Dr. Grymm on Selling NY: The Steampunk Apartment

As some of you remember, we had mentioned in summer of last year that we were asked to be on the HGTV show Selling NY, to assist them in helping explain the Steampunk subculture and design aesthetic. Why? Because they had a unique and difficult apartment they needed to sell for an eccentric client. This property has been well publicized in several papers and magazines as well as being one of the Wall Street Journals top viewed articles. This of course brought along alot of negative commentary from both the Steampunk community and self appointed critics of unique apartments. Now I can understand that without actually having the opportunity to experience this apartments first hand, the typical couch jockey might label it cluttered, a mess, juvenile, ridiculous and my favorite, "not Steampunk at all".

So after doing some research, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt a Realtor from CORE found me via our book 1000 Steampunk Creations and brought me on to be the "Steampunk Expert", a title I have never been comfortable with. NO ONE is a Steampunk Expert. Like any art based movement, it is up to the viewer to interpret and make their own opinion on an esthetic that is loosely based on time periods, styles, and materials. Of course being that it is an alternate reality, there is no real right or wrong no matter what the stubborn Neo-Vics and uptight posers would like you to believe. Yes it comes from our rich history of literature storytelling, science and invention, but an actual part of history... No.

So is this unique apartment completely Steampunk? No. But is any thing out there that completely is? No. The movies and books we love have the elements in it and most usually are not completely Steampunk and there is still a thread of realism and actual history to them. This apartment is an nice mixture of Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Post Apocalyptic, but more so it was designed by someone who loved and appreciated the look for himself. People forget that it's not that the Realtors who decorated this apartment by what they thought Steampunk was because it is a "hot new movement hitting the main stream". This apartment is as unique as the fellow who decided to live in it, not even he knew what Steampunk was, and when he up and moved on he left these Realtors with a challenge.

Coming from an apartment sales background during a chapter of my life, I understood this challenge all too well. They were in a bind. They wanted someone to buy this apartment for what it was, not to gut it and start over. This Apartment is not just filled with junk. most of the pieces are valuable antiques and parts of history that were discarded and refurbished now with a purpose. And no, it's not every ones cup of tea, but that's OK. There is someone who will love it. Their "needle in a haystack" buyer, and I for one was honored to lend my voice to help them find that person.

I made the call to a select few of the people in the Steampunk community to help the potential buyers and other agents realize that we the Steampunk Community are not a bunch of freaks running around in costumes. We are intelligent, talented, business minded artists who haven't forgotten how powerful imagination is. As most who know me, I am very selective about what I lend my voice and image to. I don't do this for fame and glory. I believe that what I say ultimately represents not only me and my business, but also the Steampunk Art community that I have come to love.

So all in all, here is edited episode showing just the Steampunk property. Special thanks to CORE, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt, Michael Bridenstine and the crew for coming out to my Lab and allowing me to be a part of this.

So final word from Dr. Grymm: It's your choice how you decorate your home. Be it white walls, gothic, tree house, or dungeon. When we as Steampunks start judging what others precieve as "Steampunk done wrong", we are no better then the people who hate our community and our imagination, and we're not helping anyone. Please let Steampunk inspire others the way it inspired you! I don't care if it's Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, your neighbors kid, or your mail man! We all have the right to our own opinions.  Don't let anyone ever tell you differently.

Furthermore, it you ARE the right person for this apartment, contact CORE today!!

Thanks for watching and reading.

~Dr. Grymm