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10 Questions w/ Neil 

This person has pushed boundaries within susupension for years! He is a beast on hooks and quite the interesting character.  We hope you enjoy this next Interview with Neil!

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1. Who are you?

Neil Chakrabarti aka Spicy Brown aka Chocolate Party aka Fuckin Neil.

 

2. Why suspension?

X suspension also Z suspension...  Haha, but really I had gotten off drugs and alcohol and body modification was my new addiction.   I realized I wanted to test my limits, and suspension was the perfect outlet.

 

3. Favorite suspension (Done or facilitated)?

That chesty/facey I did was pretty rad.

4. How did you get started?

Steve Joyner kidnapped me and told me I had to perform with Constructs of Ritual Evolution.  But seriously, I went to get pierced at Taurian Body Piercing back in 2001 and Steve had a poster of Fakir Musafar up in his procedure room doing a kavadi bearing for a documentary of his, we got to talking, and a few months later I started coming to CoRE meets and became a member/performer, and later, the director of the Houston, TX chapter.

5. Biggest suspension inspiration (Person)? 

Steve Joyner,  Rick Pierceall, Eduardo Chavarria, Kenny Hughes, Byriah Dailey, Ron Garza, Chris Glunt, Pat Tidwell, and the one and only Arwen "Spliff " Rosa.  I realize that's a lot of men, but unfortunately suspension was definitely a boys club back when I was starting off.  I honestly have too many people to name,  but theres also Mike Coons, Josh Parkhurst, Orbie, Kaspa, Greg, Patches, Jessica Irvin, Evelyn Lee, Jill Nolan, Hilary Lobitz, Bonnie Gilson, Bethra Szumski, Josh Parkhurst, and Matt Brawley.   If there's anyone I forgot and/or you are butt hurt about it, take your ego and go fuck yourself. 

 

6. Biggest suspension inspiration (Concept)?

Andrew S and Doug Smodes face suspensions,  and as much as I dont care for the guy, multiple things Supa has done. 

 

7. Favorite sandwich?

Knuckle if we talking sammiches,  but if we talking sandwiches, the Fat Banh Mi Khi from Fat Sal's, but with no onion rings.

 
8. Favorite piece of gear?

My 2018 Hondo Pineapple mini tube rig for dabbing, but if you mean suspension,  probably that rig from Mandalorian Steel that Threshold Suspensions now owns but used to be mine. 


9. Whats next for you? 

I'm gonna hang from my back, elbows, and cheeks in July

Editor Note: The above suspension was done. Expect a separate article on this!

  

10. What would you tell the next generation of suspendee’s?

Don't make suspension your entire life unless you're ready to be thoroughly disappointed in people.  Keep your circle small and focus on the positive influences around you.  I get that many of us were outcasts and just want to feel like we belong to a group of people, but don't let that feeling let you compromise your morals in questionable situations.   Also, work with multiple teams and get information from as many sources as possible before attempting to try to put people in the air.  If you are just in it for fun, yeah its gonna hurt a little bit,  but just breathe,  and I promise you'll be fine, even when you leave the ground. 

 

Also, on a personal note, I'd just like to ask how many people would like to see Greg and Patches in a jello wrestling match?

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You can find out more about Neil by following his Instagram!

10 Questions w/ Misty 

Note from the editor:

Our next interview is a special one to us here at Suspension Life HQ.  This person inspired many in the suspension community with the introduction of Hook Life! We are honored to have this amazing woman on 10 Questions.  Enjoy!

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Who are you? 

My name is Misty Forsberg, I am a scarification artist, laser technician, and suspension practitioner from Northwest Arkansas. I now live and work in Quebec, QC. 

 

Why suspension? 

I remember the first time I saw it, I was mostly just intrigued. I wanted to know “why suspension” as well and I thought the only way to know was to see for myself. Twelve years later, I would say it had a bit of a lasting impact on me. 

As far as why I continue to do it, it really depends. Occasionally it is for art projects, which I always enjoy, but mostly it is for me. My mind is always racing through so much (an endless to-do list, future plans, trips, work, the people I care for, more work, etc) and added to that is a lot of self doubt and often times a lot of self hatred and anger that I work daily to improve.. it can make my mind a pretty dark, imprisoning place for me sometimes. When I suspend, I think of nothing. I feel confident in myself, I feel at home in my skin and my body, I am solely in the moment, and that moment is silent and wonderful. 

