The Crystal

Posted on June 18, 2007 by RooRaaah Crumbs

The Royal Ontario Museum has just unveiled it’s giant new wing, The Crystal! If you want a really neat cultural experience whilst you’re in Toronto for BMEfest I thoroughly recommend the ROM!

Until August 6, 2007

“Discover a magnificent cache of long-hidden golden treasures from the Sicán civilization, a mysterious pre-Inca people who prospered off the northern coast of Peru as early as AD 700. This extraordinary exhibition showcases over 120 elaborately-crafted headdresses, crowns, pieces of pottery and jewellery, uncovered in an undisturbed, gold-filled tomb that is one of modern archaeology’s greatest finds.

The Sicán culture has been largely overshadowed by the more well-known and powerful Inca civilization. Little is known about the Sicán, only that they were skilled metallurgists, traders and seafarers who controlled a large expanse of coastal desert and fertile river valleys in northern Peru. Their culture is hallmarked by technically and artistically sophisticated art, pottery, architecture and religious artifacts.

Some of these artifacts were excavated in one of the most important archaeological sites in South America: Batán Grande, a sprawling complex of adobe pyramids and plazas, considered by the Sicán to be their religious centre. It was also the principal burial ground for their royalty. Ancient Peru Unearthed examines these remarkable finds and explores the rich history and artistry of this enigmatic civilization.

This exhibition has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Culture, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.”

Art!

Posted on June 15, 2007 by RooRaaah Crumbs

Phil recently received an interesting (and unsolicited) review from a publishing agent in San Francisco, he assumed it was a sales pitch but she had this to say about his work:

“To say that I was shocked by the pictures you posted on your website (details courtesy of Lightstalkers) is an understatement. However, I must appreciate the fact that your pictures depicting the limits of the flesh are one-of-a-kind, and that they deserve to be preserved in the form of a book.”

If you are interested in seeing his work he has an opening at Blackline Studio as part of their one year anniversary party on June 22nd. There will be more details posted on their site soon. The show will also run until the middle of July so if you are in town for BMEfest I recommend you check it out!

Also, check out his personal site (PhilipBarbosa.com) if you’d like to see the show in miniature on your monitor.

Want Ink?

Posted on June 15, 2007 by RooRaaah Crumbs

If you want to get tattooed whilst you are in town for BMEfest I recommend you check out Rev. Matt Ellis for really nice custom tattoo work! Matt has tattooed some of the BMEstaff and a lot of our friends as well. I have confirmed with Matt that he does do genital tattoos so if you fancy adding a little colour to your fiddly bits he will be happy to accommodate you*.

Here’s a small selection of his work..



	He is currently taking appointments but is quickly filling up for that week so make sure you contact him right away! You can find Matt at RevMattEllis.com/ or WayCool Uptown, which is a five minute walk from the Sheppard subway stop and Yonge and Sheppard.

*Genital tattoos are $400 Minimum with a 50% deposit required at the time of booking.

Pre-BMEfest Hooker School

Posted on June 4, 2007 by RooRaaah Crumbs

Big News! To coincide with upcoming BME Toronto events: BMEfest 2007 and MODPROM 2, BME will also be hosting a small private suspension seminar class for body art professionals only. The class will be led and taught by Allen Falkner (suspension.org/TSD) and assisted by some of the most well trained professional suspension practitioners in the world. Confirmed teaching assistants are Emrys Yetz, Jill Allen, Jon Pett and Jason Shaw with possibly more to be announced.

The Suspension School Seminar is a rare opportunity for piercers to further raise their skill level and become a strong and active part of almost any suspension team/event. Due to the nature of the class and that we only have one day to present the seminar emphasis will be placed on safety as well as the practical discipline and mechanical practice behind how body suspension works as well as an important lecture on the history of modern body suspension.

This is an intermediate/advanced level course, so it’s primarily intended for piercers and people who already have a solid and practical understanding of skin, contamination control, and so on (no suspension-specific experience is needed) but you must already be able to demonstrate a professional understanding of bloodborne pathogens & the principles of infection control.

