After the success of last year's first Steampunk Bizarre exhibit, I knew that this would have to be an annual event. I also knew that I wanted it bigger... faster... stronger. So I upped the anti. After the last show I was approached by several artists who expressed interest in the genre of Steampunk and I started taking names. This continued through a few other art exhibits I was part of and the interest in my fellow artists began to grow.
This fueled my theme for this year’s event, "The Experiment" as I have come to call it, and it began to take shape. The theme behind the show comes from the excitement these artists experienced when they learned about Steampunk and how it gelled with their own style. This excited me as an artist because if there nothing I like more about Steampunk, it’s the individuality of the artist’s representation of it, as opposed to pigeon-holing it into a certain time or style.
I also wanted to bring some of the fun and whimsy (along with the dark humor of Dr. Grymm) back into the art form by themeing the entire event down to the lighting, atmospheric sound FX, and food. Not too much will be divulged just yet, but the event will run for 3 weeks in July in Hartford CT. It will feature 22 artists from across the US and even a few from over seas!
The list for this eclectic feast of the 6 senses includes: film makers, sculptors, painters, comic book artists, musicians, instrument designers, costumers, assemblage artists, photographers, lighting designers, illustrators, sound designers, prop makers, and much more just to name a few. And I am honored to work with all of them!
In the coming weeks more will be revealed. A new site dedicated to the production of this undertaking will be designed to keep up to date with the artists involved and the details of the event. Mini showcases and Artist lectures will take place on the weeks surrounding the Opening Night Party as well.
There is even talk of a documentary being filmed about this entire undertaking! To say I am overjoyed about this show is an understatement, so check back soon for more event announcements and details or contact me directly!
I figured it was time to get this out in the open. As some of you may have heard last month on my interview on WNPR's Colin McEnroe Show, I Doctor Grymm, am no longer a part of SteamGearLab.com. The decision was made a few months back that I would return to my original freelance business of 16 years, JMARS Design, and bring Doctor Grymm and all of his inventions and design back home where they belong. With this, I have a top notch crew of new and talented Steampunk designers, sculptors, and graphic artists to assist with any current and upcoming projects.
While Steam Gear Lab does still exist and some of the work I did with "Professor Gauthier" still remains there at that site, the bulk of the work done under that company name will be transfered to my original site. This includes my Steam Pug Adventures.
The theme of the JMARS Design website is primarily Retro-Science Fiction, and in the coming months will take a slightly more Steampunk feel to it, including the logo. For now, updates are taking place with links to this blog and direct links to my sets on Flickr. There may also be a completely new section of the website entitled "Doctor Grymm Laboratories". This will be the new home of all Steampunk creations.
In the one year I was associated with SGL I created a good amount of film prop work, international recognition with my Eye-Pod, and even put together a Gallery Show to showcase a years worth of work with some amazing guest artists.
The bottom line is that this past year I did grow as an artist. Luckily I believe I will continue to grow, and be able to offer an even more imaginative world of Steampunk in this upcoming year. As news of the Steampunk Exhibition grows in the UK, more and more people are beginning to realize that Doctor Grymm is, and always has been, his own creative entity, and really my work is no different than it has been for years under the title of JMARS Design.
So what does the future hold for Doctor Grymm Laboratories? There are several films, and attractions we will be building props for, puppets for an upcoming traveling show, consulting with a published writer on a series of Steampunk novels, and in July... The Steampunk Bizarre 2 - The Experiment! Yes you've heard it here first! An all new exhibit at a much bigger venue in CT featuring over 13 Steampunk artists and their amazing, dark and whimsical contraptions. It will truely be an interactive show not to miss!
For now, thanks for listening, and I will be working in the lab dilligently. Stay tuned for more updates!
Well, with the Gallery show and the Steampunk Exhibit behind me, I was finally able to complete the costume and weapons for Medicine Show Cinemas/Litchfield Pictures "Pocketman". As mentioned in a previous post, the creature, Pocketman is roughly based on the Plague Doctors of 1348 through 1350. He does however have the addition of stilts, blades, and a 9 foot trench coat (as seen in the stills above). There is also a bit of Steampunk flair to the mask and costume as requested by the Director, Sean Michael Argo. Although I do not yet have pictures of the whole costume on the actor, I can say that this will be a very imposing creature when it is on screen.