 

Favorite suspension (Done or facilitated)? 

I don't know what my favorite suspension I have facilitated is. Every person that has trusted me with their well-being and their experience means so much. 

My favorite suspension is definitely a 2 point resurrection. My favorite experience with it was my first trip to New Zealand. I traveled for almost 2 days to get there, arrived almost delirious from lack of sleep, time change, and just being in a new place with people I love so much. We immediately went to the top of this beautiful hill. The sun was shining, I was surrounded by love and pierced by Eden Thompson and James Minson, and soon was up in the air hanging from a huge tree, looking at the world upside down. I just remember the view of the sun on the beach down below us and the ocean and the wind.. it was one of those moments where I realized how much suspension had brought into my life. 

 

How did you get started? 

My first suspension was with Allen Falkner (and the two after as well). At the time, I didn't know much about him other than he was very knowledgeable and only about 5 hours away from where I lived. Through suspending with him, BME, and later the friendship we built while I was writing for Hook Life and Dallas Suscon, I slowly gained information. I was very lucky that my first influences were people passionate about education. It really fueled my desire to learn and later to teach others. 

 

Biggest suspension inspiration (Person)? 

There are so many, but obviously Allen has been the biggest influence in my life, both in suspension and out. From day one, he never cut me slack or talked down to me. He set goals and we met them. He never acted like me being a woman had any bearing on the work that was expected from me, what I was capable of, or my position as a team leader, a teacher, or anything else. I learned to organize events and handle more stress than I ever thought I could deal with. He was there for me through the back to back deaths of my father, grandfather, and brother in law within months of each other. He supported me through a career change, divorce, love, and moving to a new country. I would say he falls somewhere between a mentor and big brother to me. He is very much responsible for the direction my life took and where it is today, and I will always be so grateful for that. 

The other two people that have to be mentioned are Eden Thompson and Scott Creel. Eden's passion for education and desire to learn was fuel on the fire when we started talking, and it pushed me to always desire improvement. It still does that, and the conversations we have are priceless to me. Working with him was like working with the other half of myself at times.. which is probably horrible for anyone around us! He has a huge place in my heart always. 

Scott was my first introduction to the body art industry and part of our original team. He was there with me every step through the learning process, and the patience that man has to have been able to work with me for so long is nothing short of amazing. I have more respect for him as a person than almost anyone I know, and I am forever grateful for the time and work we have shared over the years. 

 

Biggest suspension inspiration (Concept)? 

That is so tough. I have books from Wings of Desire, Skindependent, ROP, and more that I find so moving. I think those projects inspire me because of the time they took as well as the solidity of them. I find them so valuable to us as a community because it is documenting who we are in a way that won't just disappear like myspace, facebook, instagram, etc. 

Favorite sandwich? 

Grilled cheese with tomato soup for sure. It's a classic. 

 

Favorite piece of gear? 

Probably my set of plates from Tom Moore. They have been through so much with me, and are so perfect for backpacking out into the woods and having everything I need in one small pouch. 

 

Whats next for you? 

I want to get my focus back on education, but I don't know where that will take me. I have some ideas that might shape up for the fall/winter time, but I will have to see where things go. For the first time, I am really just letting life move at its own pace, and I really love it. 

 

What would you tell the next generation of suspendees? 

Take time to realize what it is you are doing. Another human is trusting you with their safety, their experience, and their body. That is not a small thing, and it should be respected. Start slow, be patient, LEARN. Learn from each other, share knowledge together, and accept that you can be wrong and that is ok. No one in this community is perfect, but there are so many great people and so much potential.

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You can find out more about Misty and her adventures on Instagram!

You can also find out more about her Scarification work on Facebook!

10 Questions w/ Orbán Isma 

Our Next Installment of 10 questions features someone in the community who has led multiple events. He is able to organize suspension practitioners from all around the world to participate in beautiful installations. Without further ado....