To ensure that everyone has a complete hands on experience the class is kept small, only be 15 student spots are available. There is a charge to attend the seminar approx $200 CAD to cover costs (like supplies, space rental and flying up the instructors!). There will be a few scholarship spots available to apply for as well so don’t stress it if you don’t have any money*, we want to help you out.

If you’d like to come to learn, please sign the RSVP on the Events page and we will contact you as soon as registration opens up. The class will also require a few suspension “test subjects” for the students to work on, if you would like to apply for this please email me** and I will reply with an application form, there are No Guarantees you will be selected.

And finally lets all remember that “Rome Was Not Built In A Day” and as professionals you all did not learn to pierce overnight. It is our goal with the seminar is to educate and empower you further as body art professionals. This class will not certify anyone to be a solo suspension practitioner but more a really strong addition to any professional suspension team where you will further gain experience and confidence in your practice.

We are actively looking for sponsors for the event if you have something you can offer offer please contact me for our sponsors wish list.

If you have any questions please email me at [email protected]

*Scholarship application requests may be forwarded to [email protected] with the email title “scholarship application request”. You will then be sent the application to fill out and reply by June 1, 2007, no later!

**Student Test Subjects or guinea pig application requests can be emailed to [email protected] with the subject tittle “Student Test Subject”.

There will be 10-15 student spots, and there will be some opportunity for others to suspend as well (but this is not a SusCon — it’s a teaching event). There will be a charge to cover costs (like flying up the instructors!), but there will be scholarships as well so don’t stress it if you don’t have any money. If you’d like to come to learn, please sign the RSVP list and let us know what you’d like to learn in the course so we can taylor it to everyone’s needs.

The BME Scene Points Scavenger Hunt

Posted on June 4, 2007 by RooRaaah Crumbs

This is the first ever BME Scene Points Scavenger Hunt Game!

The point of the game is to collect/earn as many punches on your scene point punch card.

The game starts when BME fest starts! the game ends when someone brings me a fully punched and initialed scene point punch card*.

When you arrive at BMEfest find me and ask for a card you will be given a punch card and asked to initial the back agreeing to the games rules. There will be 20 people well known to the community for the day will be known as givers of IAM/BME scene points. You are off to figure out who is giving out scene points and start collecting.

The card will contain 20 spots with a visual clue as to the scene point givers identity’s and perhaps how you will have to earn your scene point. some will clearly be easy and some will require a little thinking.

Once discovered a scene point giver may not deny they have the ability to give out scene points but they can refuse to give you a scene point unless you agree to their ridiculous or simple request. players have the ability to negotiate with scene point givers until both parties agree to what will earn a scene point punch. You can never be out right refused a scene point but you might have to work and negotaite for it a little. You are not allowed and will not be required to do anything against you own will or anything illegal the scene point givers will have a strict code of ethics to follow. Remember, as on IAM things like lots of mods, suspension scars and having a huge collection of Event shirts will always get you scene points but so will being known as the person who did something really awesome to entertain others at any event.

People who want to play should sign up so i have a vague idea of how many punch cards to make. if you are one of the 20 people that is picked to be a scene point giver you will be invited and never tell anyone! this is an even more secret club then skull and bonesmen. Please, don’t message me demanding to be a scene point giver cause your ears are bigger then everyone else’s… i don’t care… seriosly do you know who i am? The IAM Royalty forum is hosting this event and the people in that forum are the ones that will choose the scene point givers. if you are invited you will be sent a copy of the rules and conditions of this very prestigious honor you will have to very strictly follow.

There is a prize bag of goodies for the winner as well as forever being known as the the first person ever with a recored 20 scene points earned at just one BME BBQ. The contents of the bag will be released to the RSVP list one week before the event. i am currently looking for people help fill that bag with more goodies. contact me with what you have to offer.

-Lets all have fun with this!-

*In the event that no one completes the challenge by the time i have to leave to set up ModProm II the winner with the most punches will be declared.