​A very early interest in what he later realized were the fields of cultural anthropology and class economics, led Neeko to take notice of body piercing as a ritual practice. He enjoyed reading catalogs of all sorts, memorizing and tracking the specifications of many electronics and other goods, but most especially, his Christmas wish-list. National Geographic was the favorite. His grandparents' home had a stash of them, occupying a five foot length of floor level shelving. Their presence, and the secrets they held, were always taunting him, as he was only occasionally allowed to peruse their pages.

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Neeko took note of the differences he saw between the two worlds of publishing. One focused on consumption and the inflation of worth. The other was rife with regions far away, researched and documented by brave souls who risked their own lives to show him what he rarely saw the Western World.



His “research” in National Geographic showed Neeko that self-awareness, physical pain and informed intent can combine to help one persevere and attain their next level of growth. He compared these other cultures to his own,  and saw the lack of connection to Spirit in his consumerist society, and the ways in which people (his own family included) were suffering, often needlessly, to keep up in an unforgiving rat race, emotionally driven by a panicked need for acquiring new possessions.

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He was raised Pentacostal in Elmira, NY, but  family life was far from perfect. In 1990, at age eleven, due to stress from within his home and an undying curiosity concerning the sacred realms, Neeko secretly started Self-Piercing in private rituals he held with himself. He executed all of his Piercings with sewing needles, safety pins, or screws, and healed all with traditional earlobe studs and rings of varying designs. Eventually, these could be removed quickly, often for several hours before re-inserting under more private conditions. He was not exhibiting or documenting these Piercings, and went to great lengths to conceal them.



After Neeko's family discovered his secret, he eventually befriended a local fledgling body piercer

 

Neeko got his start as a professional body piercer in 1997 at Visual Impact Body Piercing and Tattoo in Upstate New York, where he was apprenticed by Joseph Castellaneta.

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In 2000 and 2001, Neeko attended the BMEzine ModCon events in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This cozy, invite-only event allowed him not only to receive advanced modifications, but enabled him to witness the pioneering practitioners of many body modification techniques at work, including Steve Haworth, Blair, and Allen Falkner.  He was invited to assist Lukas Zpira during several scarification procedures, and received an extensive scarification piece in thanks. BMEzine, Shannon Larratt, and the ModCon events drastically changed the approach Neeko took to body modification in general.

After a decade of working at various shops in New York and Colorado, Neeko hit the road in 2010 to do a series of guest spots on the west coast, eventually making his home in Oakland, CA.

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Neeko's favorite piercings to do are small gauge ear work and large gauge genital work, although any piercing that helps facilitate a positive transformation for the client is one that Neeko finds very rewarding.

"I feel that with piercing being embraced by mainstream culture inevitably comes the forgetting of some of the ritualistic and tribal aspects of the highly spiritual work being done. I strive to create my own personalized ritual with each client, partly to gain a better understanding of what the piercing means to them on a personal level, and also to provide a memorable experience while bolstering the positive acceptance and healthy healing of the piercing by the body. I also feel that it is beneficial to me as an individual and professional, ensuring that I maintain a proper inventory of what I am doing to whom, and why." -Neeko

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Scarification and branding are also very dear to Neeko, as he feels it allows for a deeper bond with his clients while offering an opportunity for graphic expression that body piercing does not always offer Neeko is one of the pioneers of the solar branding technique.

"I believe that scarification of all kinds is still very familiar to our collective conscience as humans. All types of scarification and branding are special, as it is hard to argue with the unadulterated beauty that the body is able to produce on its own, without the permanent addition of another element into the skin. I enjoy the transformative process involved (for both client and practicioner) both before and after bringing one of these pieces into existence." - Neeko

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Neeko has attended several annual conferences put on by the Association of Professional Piercers. This allows Neeko to continue his education as a piercer while networking with people from all realms of the body piercing industry. He has attended classes in Anatomy, Aftercare, Sterilization, Anthropology, Stretching, Jewelry Materials, and many more. He was also awarded an Al D. Scholarship by the APP in 2010. Neeko has also volunteered for the Association of Professional Piercers, helping to put on their annual conference in Las Vegas, NV.

In 2011, Neeko was invited to work for John Durante as a wholesale sales representative for Evolve Body Jewelry out of Seattle, WA. This allowed Neeko to visit many shops around the country selling organic and stone body jewelry. Neeko also helped start the flagship Evolve studio and jewelry showroom in Bellingham, WA.

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Neeko is also the resident Tooth Gem installer at Soul Patch, beautifying the world one smile at at time.

In his off time away from Haight Street, Neeko can be found riding bikes in and around Oakland with his English Bulldog, Loveland, or otherwise exploring the vastness of the Bay Area. He dabbles in art of all kinds, including drawing, painting, and sculpture. He is a trained blacksmith, and loves to make the occasional custom silver jewelry. He also aspires to one day become certified in Cosmetology and Massage Therapy.

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A listing of some of the shops Neeko has worked or guested at:

Visual Impact, Elmira, NY
Medusa Tattoo, Ithaca, NY
Celebrity Tattoo, Denver, CO
Model Citizen Tattoo, Ithaca, NY
Hand of Fate Tattoo Parlor, Ithaca, NY
Godspeed Tattoo, Breckenridge, CO
Guilt By Association, Denver, CO
Adorn BodyArt, Portland, OR
Blue Lotus, San Rafael, CA
Evolve Body Jewelry Company and Professional Body Piercing, Bellingham, WA
Soul Patch Tattoo, San Francisco, CA