 

1. Who are you? 

My name is Orbán Isma. I got into body suspension with DisGraceLanD HooK SquaD back in 2006, started Anchors Aweigh in 2011, and created The Skin Project collective in 2015. I am a humanoid carbon unit living in NYC. I like cats. 

2. Why suspension? 

The reasons change over the years. Initially it was a recreational release I got hooked on, and it evolved from there steadily into an experiential art form that I became further fascinated with. People's experiences, gratitude for the experiences, and the genuine trust and vulnerability that is at the core of the suspension experience that elevates our bonds have always been at the root of the "why." 

photo by @ohgodwhy.me 

3. Favorite suspension 

Done: There's 2 that stand out. 
The first was my third suspension (circa Spring of 2007), in Brooklyn, in our friend's backyard, where I kicked up the dust off the floor, kicked off a trimmed but solid tree, and learned to swing around like a nutjob. During this suspension, the physics of the swing really clicked for me, and I finally grasped the "sport" aspect of what Arwem Spliff Rosa was talking about in relation to the physical experience. 
The second was over waterfalls in NW Massachusetts with RoP, back in 2012. I had an extremely elevated, calm, and clear experience as realization set in with the white noise around me, the sun beating down on my back, the bounce in the tensioned line I was swinging from, the perpetual motion of the water in front of and below me, and seeing Emrys Yetz in his element - sitting on the side of the waterfalls holding space and time for me. I had never had such an intense moment of clarity on hooks before, and it felt like the purest mental trip I had ever been on. 

Facilitated: It's hard to say. I love all first time suspensions, for the pureness of the moment and experience that the suspendees go through. But as far as facilitating with enhanced intention, design, and drive, the moments of building, and ensuing experience that Jeanelle Mastema had during "Tether," was the most gratifying and ground-breaking suspension for me as a practitioner seeking the creative and aesthetic limits of the medium. Creating the structure I envisioned with Ganjeesh and Milo, and watching Jeanelle breath through her experience was incredibly gratifying. When we touched base with Jeanelle after her suspension, it became clear that we both shared a very high level connection, with identical non-verbal realizations of color, spiritual connection, and heavy occult vibrations. 

4. How did you get started? 

At the end of 2005, Arwem Spliff Rosa and Jill Marie Nolan of Disgraceland Family Freakshow (later leading to the creation DisGraceLanD HooK SquaD) made it possible for Lukas Zpira to come facilitate some suspensions at our old haunt, the Brooklyn Fun House, run by our friends Liana and Les. It was my first time suspending. I hadn't eaten well in days, and I was drinking very heavily for 3-4 days leading up to it. Kristin of DFF approached me with her hooks and said she would not be suspending, and asked me if I would like to go up instead. I didn't really think of it as something crazy or weird, and said yes with complete abandon. It was awful physically. But it was the first time Spliff facilitated/coached a suspension, and I remember his face and presence holding me here, present, aware, and forcing me to work through the experience. I felt every strand and fiber in my body straining, and got booted into a really elevated state that was out of my control. Afterwards, exhausted and beat, I realized there was something there I wanted to comprehend with more clarity, because I had never felt anything like that before without stimulants involved. The trust I had in Spliff also gave me the realization that this process was much more complex and nurturing, and I was at the time seeking more personal connection with people, that held these tenets. By the time we did the backyard suspensions (my third), Spliff had booked a show at Alex Grey's CHapel of Sacred Mirrors in Chelsea, NYC, and that day we suspended 30+ people in one night. It was insane, and I was super into the community, and the process after that day. I wanted to share the experience (what little I understood of it at that point) with anybody else that was curious. 

 

5. Biggest suspension inspiration (Person) 

There's never just one person, but I can count two easily, immediately. There are many inspirations for different aspects of my work with suspension. 

Spliff, for introducing me to the medium, but also because I watched him go from having a basic comprehension of the technical aspects, to figuring out aesthetic rigging, and the joy that it brought him. I have always been fascinated by geometry, and the confidence he inspired in others coupled with his understanding of the fractal/visual nature of reality, made him the person that not only made me a better person, but also gave me everything I needed to (in his own words) "find my own flavor" with the medium. I am forever grateful for him. 