To begin, my wife's dress form was commandeered and altered to reach the hight of the actor on stilts. The coat was built off of a London Fog coat I found at Good Will. The coat was in great condition and I had originally bought it for myself. It then became the inspiration for the creature's coat when I rendered it for Sean. The coat was very large but was tailored as closely as possible to fit the actor's dimensions with the assistance of Allison. Another 3 feet of fabric was added to the length of the coat, and then came the signature pockets. 27 all together, hand applied and freyed. Extra straps and leatherwork was applied to the coat, and then the entire piece was treated and weatherd to simulate the wear and tear of my own 20 year old Outback Duster. Once on set, genuine Arizona dirt will be applied before filming to give it a natural worn look.
The blades were fashioned together out of actual stainless steel blades, some child size baseball shin guards, metal hardware, and pvc pipes. The blades are rather well balanced and allow full movement and access to reach into the pockets. They were finished with a faux alligator hide on the guards which matches the strap embelishments on the coat.
The mask was finished with a mouth cage, and a breathing hose then was worn down a bit. The hose will disapear into the actors dreadlocks. The stilts were purchased through an outside vendor then stained and weathered. They increase the actors height by 3 feet. Fiming begins in Arizona next week, and I can only imagine how it will all look when it's up and walking around. I will of course, post pictures when I have them.
As promised, this month’s posts wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention one of the single largest exhibits; I’ve ever had the honor of being a part of. I’m speaking of course about the Steampunk Exhibit at the University of Oxford, History of Science Museum, curated by Art Donovan and hosted by Doctor Jim Bennett. When I got the Top Secret e-mail from Art telling me what was brewing and that he wanted me to be a part of it, I never guessed it would grow to be such a huge event. I’m still actually processing it and I’m sure it will hit me like a ton of bricks once the show is actually open.
A little back history, I first met Art Donovan in 2008 at a Steampunk show he curated in the Hamptons, NY. His work entailed some beautifully crafted lamps with a precise attention to detail and finishing. Some of which would have been right at home on-board the Nautilus. The Exhibit was quite the turnout, and had pieces from some other very well established artisans. Among those was Eric Frietas whom I have had the pleasure of friending on Flickr’ earlier that year, and was instantly in love with his work. Meeting him in person was even more of an honor, as I never expected so much talent tucked away in such a humble and quiet man. A self taught clockmaker of the most intriguing and mystifying clocks I have ever seen. Words cannot express the dedication and ingenuity that go into his clocks, so I do recommend checking out his blog to see his amazing work.
So Art and I crossed paths briefly throughout the day and above all he was a gentleman amongst the activities of the day. It seemed that this amazing show was put together in only a few months, and by the time I had heard of it, it was too late to contact him to ask to join the event. Regardless, I made the trip and enjoyed myself thoroughly with my wife and friends. Through the many rare sightings of Art that day, I did manage to give him my card in hopes that we could speak again before his next show. And as you figured out by now, we did.
Art and I had spoken a few times through playing blog tag, and I refrained from asking the questions “So when’s your next show?” and “Can I participate?”. Turns out I didn’t need to. It would seem that he caught a glimpse of Doctor Grymm’s Victorian “EYE-Pod” from the numerous sites it popped up on across the Internet, and wanted it to be in his next show. A show that was clouded in secrecy. So secret in fact, that Eric Freitas and I were both in it but didn't know it.
Well, fast forward to today, October 12, 2009. As the BBC Reports, the RSVP event happens this evening! My invitation came in the mail a few weeks back (seen above), and even though I am not able to go, I was ecstatic to get it! A program of the opening event can be viewed HERE, and there is even a Student Art Competition to coincide with the even and the brochure features my Sewing Goggles. So speaking of goggles...
The last two pieces for this show have been revealed! two pairs of goggles inspired by Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. As there will be many goggles on display at the Museum, I wanted to be able to showcase my sculpting skills and make mine stand out a bit from the rest. Art did ask for the most unusual goggles I could create, so these were crafted especially for this show. They are completely sculpted from Apoxie and are very sturdy. The "Nautilus Goggles" are, of course, a nod to the infamous submarine of Captain Nemo complete with the spiked nose bridge of the mighty ship. It's finish is a time weathered copper and patina accentuated with hundreds of grime coated rivets. Unfortunately the luminescent green "portal" lenses did not arrive in time before shipping, but will be added to the final goggles if they are sold. The addition of the "Squid Attack" Goggles was one I have had in mind for a while, but wasn't sure how I wanted to pull it off. I am actually quite happy with how they look and I think they are the most wild pair of goggles I have made. reaching tentacles and sharpened teeth hold the lenses permanently in place. The green and copper accents are painted with an inky wash that bring out the scarred and wrinkled skin texture. I hope that this pair brings a few unsettling looks from guests at the Museum.
