vrijdag 12 juli 2019

Interview Eduardo chavarria

Eduardo Chavarria
Name: Eduardo Chavarria

When started your passion for piercing?
I guess I can say it started as a child. Not in the sense of me piercing myself as a teenager, but I clearly remember being about 7-8 years old, I was either in the first or second grade and it was 1982-83. I went to the grocery store with my mom in Katy, TX and as we were walking in out was walking the first punk rocker I had ever seen in my human existence. I remember everything about that moment from their plaid bondage pants, to their stunning mohawk, but most importantly I remember that this individual had their ear pierced from the lobe all up and around their helix with silver ball studs. It was at this point in my life that not only I realized that one could become an adult and do and look how you want, but that you could put holes in your ear and wear jewelry. I also remember the look of disgust on my moms face. I have seen that same look at me several times in my life since then toward me. But without making that sound negative, though it took some time, I have an amazing relationship with my mother, and though she may not like what I do or how I have chosen to live my life she still loves me, supports me, and encourages me to be me and be happy. I am her favorite child and my sisters will tell you that too.

How did you become one and who was your teacher?
So my becoming a piercer story is one of being at the right place and the right time and right moment. I was working a pretty cool career as a baker (as well pastry) and I was pretty good at it. The team I worked with not only supplied bread to all the top restaurants in Houston (TX), but we won best bakery awards consistently. I was doing well in life but baker hours are not the most fun hours and leave you to little social time.
I was a really good client and friends with everyone at Taurian Body Piercing as well as with a tattoo shop named Hot Stuff Deluxe as both places were open later hours than most businesses and they did not mind me hanging out for an hour or two before I went to work. To not sound like a total shop rat I would come to both shops with bags of bread and as I said I was also a client, but most importantly I became close friends with people at both shops which showed me the community side of the industry before I was a part of it.
I had been interested and wanting to suspend and that took me to asking the owner of Tarian, Byriah Dailey, if he would be interested in helping me achieve this goal.
At that time he had just hired Steve Joyner and he suggested I talk to Steve once he was moved and settled.
I did so and that landed me in a room with a few people and thus the birth of a small performance group now known as CoRE was born and eventually I got to do that suspension.
Now more to the point of the question. I was really burning out on baking because of the hours as well as how it interfered with my new performance and suspension hobby. After doing performance and private suspensions for a while and being able to do a lot of hook piercing my interest for piercing became much stronger and out of sheer luck, persistence, patience, and showing a lot of initiative I got to start apprenticing at Taurian. I was able to learn both under Steve and Byriah, but the biggest thank you in that entire situation has to go to Byriah. He was really generous to not only share knowledge but to bring me into his life and studio but also for believing in me and giving me a chance. The rest is all history that I am happy to chat more about at a later time.

Who inspires you?
Gosh, this is a trick question with an endless answer that I will keep in the piercing industry.
I have been inspired by many throughout my time in this game and I will list them all for you.
In the the begining I was inspired by and influenced by many Texas piercers. Pat Tidwell, Ron Garza, Robert Micheal, Cris Cane, Bear, and a weirdo from Indiana named Brent to name a few. They were all amazing people that took me in as family from the moment we and all shared more knowledge with me about piercing, suspension, scarification, branding, and life.
Because my roots to piercing are through suspension one thing that was always the most natural to me was piercing with minimal to no tools, Bryan Skellie was a huge help and influence to me.
I should mention that this was all during a time where internet was not the most accessible so ALL the above mentioned people I either spoke on the phone with them for way to long, or I would have to go out of my way to see them.
Later in my career I was influenced directly by some of the piercers that I worked with or for or because I was able to guest with them. These people would be Jason King, Henry Reuben, Patrick Bogdanich, Marty K, Jim Sens, Peck, Matt Southwood, Kellan Smith, Autumn Swisher, Maralyn Mena, Nate Janke, Chux Time, Chris Jennings, and Danny Petersdorf,
Now that I am entering a new era in my career with opening my own studio I get my biggest influences and inspirations from shop owners like Bethra Szumski, Kieth Krollman, Rob Church, Ian Bishop, Ryan Oullette, and Marc Williams.
The list could continue but I'll stop it there.

Do you do more then just piercings?
Hmmmmm, kind of. I definitely am still involved with suspension. I used to do cutting but to be honest anymore unless it is someone I already know or I just feel that "magical" connection with someone I just suggest other practitioners. I love to brand, but that time I feel has come and gone, or maybe I just don't push myself to market it, but none the less its not a service I have been asked for in several years. So piercings and suspension.