Around 2008 we started seeing work from groups in other countries, and the most impactful work I was seeing, was coming from Wings of Desire, out of Oslo. After having met her, and watching her work, I fell in love with Christiane Løfblad's style, and sense of aesthetics. I had never seen somebody work so efficiently, elegantly, and effectively, producing such positive outcomes both experientially, and aesthetically within the medium of body suspension. I still look back to her work regularly to re-center my approach when considering the design of a complex suspension. Her energy while facilitating is something we can all, as a community learn from. 

6. Biggest suspension inspiration (Concept) 

This is really tough to answer. It's changed so much over the years. Initially, the work of Stelarc primarily, and then Fakir Musafar were huge inspirations. As I have changed and evolved as a practitioner, my inspirations have changed in priority. I can't pin point one specific concept, but I can say that the work of Håvve Fjell & Christiane of WoD, Eden Thompson of Skindependent, and Chandler Barnes have really pushed my comprehension of what is possible within the medium, and have changed the way I think about how I want people to experience my work in person. I believe that their work has opened up the doors of how to curate suspension as public art, not just on a performative level, but also as static installation pieces, and impactful stills (photography primarily). 

To be honest, my biggest inspirations for some years now have been from outside our community. Chiharu Shiota has changed my entire way of thinking about rope as an art form, and Garth Knight's work has completely shifted my perspective on what can be done on a larger scale. 

7. Favorite sandwich 

Heat up a cast iron skillet. Throw some bacon on that shit. Don't burn it like an asshole; take it off in time for it to cool down while still cooking itself and not turning into a salt stick. Keep some of that delicious grease in the pan, and throw some freaking chopped up vegetables on it. Sweet red peppers, leaks, shallots, a fuckton of garlic, whatever you like. Put some corn in it, tell the people who judge you for this to fuck right off. Get those veggies off the pan, and wipe remaining grease off. Now throw some butter on that shit. Dump a ton of cinnamon on the butter. Beat some eggs in with some milk, and spread it out over the butter, across the skillet. Throw a bunch of herbs, paprika, Montreal steak seasoning, and whatever you like on that. Once it's starting to hold form, dump the veggies in there, the bacon, and even some cheese if you're into that. If you're not, that's not anybody's problem but your own. Roll that omelette up with finesse and elegance. If you can't do it every day till you figure it out. Watch a youtube video if you have to. Don't fuck it up. Then, put the rolled up omelette aside, and throw two slices of bread on the skillet. Let the remaining butter/grease fry/toast one side, then the other. Smear some mole poblano sauce on those slices, throw the omelette in between them, and enjoy the next however long it takes you to eat this delicious breakfast sandwich. 

I also like brie, turkey and sun dried tomato sandwiches with honey mustard, on a New York roll, but whatever. 

I can't share a photo of my breakfast sandwich, because it's basically porn. 

8. Favorite piece of gear? 

This is a tough question. The answer to this depends on what the suspension being facilitate is. If it's a dynamic setup to swing around on - I love using our Anchor rigging plate. My wife Genne designed it, and it was cut by SMS back in 2011, delivered in time for Dallas SusCon that Easter. It's got the most personality out of all of our gear. 

photo by Sam Haxx 

If we're doing a swaying/swinging static, like a lotus or coma, we have a 6-arm rig that was fabricate by my close friend, Tom Porter. It breaks down into 2 flat plates that can in turn be used as smaller cog-shaped plates, and 6 x 3' arms, which makes it the perfect modular multi-axis rig that I own. 

I love rigging complex static work without pulleys, and we have a 8' cube that we fabricated with Svend Jensen a few years ago that I love dearly It breaks down into 4' arms that are not keyed, and it takes less than 10 minutes to assemble it alone, less than 5 minutes with 2+ people. Because the modular pieces are not keyed (AKA interchangeable), we can also arrange it into 4x4x4, 4x4x8, 8x8x4 arrangements. I am currently working on fabricating other polyhedra that will create new rigging and geometric possibilities, which will also be able to "snap" into the existing cube, suspended within it. 

