4 minute read
BODY ART
PERSONAL SELF EXPRESSION
WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
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Body Art is an expression of one's self, from head and body piercings to body branding and scarification.
The history of body art goes back as far as the 9th century BC. The oldest mummified body had ear piercings from 7-11 mm in diameter, proving that body art is at-least 5,000 years old.
People from all over the world partake in body art for cultural purposes or personal reasons. In recent years the look of gauged ears and face piercings have been widely popular. If you take a look around your community, you can see people ranging from young to old with their personal touch when it comes to piercings. I have had many piercings over the year, from a nose ring in my left nostril to gauged ears, which I have since let close up and heal. Currently, I have two piercings in each ear, and my conch pierced on my right ear. The conch is a band of cartilage the stretches across the ear.
I had the chance to speak with Chuck Kesler, a professional body artist who has been working in this industry since 1999. He began his career at Sterling Rose in Fargo, North Dakota, as an apprentice, and worked there for three years. After leaving Sterling Rose, he opened Dead RockStar with his family - a tattoo, piercing, and alternative clothing store. "This is when and where my interest in the sterilization process began," said Kesler.
In 2007 Kesler joined the Association of Professional Piercers and has attended many of their conferences. "I was pretty excited to be the first in North Dakota to join this Association," exclaimed Kesler. Joining the APP lit a fire under Kesler to continue to grow his knowledge in sterilization, sanitation, and the art of body piercing.
Kesler has performed many exotic piercings and body branding/ scarification in his career. One of the most exciting piercings I saw was the Rhino. This is where you get a stud pierced through the top of your nose cartilage mimicking the horn of a rhinoceros. Another piece of body art that caught my eye was a back corset. Yes, it is exactly how it sounds! Two rows of hoops are pierced into the skin on either side of the spine and ribbon is thread through it creating the look of a corset.
Body branding is essentially like a tattoo where you lay out a stencil and burn the design into the body. Where-as scarification uses a scalpel and the design is cut into the body.
"We have a lot of farmers in this area, and they come in to get their farm logos branded onto their body," Explained Kesler. "With this area being so conservative, you would not think you would get as many people in for this kind of work."
I was fascinated to hear this bit of information. When I think of body branding, a local farmer is not the first place my mind goes, but I am pleasantly surprised to hear it!
In 2014 Kesler encouraged local promoters to join him in his idea for a tattoo and body art convention in Fargo, North Dakota. With enthusiasm from his professional colleagues, he began the Rough Rider Ink & Iron Expo. Each year it has grown into an event many people look forward to, including me!
One thing Kesler and I discussed was the more psychological l reasons people come in for piercings. Kesler studied psychology a Minnesota State University Moorhead, and he took that knowledge with him as he continues his professional body art career. "I am always looking to understand the root of the one's decision to get a piercing," explained Kesler. "Some of my clients who come in are there because of body image issues or are the victims of rape and abuse. Some of the goals being to take back their body and make their own choices with what they do with their bodies."
This idea is something I had never really given much thought to, although it makes total sense. I applaud these individuals who take such measures to reclaim what is theirs.
In my opinion, this is a positive quality in someone modifying your body. Kesler is genuinely interested in why you are there and how he can better your experience.
As the years passed, Kesler found himself in a kind of stagnant place; his passion for body art was still there but less enthusiastic.
"That is when I decided I need to make a change," explained Kesler. "When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it renewed my passion for working in this business."
Kesler is in the process of opening Chuck's Body Art, in Moorhead, MN. His mission statement, Passion for Promoting Safe and Sterile Procedures, has followed him throughout his career and will continue in his new space. "I am hoping that my reputation will prompt clients to follow me to my new location," expressed Kesler.
