possible, which wasn't easy.
The needle punched out the other side of my skin and the pain turned into a low, dizzying throb. I hadn't made a sound yet. Russ told me to take a few more breaths before he put the jewelry in. He warned me when he was ready, and I told him to go for it. It was worse with the jewelry. Being very careful, he slid the externally threaded, fourteen gauge, three-quarter inch barbell through me. Intense pain washed over me, making sweat stand out all over my body. A low moan escaped me, as the end pushed through. Then it was done. Russ threaded the ball on and helped me to my feet.
The length of the barbell and the depth of the piercing has made it nearly indestructible. I ripped it wide open this past New Year's Eve by catching one of the inch-long spikes I had threaded onto it, and it's healed back up perfectly. It has never migrated, and it healed up within a month, thanks to it being done freehand.
I love it, and have since become somewhat addicted to surface piercing. It was he most intense experience I've ever had on the end of the needle, and it is completely a part of me. It is beautiful.
On that searingly hot August day, I discovered the perfect pain.