9. Whats next for you? 

After exploring what we can do with body suspension as an art medium with The Skin Project for the last few years, I am now going down a rabbit-hole of conceptual work that is combining everything I have learned, while trying to trim the fat. I am primarily focused on creating a body of work that stands by itself, and has its own identity. The identity of our work changes along with the personal changes we go through - otherwise we stagnate, and do not grow, which subsequently disallows those around us to grow, and for the medium to become less rewarding for everybody involved. I will continue to focus on exploring the nature of the human experience, occult energies, non-politicized art, and the beauty of multi-dimensional geometry, by which we can shift our perspectives to see the world differently. 

If I told you what's next on a technical level without all the fancy personal growth rhetoric, then I'd be spilling the beans, wouldn't I? 

10. What would you tell the next generation of suspendees? 

I'll try to say what I think matters, but to be honest, it doesn't matter what I have to say. People are going to do what they are going to do, regardless of what they think they're committing to, what they're promising themselves and others, and what they think is right and wrong. They will be disappointed by those that came before them, and they will disappoint the people around them at some point. You, me, us; we're all going to continue making mistakes. Just be safe and don't hurt drop anything. And if you do, get up, and fucking move on. If you don't have a support system, find one. And if you're committing to something, don't fucking bail on it mid-stream, because that makes you a garbage person. Don't be a garbage person. 

On a (slightly) more positive note - body suspension is STILL young, and there's a lot of room for growth. Try to find your own flavor, but don't do this till you have put the work in, and are confident in your skills as a practitioner. If you do the work, you can play later. If you think 2-3 yeras is enough to consider yourself fully proficient at all aspects of suspension, go back to the drawing board and sit the fuck down. Check yourself often. If you do things right, body suspension can be the most gratifying experience to have and/or facilitate. And to do things right, you have to make sure you're being the best person that you can be. Don't bring your personal bullshit to somebody else's experience, and you will be a great practitioner. That goes for the people you work with as well (and choose to surround yourself with). Also, make good art, don't drop anything, drink lots of water, and don't fuck up your omelettes.

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You can find out more about Orbán Isma by following @anchors.aweigh 

Be sure to check out  suspension.nyc

@the.skin.project too!

Ovoideum recounts the journey! 

Many of us suspend because we are part of groups that share a common interest in body modification. We have peers who have just as many piercings or tattoos as we do, we attend events where we can watch suspension happen, and maybe our significant others encouraged us to explore new body modification experiences. Our first time suspending probably happened after years of observing friends give it a try. 

And then there are those like me, starting our journey on the outside of the mod community with our noses pressed against the glass, just watching. We privately research body suspension and try not to talk about it too much. No one around us has any idea that we’d be interested in such a thing. 

I spent most of my 20s secretly desiring to suspend. Every now and then I would bring it up to another person, and the response would be some variation of “Ick.” The idea was rolling around in my brain as I waited until the time was right. There was just something about seeing pictures and videos of people hanging and having a great time that made me go, “You know, I could do that.” I have a penchant for the new and extreme, and I was gonna try that body suspension thing no matter what. 

Last year, at age 28, I finally felt ready. I mustered up the courage to contact a suspension group.. The group was DisGraceLand WasteLanD in Illinois. We set a date, and before I knew it I was driving myself down there with my sister as a tag-a-long friend. 

My sister was the only person who would have been willing to come with me. My husband, bless his heart, is much too squeamish to watch something like that, and he doesn’t understand why a person would want to do suspension anyway. I certainly couldn’t tell my parents at the time because they look down on this sort of thing. This was a private endeavor to try something new and intense. 

The suspension was a 4-point suicide facilitated by the talented Gregory Charles. It took only a few seconds to get off the ground, and I felt like a natural. My sister took pictures for me and cheered me on. It was just like I imagined it would be. I did a 10-point coma by myself not long after. 

It can be isolating exploring body suspension by yourself. I know I can’t be the only one. My husband can’t look at pictures of my suspensions or hear anything about them because it squicks him out. My sister’s not really into that kind of thing, no extended family members are part of the mod community, and I’ve never really had friends that did this sort of stuff. 

