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Sacred Debris

@bodymodificationarchive.com

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Archiving, Documenting, and Contextualizing body modification history, culture, and ephemera since 1993. http://bodymodificationarchive.com

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Mar 7

Nodal Points 6, the latest edition of our ongoing exploration into the history, culture, and evolution of modern body modification. This issue brings together a diverse range of voices, each offering unique insight into the world of extreme body mod, ritual, & history.

www.blurb.com/b/12323328-n...

Cover of NODAL POINTS 6 magazine. Features a Ma Song devotee pushing rulers through a large opening in his cheek.

Reposted by Sacred Debris

Occult Vibrations @occultvibrations.com · 14d

Larry Copeland hosted a gathering of tattoo and piercing fans at his Hoboken, NJ residence in 1974/5.

In attendance was Emil Gundelach who continued getting tattooed into his 90s, Tatu Scotty, Spider Webb, Dave Slack, Mary, and Ken Meyer (among other unnamed friends)

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Occult Vibrations @occultvibrations.com · 14d

Dave Slack was a queer tattoo artist who worked in NYC in the 1970s/80s. He appeared in the legendary gay xxx video "NYC INFERNO" (playing a tattoo artist).

This clip, recorded in approx 1974/5, also features Emil Gundelach, Larry Copeland, Key Meyer, and Spider Webb.

sacreddebris.com

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Occult Vibrations @occultvibrations.com · 28d

This is the length (heh) I go to to not get banned on Instagram again. Leg tattoos by Raven

sacreddebris.com

A fully tattooed body with a banner blurring his penis reading NSFMeta

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Oct 2

Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of my mentor, Jack Yount. I'll be giving a series of lectures on his life and legacy in 2026, contextualizing his place in my history, body modification history, trans history, and more.

Very excited about this series!

A square graphic- it features a piercing needle and captive bead ring in the background; the foreground text reads: evolution of a subculture 01: Jack Yount. Presented by Shawn Porter & Brian Skellie. 2026

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 25

1971 if I’m remembering correctly. But there’s a big surge after this film was released; Sailor Sid, Alan Oversby, etc

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 25

Excerpt from TATTOO; Rick Herold getting "ass flames"
Directed by Michael Zen (C. Michael McCullough)
1975

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 25

Every time I think Ive found the oldest ass flame tattoo, I find one that pre-dates it. It's such a wonderful design.

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 25

Buttflames!

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 24

the cover illo is by our pal @savagesal.bsky.social - who I owe a copy to!

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 24

for folks who attended and those who couldn't. Shipping internationally from Blurb!

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 24

On Aug 16th, I gave the first in a series of lectures on the under documented history of Queer Tattooing. We covered a basic primer on some of the early (1960s-80s) queer tat pioneers, then dug into cruising culture documentarian/tattooer John Dagion.

This book serves as a lecture companion...

Indelible Identities 01: John Dagion by Shawn Porter | Blurb Books

Find Indelible Identities 01: John Dagion by Shawn Porter at Blurb Books. Compiled as a companion to his August 2025 lecture at BMXNet in Berlin, Germany, this 8...

www.blurb.com

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Reposted by Sacred Debris

AutoErotica @autoeroticasf.bsky.social · Jul 24

Patrick's favorite bar, The Ambush (1973-1986, SF) 🔻 Poster NFS • Artwork by Chuch Arnett • Photos by @bradleyroberge.bsky.social • 𝒜𝓊𝓉𝑜ᴇʀᴏᴛɪᴄᴀ • 4077A 18th St at Castro • (415) 861-5787 • email [email protected]

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Aug 15

It was nice sharing time with so many amazing people yesterday at BMXNet. My talk went mostly well. Only had one person faint!

A large group of people facing the camera.

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Jul 23

Pleased as punch to be invited back to Berlin by the fine folks at BMXNet!

Graphic advertising two lectures in August 2025; BMXNet Shawn Porter
Indelible Identities 01- John Dagion and Evolution of a Subculture 03 Scar Wars

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Jul 10

Sarai, 2006.
The SCAR WARS events- three in total- were the first organized gathering of cutting/branding professionals working alongside each other, collaborating, and sharing tips and tricks.

This was from the second event.

sacreddebris.com

A smiling tattooed and pierced woman with decorative cutting on her chest.

Reposted by Sacred Debris

AutoErotica @autoeroticasf.bsky.social · Jul 10

We’re proud to announce that the film’s international premiere will be at the Gaze Film Festival in Dublin (July 2025). We are excited to take our film overseas! 🎥 Also! You can stream the film WORLDWIDE July 26-30 via frozenfilmfestival.com

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Reposted by Sacred Debris

Occult Vibrations @occultvibrations.com · Jun 15

Fired up the VCR today for some conversion. This cassette is likely from 1981 and features Bill Mokry.

Sacreddebris.com

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Jun 11

Queer history. Tattoo history. Queer tattoo history.

Occult Vibrations @occultvibrations.com · Jun 10

Little rough teaser - still working on dropping some text in it any trying to work Cliff Raven in somehow- for my August lecture on queer tattooing history.

Sacreddebris.com

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · Jun 7

Happy Pride Month y'all!
The history of queer tattooing is still being written (literally. Im procrastinating from writing about it right this second) but there will always be a special place in my heart for Sailor Sid Diller, seen here tattooing at his private studio, 1980s

sacreddebris.com

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Cig Blaster @gotitatguineys.bsky.social · Jun 5

Test copies of my book of photos from the London Tattoo Society event arrived and I’m absolutely delighted with them

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · May 29

While searching for something else (which is often how I find cool things in my archives) I found a thought-lost letter from Viking Navaro to Jack Yount, 1982, discussing scrotum stretching. Excited to get it scanned!

sacreddebris.com

(photo of Jack, 1980s, cropped)

A shirtless, tattooed man with pierced nipples

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · May 23

Best of luck!

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · May 22

A few years back I put out a book featuring beyond rare photos of a modification devotee named TIL - who was most famous for his "penis inversion" - this was the promo video.

nodalpointszine.com

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Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · May 21

A friend of legendary piercer/tattoo artist Alan Oversby, taken 1978.

sacreddebris.com

#septumpiercing #bodyart

A younger bearded man with a bone through his pierced septum.

Sacred Debris @bodymodificationarchive.com · May 20

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the first SCAR WARS event; we assembled some of the world's top scar artists for three days of cutting, peeling and branding.

Will be doing a lecture about the events this August in Berlin!

Graphic that reads SCAR WARS TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY