#Black hole tattoo series#

He takes a defining stance on not piercing the ears of babies, then transitions to a disturbing story of a man who brought a woman into his shop for a genital piercing. Pausing a second to take a breath, he discusses how The Metropolitan Museum of Art incorrectly labeled antique jewelry as necklaces, when they were in fact enormous ear hoop inserts, a result of ear lobe stretching. He tells me about the history of body modification, piercing, lower lip stretching and neck lengthening before seamlessly transitioning to explain the different types of clitoral piercings. This juxtaposition of mainstream and fringe culture struck me about Jay Walker. When I remarked on his seemingly straitlaced appearance, he pulled open his shirt to reveal a chest completely covered in tattoos. He has no immediately visible tattoos, and only sports a simple silver nose ring and three lobe piercings on each ear. in North Portland, he does not come across as someone who has built his business on piercing and tattooing people. Sitting down with Jay Walker at Two Strokes Coffee Co. A surge of interest in piercing during the ‘90s led to the opening of a second location in 2001 on the other side of the Willamette, in the old downtown Beaverton area.

#Black hole tattoo series#

In 1994, a series of serendipitous events led to the original storefront on NE Glisan and 29th in the Kerns neighborhood.

This early interest in altering his body led him to establish a successful career in body art, earning the title as owner of the oldest piercing shop in Portland.

“Leave it to the professionals like me, please!” he insists. Jay Walker, at the age of 10, pierced his own nose with a safety pin - something the owner of Portland’s Black Hole Body Piercing & Tattoo adamantly advises people not to do.

Address 2: 12550 SW 1st St Beaverton, OR 97005.Address 1: 2946 NE Glisan St Portland, OR 97232.