I’m a goofy, Christian (that's a whole other blog, right there), part-time-working housewife and artist with little dot-like scars that are my little secret. It’s rare that I’m able to talk about my body suspensions. I use Instagram to stay connected with suspension groups and other enthusiasts though. Currently I’m saving and planning for more suspensions, including figuring out a way to ride the human gyroscope rig. I’ll be darned if anyone’s going to stop me. 

If you’re like me and have no prior connections to the community but would like to try body suspension, just go for it! You can do it! It’s thrilling. You don’t have to belong to a certain group or have other mods or even know someone else who does it. There are dozens of us in the same boat, I’m sure. I look forward to making new friends and connections in the community. The people are lovely, so get out there and make it happen for yourself.

 

Note from the editor: 

Many thanks to Ovoideum for sending this piece in!

To follow more about their story and see some amazing art go check out: 

Ovoideum's Instagram

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We are always looking for more submissions!

Please feel free to email us your story, recount your team meet, or submit any type of suspension related art! 

Suspension.life is dedicated to give everyone in the community a voice. We hope to hear from you soon!!

10 Questions w/ Morgan 

Welcome to our new installment of 10 Questions!

Today we introduce another amazing person in the community. 

 

1. Who are you?

I'm Morgan! 

2. Why suspension?

Suspension has changed my life in ways I couldn't have ever imagined- It gives me a clear mind and made me a stronger person, I've found some of my best friends who have made me a better person, and I've been lucky to travel/be apart of events around the world. What more can I say.. 

3. Favorite suspension (Done or facilitated)?

Favorite I've done.. there are so many for different reasons. Tandems/spinning beams are probably my favorite to hang in because you're going though the experience with someone else. You definitely have to let go of some control and go with the flow so everyone can get what they need/want from the experience and it's so fucking cool! 

Favorite facilitated.. all of them!! It's a fucking honor to be trusted by someone else. No matter how big or little the roll is, I love helping people fly. 

4. How did you get started?

I saw my first suspension at a Des Moines tattoo convention when I was like 13 years old. I begged my mom to let me go in just to see the show. She allowed it and for the next 5 years I watched all the suspensions I could (local and conventions) until I was able to do my first suspension. I've been "hooked" ever since.

5. Biggest suspension inspiration (Person)?

Biggest suspension inspiration?? That list is pretty damn long. And I don't want to accidently leave anyone out. Haha I've met so many incredible humans over the years and they all inspire me for different reasons. These people have so much strength, courage, compassion, dedication, drive and just overall bad assery.. how can you not be inspired to be more like that?! Haha 

6. Biggest suspension inspiration (Concept)?

Pain is weakness leaving the body. 

7. Favorite sandwich?

Hot dogs are sandwiches right?? Good ole chili cheese dog for the win!! 

8. Favorite piece of gear?

Favorite piece of gear is definitely a fast swivel! 

9. Whats next for you?

More traveling to events around the world. Suspending in cool places/making memories with my dope ass friends! 

10. What would you tell the next generation of suspendee’s?

I'd say just be smart and take care of one another. We are all here for the hooks, but there are a million reasons why someone does what they do. And that's okay. Leave egos at the door and have an open mind.

To keep up will all of Morgan's hook adventures follow him on Facebook.  

10 QUESTIONS w/ Eden Thomson 

Welcome to our first of many installments of 10 QUESTIONS. This is a meet and greet type interview of those that inspire others inside of the suspension community. Our 1st guest is a great one, if you all would put your hands together for, Eden Thomson.

Who are you? 

My name Is Eden Thomson, I am a professional body piercer from Christchurch New Zealand, member of the association of professional piercers and body suspension practitioner. I head up a team called Skindependent Suspension and we have been facilitating suspensions now for over 12 years. 

Why suspension? 

Funnily enough, when I first saw suspension, I actually drew a line in the sand so to speak, feeling at the time that is was a little outside of the realm of what I want to be involved with. This however only lasted around 6 months until I decided that is was in fact something I wished to experience for myself. 

The feeling of empowerment I got from suspension was like no other. What a liberating experience. I feel, from that moment, I found my outlet. Outlet for what? Who knows, however, I have never looked back. 

Favorite suspension (Done or facilitated)? 

