In the spring of 1994, I began to apprentice under Chuck Hayes of Xotics in Omaha, Nebraska. Since he was active full-time in the Air Force at the time, we worked mainly on weekends, which meant a considerable amount of driving back and forth between Des Moines and Omaha.
After checking out each piercing, I began piercing at Creative Images in May 1994. I always felt that my apprentice was rushed. As soon as I started piercing at Creative Images, I began to revise Chuck's methods for piercing, sterilization, and preventing cross-contamination. I learned very quickly that piercing, like all arts, is an ongoing education. Looking back on the beginning, it is incredible how much I have learned and developed over the years. To this day, I still research as much information as I can find on a nearly daily basis.
The Axiom Body Piercing Studio on E. 5th St. opened its doors on March 28, 1995, after I left Creative Images (May 1994 through February 1995). The idea behind the new studio was simple: an open environment that offered professional body art (Body Piercings and Tattooing) to fill the needs and voids in the community, but also not be afraid to educate and enlighten the public.
On January 1st, 1997, the Axiom became the first piercing-only studio in the state of Iowa. There are many reasons why I decided to end tattooing, but the bottom line is that it allowed me to focus on piercing. In the spring of 1998, the Iowa State House of Representatives passed a bill regarding Body Piercing, and it was sent to the Iowa Senate. I wrote a 5-page letter to all the Studios in the State practicing Tattooing and Piercing, my state representatives, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and members of the subcommittee working on the bill. Although the law failed to pass through the Senate, I believe and have been told that my letter contributed to the defeat of a bill that would have been, for the most part, ineffective.
On October 13th, 1999, I moved the Axiom into Skin Kitchen Tattoo. I did this for several reasons. One being a better space and increased traffic. The other is that I greatly respect the ability of the artists there. It just made sense.
After relocating to our current location, we started our YouTube Channel, Body Piercing & Tattooing, in 2018. I have been one of the main driving forces behind the channel, from being in front of the camera to filming and editing all of the content. The primary focus of the channel is on educational videos related to piercing, Tattooing, and Body Modification.
When it comes to piercing, my focus has always been on educating my clients so they have enough information to decide if the piercing is right for them and to heal the piercing with as few issues as possible. At the same time, we look after the safety and well-being of each client to fulfill their needs and vision. The piercing room has always been a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment where no question or topic is off-limits. Of course, I can be a little snobbish at times about music. Still, one of the things that makes my job so exciting and enjoyable is the variety of people from different walks of life, lifestyles, & subcultures that I get to interact with. Connecting with a client is, at its base, a piercing experience. It is a collaboration of your vision and my expertise. When that connection occurs, it creates a truly incredible experience for all involved.
I love working with the human anatomy to not only create a piercing or a group of piercings that will heal successfully, but also to enhance and fit the client's anatomy and their style. This can be achieved through a combination of various piercing placements, jewelry styles, sizes, gemstones, themes, and colors, whether it's a constellation-style ear project, a combination of Facial and oral piercing, or a genital piercing project. Let's get our imaginations flowing and communicating to achieve something unique to you. Please feel free to stop by and visit during regular business hours, Thursday through Monday, 2 pm to 8 pm. We share our location with the Skin Kitchen at 3800 Douglas Ave, on the Southwest corner of 38th Street and Douglas Ave.