How did you got involved with the APP and the LBP? and volunteering
So involvement with APP is easy. I was an Al D scholarship recipient I can never remember the year, but I think it was 2003. The rest is history. I never stopped after that. I remained a volunteer till I became a board member which is just another level of volunteer, and even after that I stick around. I could not imagine going to APP and not being part of the back of the house stuff. The APP has helpe me a lot in my career and I love giving back to it however I can.
As far as LBP, being bilingual didn't hurt, being a board member during its formative years helped, and then going and teaching was the icing on the cake. Though my involvment with LBP is nothing near the time I have put into APP there is nothing I would not do to help and support the LBP.

Suspensions, why you love it?
For so many reasons. The people it has brought into my life, the experiences it has provided for me, the experiences it has allowed me to share. I love everything about suspension. From buying gear, to tying knots, to setting up, piercing, walking someone or getting walked through fear and emotions. Enjoying feeling the movement, watching all the gear and seeing it work, the euphoria, the endorphins, and the way it allows me to process things. Suspensions in one of the only way I get to trigger certain parts of my brain and it allows me to open doors for myself and learn more about me and what I want.

Have you ever break through to the other side?I have had many "experiences" through several different ceremonies and rituals. They have all taken me to several special places. Keeping closest to the topic of piercing one of my most amazing and ceremony was the first time I did Kavadi.
Here is a link to an interview I did about that experience http://kavadinfo.blogspot.com/2007/12/kavadi-experience-eduardo.html

Tell us about CoRE and "kuh thar sis"
CoRE is a theater performance suspension group. This is where and whom I learned about suspension. From where it started to where its at now are apples and oranges. if you enjoy watching performance art and like seeing suspensions it is a very beautiful show.
As far as Kuh-thahr-sis, this is my most recent and only named suspension project of my own. I did performance for many many years and I have a love hate relationship with it. For the right reason or to help the right people I will do performance, but Kuh-thahr-sis is the opposite. It is about private suspension with the influence on experience.
Suspension can be so many different things and it is its own experience for each individual. I have been lucky enough to facilitate many people first suspensions and you only get one of those so I try to make it as perfect as possible. I do not try and push any of my personal beliefs about suspension onto anyone. If my group and team is suspending you we have already discussed many details and have tried to set up the environment that is the most comfortable for the person suspending. From music, to lighting, scents, and most importantly the lack of a crowd. I ask the person suspending to only bring one or two of their closest support and we all focus on the person suspending and nothing more.

What has been the high point of your career so far? What are you most proud of
Everyday I get to do what I love is a high point. I love body piercing. I love my industry.
I have been fortunate enough to work either as an employee or a guest artist and many of the top studios in the United States and even a few of the best studios in Mexico City.
I was lucky enough to get voted onto an APP board with some amazing people that helped mold me a great deal and that I am still friends with to date.
During my board term I joined the Conference Committee which I am still a part of, and I succesfully started both the Membership Committee, and the Outreach Committee both which have grown far beyond what I would have ever anticipated.

Do you have a nice experience you like to share with us?
No one specifically, I think piercing kids ears always falls pretty high on my list. Its so cool to walk them through the process. Everything about piercings kids ears is so genuine. From their body language, the questions they ask, talking themselves out of the fear and understanding themselves and watching them grow in those seconds leading up to it, then the reaction. The most genuine happy smile comes from a kid getting their first set of lobe piercings.
I would say after that my next favorite is helping anyone that is finding or reclaiming themselves.

Is there something we do not know about you? but like to share?
I am the proud son of Salvadoran immigrants and am so grateful for my parents sacrifices that have allowed me to live my best life.
I struggle in social situations with making the first more or saying hello.

How do you see the future? are there plans? do you have a personal goal?Currently I am in the process of opening my own studio, so I hope to see success in my future.
As far as plans and personal goals, I would like to bring more people of color into the industry so once I have everything settled I will start to work on that.

Do you have any advice for our readers, or do you want to add something?
Live your life, be the best person you can be, challenge yourself, become a better person, drink more water, ask questions, make time for yourself and the important ones around you.
Find things that will make and keep you happy.


Namaste,
Eduardo Chavarria

Instagram: piercings by Ed

-Angie
Photos and answers: Eduardo Chavarria



Eduardo & Me at APP2019 Las Vegas