I have many favourites for many reasons, depending what I wish to gain from suspension in that moment. I think though one of my top experiences was suspending from my chest at Dallas Suscon in 2012. This was facilitated by Håvee, Allen and Christiane. 

As far as favourite facilitation goes, we hosted an installation at the end of 2015 in celebration of releasing our photo book, dedicated to wings of desire called "Suspended Beauty". This was probably one of my proudest moments in suspension. The team did exceptionally well and executed the piece perfectly. 

The other moment that comes to mind was being asked to help facilitate the Stelarc performance "Shadow Suspension" at Dallas Suscon 2013. Being able to work alongside some of the most amazing practitioners worldwide, was an amazing experience, one of which i gained a new appreciation for artistic installation. 

How did you get started? 

Originally, after trying suspension for myself, I started to dig a little deeper into what others were offering and how they were offering it. Suspension was on a very small scale here and I wanted to explore how we could grow the interest, while offering the safest, most up to date practices at the time. 
This led me on the path of Allen Falkner and Håvve Fjell - both very forthcoming with information to help me grow suspension here. I was (am) very appreciative of their help for if it wasn't for their help in answering my many, many questions - I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. 

From there, I created Skindependent Suspension and started the first official "team" in New Zealand. 

Because of this, i have always been of the "pay it forward" mentality. We gain nothing as a community witholding information from others, so i am always more than happy to talk suspension with anyone wanting to learn/better themselves - even just to keep that dialogue open helps us all grow. 

Biggest suspension inspiration (Person)? 

This is a tricky one, for I am constantly inspired by any practitioner wanting to better themsleves or whoever is acting in the best interest of safety for the community. I will however, name a few, in no particular order; 

Misty Forsberg - her and I have had a long standing friendship and I know her and I will forever see eye to eye on any topic. She is fanatatsic to bounce ideas off of and sees suspension as I do, which i value greatly. 

Håvve Fjell - I consider Håvve my mentor from the beginning, his group, Wings of Desire, have been a constant reminder of why i love this. 

Skindependent Crew (past and present) - without the dedication and love for suspension, the crew wouldn't be where we are, so I am inspired by their ideas and values they all bring. 

Allen Falkner - for not only paving the way, but for also hosting an amazing educational event, one I am forever grateful for attending. Some of the most valuable information I have learned was at these events. 

Daniel Thomas - My partner in crime, Daniel has a creative flair (hehe) that is second to none. He is one of the most kindest, humblest practitioners I have ever had the pleasure of facilitating with. 

Matt Kirk - One of the OG's of Skindependent, it has been inspiring seeing his journey over the years and he has developed into one of the most educated practitioners I know. 

Jason Shaw / Emrys Yetz - When I think of these guys, it reminds me of my humble beginnings. It was their faces I saw when i did my early research and I am forever thankful for their continued input into the community. Their work never goes unnoticed and I have immense appreciation for them. 

Biggest suspension inspiration (Concept)? 

Anything large scale, artistic installation style events are my jam. There is so much beauty in what we do, seeing these concepts come to life make my heart happy. Stelarcs works with wings of desire, Italian Suscon, Oslo Suscon and Skin are all events I feel continually push that envelope. 

Favorite sandwich? 

I'm not eating too many sandwiches these days, however a grilled cheese toastie never goes a miss! 

Favorite piece of gear? 

Where do I even start with this one? I have so many as they all have so many purposes! However, I am going to go for a trusty Se7en plate by Rock Exotica. You can't go wrong with this universal piece of kit. Affordable, sturdy and you can facilitate pretty much anything from it! 

Whats next for you? 

What a good looking question! We have Suscon Australasia happening in January 2020 - this is the second event of it's kind in this hemisphere. I am all about continued education and facilitating beautiful artwork with those passionate about what we do. The first Suscon here in 2015 was really well received so i am excited to repeat the event in 2020! 

After that, I would love to focus on more installations - we have a collaborative exhibition planned for March 2020 which I am also excited for! 

What would you tell the next generation of suspendee’s? 

Be humble. 
Be kind to one another. 
Leave your ego at the door. 
Decrease the variables. 
Pay it forward. 
Ask questions. 
Ask more questions. 
And for the love of all things amazing, don't ever, ever stop learning.

 

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