These goggles Along with my Vampyr "Blood Lust" Goggles, and "The Whole 9 Yards" Goggles and the "Eye-Pod" completed the group of pieces, which I am happy to report, made it safely to England. Art reports that set up is complete and my work looks "absolutely magnificent" with the other artists work in the show. I can now breath a sigh of relief as I must admit, that with Mr. Donovan's high standards of work, it's great that he likes my work now that he has seen it in person. Not that I doubt my work, but it's always nice to have kind words said from other artists that you admire.
That said, I wish Art and all fellow artists the best of luck with this amazing venture and perhaps some day soon, I can walk into the echoed halls of that museum and see the exhibit for myself. If so, I will hold my head up with pride knowing that I was a small part of Steampunk History. And who knows where all this might lead.
For now, it's back to the lab with me. I will leave you with some interesting links of reports and images from the exhibit! Check back soon, there will be more to come!
No, not Steam Gear Lab, but the lovely Madame Grymm and Myself!
(not to actual size nor gender)
Yes it's true, come mid December we will have a new little one and James will have a little brother or sister. We are very excited about the arrival and will keep you posed as to what is actually brewing in the kettle! Huzzah!!!
So work began this week on the Pocketman creature for Medicine Show Cinema. What was discussed was a 8 foot tall creature on stilts resembling a Plague Doctor of the 17th century. This being a horror film, of course there were changes. For one, the overall look would be a mix of Steampunk/Post Apocalyptic. The mask would resemble leather strapping and have a copper hue to it, while having goggles built into the mask. The hat abandoned and replaced with a mane of dread-locked hair. Second, the weapons; 2 foot long blades strapped to the creatures arms. Lastly, the coat; 7 feet in total, covered in pockets. The sketch at left was my first incarnation of the creature design, and the director loved it. It was simple, but conveyed the look he wanted. Now to build it all in a few weeks. I don't often do "build" posts, but I thought it might be fun for this one. So here goes.
First step was the mask. I'm going old school with this one. Plaster Bandages... Yup, you heard me right. I wanted an old feel to this mask as if it has been around for centuries. So I'm taking an old approach for character sake. The mask is still lightweight and very breathable. but it has a heavy feel to it. I always felt it silly for a character like Jason Voorhees to wear that lightweight hockey mask. I know it is his character, but it seemed so out of place against his large frame. Besides, the original Plague Doctor mask had an impressive feel to it frightening in it's own right by the weight and size of it. That needs to be heightened for this creature in size and weight as the mask is a part of him. I plan on attaching straps and metal hoses that connect into the back of the head, disappearing into the hair.
Building began with basic aluminum foil sculpted to shape onto a Styrofoam head base. Metal mesh form covered that and then the plaster bandages applied. About 3 layers of bandages in total were used with drying time in between. Welding goggles were built right into the sculpture of the mask for extra support, then some final bandages were used to build up the brow and the cheekbones. Once this had set, I removed the mask from the form and cut holes for breathing just below the beak plus I widened the eye holes behind the goggles. This was all re supported with some wire and bandages, then the whole head was baked in an oven on low for 2 hours to remove all the moisture.
Once cooled, the mask was sanded a bit but left fairly rough for texture, then coated in a hardener. This filled in any gaps left behind by the bandages. While drying, the goggle lenses were hand carved over the original covers with Apoxie Sculpt to give a cracked aged feel to them. After drying the mask was primed and painted with a hammered treatment, then a faux rust coat, then flat black, followed by copper Rub n Buff. Placement of the rivets were marked and drilled and the copper rivets were inserted into the eye and forehead area. Today, the remaining rivets will be applied as well as the straps, hoses and mouth cage. then a final application of dirt and grime will be added to the mask. Meanwhile, Ahren is working on cutting the blades out of a rigid acrylic and we will move on to assembling the arm guards and blade attachments. So I will post more later.
So with the closing of the Steampunk Bizarre, we happened to make it into two publications the day of the closing party. which I'm sure helped in the surprising amount of people who showed up over this past weekend. BothMSNBC and the Middletown Press put out an article just in time for the show. Even our friends over at Steampunk Adventures were kind enough to put the word out!
So yes you heard me correctly. A "Closing" party. A last chance to meet the artists and mingle with the contraptions. It was a great success. Not as large a crowd as the first show, but close, and a steady stream of on-lookers to chat with. It especially helped that I wasn't so tired this time. Some new additions made it into the final show, such as the "Weather or Naught" gun, and the addition to the Edgar Allan Poe Machine, the Nightmare Helmet. For without it, the piece is useless. The wine ran all evening, and the party extended till One O'clock in the morning. If only I had made it that far myself.
The best part about this whole experience was of course meeting the guests. This state of CT is so rich in history and the people are as unique as it's stories. I was able to meet a small hand full of them first hand and it was pretty damn cool. New friendships were made this month and I couldn't be happier about that.
One of the pieces even sold! Doctor Grymm's "Eye-Spy" Monocle, (Yes I shutter at the pun too) went to the woman who inspired the piece in the first place! The lovely and talented photographer Chion Wolf, Who had once made the statement (paraphrasing), "I carry my camera around so much it is practically part of me". Hence the idea. It's nice knowing it went to a good home and she was so enthusiastic about receiving it too. I implore you to check out her site, as I have never seen someone so in touch with her photos nor have such a natural talent to capture the world around her with such ease and passion. Thanks Chion, for capturing all the moments in time that most of us miss. And of course photo credit for this photo goes to Jess Gauthier!
Sunday was spent taking down the whole she-bang, which admitting was kind of sad, but also a relief. Will I do it again? Definitely. but other projects are waiting in the wings, so it will have to wait.
Speaking of new projects, We are working on some props for the fine folks at Medicine Show Cinema again, this time for a feature entitled "Pocketman". This time we will be designing and building the entire lead "creature" costume. Including a 7' coat riddled with pockets, arm bracer blades, and it's mask, all in a quasi Steampunk post apocalyptic style. This piece will be followed up by a Brain in a jar contraption for their next film (brains in jars seem to be popular again these days).
Lastly, I must mention the our main site SteamGearLab.com had had a makeover! We have made it a bit more streamlined and nicer to look at for it's 1 year anniversary. Please do check it out and feel free to critique! If there's something amiss, please let us know! Well I best get back to lab and continue cleaning up before this next project begins. Thanks for checking in again.
Recently I was interviewed by the writer/editor of the Begoths.com website, Veronica Mihalopoulos, about the Steampunk genre and what we do here all day at the lab. I have attached the Q&A portion of the article below, but please stop by their site for the full article.
1. What is Steampunk and when did it first come to fruition as part of one of the underground subcultures?
A. Steampunk offers a melding of late 1800's aesthetic with scientific discovery and other-worldly technology. The term “Steampunk” was first used in the late 1980's to give a label to the literary works of K.W. Jeter, Tim Powers, and James Blaylock, although the aesthetic of Steampunk has been around much longer.
2. When was the first time you were exposed to Steampunk and what was your initial reaction?
A. Non professionally, my first exposure to Steampunk was reading “Journey to the Center of the Earth” when I was about 9. I have been designing strange contraptions and weird vehicles since then. Professionally, it was when I was on a design team in college to produce a proposal for a new “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea theme park attraction.
3. How did you get involved with creating Steampunk art?
A. Our website, SteamGearLab.com was originally created to showcase some of our “Science Guns” and various Goggles, which are a staple of our company. More recently since Steampunk has reached the tipping point, we were contacted by several producers in Film and Television, asking about creating Steampunk props based on our designs and creations. As each or our contraptions have a clear defined theme or story to them, it was easy to make the jump from a Steampunk art piece to a film prop. Our clients usual consensus is that our props look the most “authentic”, as if they have been pulled from a time that never existed.
4. Please tell us about your studio?
A. The “Lab” is a humble 3 room space at approx 1500 sq ft. that houses bins upon bins of bits and pieces scavenged from old brass clocks and lamps and peculiar odds and ends we find at flea markets. Most of our tools are hand tools which gives the building process a more historical feel.
5. Are you working on any new projects you can tell us a little about?
A. Although I cannot speak of the weapons we are currently building for two different film studios,we are preparing for a Gallery show on May 1st entitled “Steampunk Bizarre”. Some of the featured pieces for the show are a Time Travel gun based on H.G. Welles “The Time Machine”, a Weather Control gun, and several contraptions that run off of the brains of some highly notable historical figures.
6. Is Steampunk more fantasy or science fiction?
A. We would have to say it leans heavily towards science fiction, although there is a hint fantasy to it when the stories deal with such topics as the adventures of Sky Pirates or steam powered giant squid.
7.Why is Steampunk influenced by the Victorian Era of Fashion with a highly stylized mix of industrial invention and science fiction?
A. Today, the Steampunk movement is alive with artistic creation and ideas to bring “a world that never happened” into reality. Steampunk artists create an alternate world not bound by the modern millennial conventions of physics, science and convenience technology. Steampunk is another outlet for artists to build with their hands and their imaginations, just as the great innovators of the Industrial Revolution did.
8. Are there any great classic literary writers that have in any shape or form contributed to the Steampunk movement?
A. Mary Shelley, H.G. Welles, and Jules Verne would have to be at the top of our list for the imagination behind Steampunk.
9. What does Steampunk mean to you?
A. