Philip Barbosa shot this great portrait of artist Dave Gillstrap and client at SW1 in 2005. Dave had just finished the cutting on her leg and Phil decided to go for a very intimate pose to show the connection between the two. The photo loses a lot of detail with resizing, but take note of Dave’s torso scarification. (and his painted toenails)

More new old SW photos!
I love finding discs I had forgotten about; these were taken by my good friend and consigliere Brian Sowden. There are hundreds on the disc from the first and second events. SO many of our guests took pictures, and so FEW ever sent me discs of their images (that’s guilt-tripping, people… it’s never too late) but it’s always nice to see an event from another person’s perspective.

This shot features Dave Gillstrap, Ron Garza (back to the camera), Jesse Villemaire (on crutches), Johannes (aka Jo-hotness) Sammi (back to the camera) and in the distance Ryan Ouellette and Brian Decker cutting the first two pieces of the event at SW1.

Canada’s own Jesse Villemaire filled the time between appointments at the first SW event back in 2005 by shooting pictures. I just came across a whole bunch of them and I’ll be cherry picking the best for future blog updates. (Thanks Jesse)

Tonight’s update is a non work-safe update featuring a pubic cutting by PBA’s Ryan Ouellette on our friend Joolie. Click through for uncensored images.

I could church up this entry and try to talk about how liberating it was for Vampy to do this piece topless; how Gillstrap wasn’t wearing a shirt either and that anatomically, there’s no difference. Instead I’ll say that Vampy is a great sport and cutting topless is fun.

I stole this from my friend Ammre.

My friend Ammre took a bunch of great pictures back at the first SW event in 2005. As I was digging through discs looking for something nonrelated I found the whole lot of em; of the two that I picked for tonight’s updates, this was the one without boobs. Sorry. That one will come next.

Tom’s torso scarification piece was featured in one of my first posts, and again a few months later. Dave was working on the little OM flesh removal that you can see bleeding in the first link.

Photo of Corinna at SW1 by Philip Barbosa.

Corinna sat for a grueling all day session at the first SW event in Philadelphia. Her bamboo back piece (which was done primarily by Brian Decker with help from Jesse Villemaire) is one of the most iconic cuttings to come out of the events; quickly becoming an (copyright infringing) internet meme. “Look what your children are doing NOW” emails, blog entries complete with snarky comments… Corrie’s piece took on a life of it’s own.

Through the whole process Corrie sat like a champ; even allowing the in progress cutting to be documented at various stages throughout the day. Phil snapped this photo when the piece was complete but not cleaned up.

Photo by Allen Falkner

Ryan did this Biomechanical piece at the first SW event in Philadelphia. I’m told that some workplaces block scarwars.net due to “violent” content. Something makes me think it’s pieces like this that they’re talking about?
I can see how flesh removal could give someone the heebie-jeebies, but at least I didn’t post a photo of the scraps. Today.

To my lovely, strange, hilarious impression doing, epic story telling, sweeter than aspartame, knows more about Hinduism than Hindus and more about the Romans than the Romans and your history teacher combined, could charm the pants (habit?) off a nun boyfriend: I (and many others) love you more than the day is long and hope you have an amazing birthday/boys only meat party. I’ll be here to rub your very sore, meat filled tummy when you get home.

I have known and been very much in love with you for just under a year now and look forward to writing you silly birthday messages for your 36th, 37th, and 95th birthdays.

Now go grab your present out of the closet. I know you’ve been stalking it like a lion would a gazelle for a week now.

Another quiet night for Claire and I….
Didn’t have a chance to dig up anything interesting for tonight’s update so you guys have to settle for a picture of my bloody face circa 2005. The cutting was by Brian Decker, the photo by Allen Falkner.

Have a good night!

I first met Sara shortly after moving to Philadelphia. Brainy, adorable and as sweet as a jellybean. She was photographed at SW1 by Philip Barbosa in what we thought was going to be the next big fashion trend. It turned out we were wrong, but what can you do.

Her cutting was done by Luis Garcia in October of 2000 and was almost 5 years old when we photographed it. I’m a sucker for a simple, subtle scar; this one reminds me of Bella’s cutting in placement, simplicity and impact.

Sara had this to say back in 2000:

“It was an intense pain that followed the scalpel — I could feel the trail of the scalpel because it only hurt where it actually was. After an area was cut, the pain disappeared. I hadn’t known what to expect, but this was certainly not it. Angie played coach and kept me breathing, and Luis would ask me if I was alright every little bit. I felt loved and safe. It was very positive, and I felt connected to the other two people in the room with me. Before I knew it, the first spiral was done. Luis let me rest for a minute and commended me on my stillness. Apparently, he was expecting more reaction, and I just sat there. I started to feel a little shakiness in my extremities and told him to keep going. He leapt right in with the other spiral. It hurt a little more! But the same sensation was there, with the pain following the scalpel. I closed my eyes this time, which concerned Angie and Luis. I assured them, I was alright. I was just tired of staring at the lights. It was even more intense with my eyes closed. It was a buzz within my body as the scalpel moved. I could imagine the skin splitting, the cut white at first and then filling with blood.”

Procedural photos after the break…..