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The Axiom Body Piercing Studioinside the Skin Kitchen / 2724 Douglas Ave / Des Moines, Ia 50310 / 515-255-4430 / cel 515-991-8180

Tour the Axiom/Skin Kitchen

The Axiom is located inside the Skin Kitchen. Below is an image map with links to the walk through.

Click on image map above to jump

The North Side aka 2724 Douglas Ave.

The Skin Kitchen/Axiom is in reality two store fronts that have been combined giving us close to 3000 Square feet. We will start with the north and then move on to the South side. You start by entering the North side door that is next to the neon pictured here. The Neon was created by a local artist by the name of Jeff Wright. Jeff also partly owns Hairy Mary's, GTs, Big Tomato Pizza Co., and TVC. Shortly after completing this work, he quit working in Neon.

You enter the south side waiting areas. The first area is a sitting area pictured here with some of DaVo's Art Deco Furniture. The Air Brush Mural is by Jack. There is a number of board games, Magazines and other entertainments available to get you through a long wait. There is also a few t-shirts and some clothing.

You move through a doorway and into the main area. Here you will find four walls covered with flash, The Axiom's display case, and a Pool Table. Below is a 360 degree photo of the area from a few years ago and some more thumbnails.

The North side of the Skin Kitchen/Axiom

This is a standard jpg file. click to enlarge:

Moving through the hall way and to the right you come to the Axiom's Piercing room and Station pictured here. This is the heart of the Axiom and where DaVo preforms between 25 and 100 piercings a week. In this area there is no smoking(the whole studio is smoke free), eating, and drinking. We also have a HEPA air cleaner for this area. All of the equipment and jewelry to be used for the piercing is stored in the organizers on the top shelf of the desk. Where they are placed immediately after they are wrapped, placed in the Autoclave, cycle ran and then allowed to dry with the Autoclaves door ajar. To the right of the desk is the Biohazard container which all disposable contaminated items are placed. Also, in this area is the counter in which all contaminated items(forcepts and tools) that will be re-used is placed. At the end of each day the area is disinfected using a Hard surface clean and the floor is mopped at the beginning of each day. For more information on disinfection and sterilization see Policies and Procedures.

Since I spend a great deal of time in this area, I like to be surrounded by artwork and other items of interest. Notice in the right picture the Platinum Record Plaque from my friends in Slipknot. This is for their self titled album and "Welcome to our Neighborhood" video. Below that is the Des Moines Register of Slipknot signing their contract with Road Runner Records in front of the old Studio on East 5th back in 1998. If you would like to read more about my relationship with Slipknot and a brief history of the band go to Slipknot History.

Here's the command center as the folks at the Skin Kitchen like to call it. Usually if I'm not piercing or helping a client this is where I will be found. Currently, I'm running an AMD Athlon 800 with 30gigs of hard drive but hope to upgrade within the next few months. That is a router to the left and it is networked with the Skin Kitchen's Mac so we can share our Broadband. If I'm on-line I always check e-mail hourly and always answer IMs. Even if I'm enjoying one of the DVDs from the studios collection. It's safe to say that if I'm here, I'm on-line. Oh and to the left of the desk is close to 2000 CDs that I've collected over the past 7 years of owning the Axiom and the 4 years of promoting shows. Oh above the station is one of my pride and joys, a promo poster from X's "Wild Gift".

Pictured here is one of the two Autoclaves used at the Skin Kitchen/Axiom. This one is located across the hall from the piercing station in the storage/sterilization room. This is the one that is used almost completely for the Axiom's needs. It is a Midmark M7 Speedclave and receives a monthly independent spore test which I will posting monthly results here as soon as I get a new scanner.

The South Side aka 2722 Douglas Ave.

This is the South side of the building where all the tattooing happens. After enter the door you turn to your left and find the reception area. Depending on the day you will find Erika, Lynn or Aaron. There may also be a few of the tattooist taking a break between tattoos. If you have a question this is a good place to start. From questions like, How much? to scheduling an appointment this is where you need to be.

There is also a large area covered with flash through out and even a few places to sit down and relax. Below is an older 360 degree jpg of the south side(it per-dates walls surrounding Jack and Matt's stations). Below that is a view from front to back and one from back to front.

The South side of the Skin Kitchen/Axiom

This is a standard jpg file. click to enlarge:

Moving toward the back the first door you come to on your left is Matt's station Pictured here. Matt is one of the co-owners of the Skin Kitchen and from information on Matt and pictures of his work I would suggest going to Skin Kitchen's web site. If you haven't noticed Matt is really into collecting Toys. Especially, Star Wars toys.

This is Jack's station. Jack is the other owner of the Skin Kitchen. His station is set up much like Matt's and is the second door on your left. Inside you will find Jack when he is working but also a few Neon signs, Paintings and as you can see in the photo a number of Skulls. Yes they are really and yes they have been obtained legally. The Tibetan ones are very beautiful but I like to keep my distance. I don't know but they make me uncomfortable. For information on Jack and to see some of his work go to Skin Kitchen's web site.

The third door on the right is the disinfection/prep room. Here is where the Axiom's Forceps and other tools are disinfected, cleaned and wrapped before sterilizing. Also, the area is used by the tattooist to make needles and scrub tubes. There is also a separate private bathroom located in the back of it. For more information on the Axiom's Disinfection and cleaning policies, please see Policies and Procedures.

If you turn around and start head toward the door you'll pass the Guest Tattooist station on your left. Currently, the Skin Kitchen has three artist but from time to time, artist will visit for short periods of times and they work there. Next on your left is Michelle "Heart" station pictured here. for information on Heart or pictures of some of her work go to Skin Kitchen's web site.

This here is the other Autoclave used mainly by the Skin Kitchen's tattooist. It also receives a monthly independent spore test. Many may wonder why 2 sterilizes? Will since there is two different levels of equipment used in the two studios, it was felt best to keep them separate. The other thing is reducing the amount of travel from Autoclave to storage. This Autoclave is located directly behind the reception counter in the front of the North side of the Studio. It is Ritter M9 UltraClave.

Well, that is the basic tour of the Studio. As always, feel free to stop by and visit the Studio and see for yourself. The Axiom is open Tuesday through Thursday 3 - 10pm and Friday & Saturday 3 - 11pm. The Skin Kitchen is open Wednesday Through Saturday 3 - 12pm and Sunday 3 - 10pm. We are completely closed on Monday but I will pierce by appointment only and Tuesday we are open for piercing only and the south side of the studio is closed to the public.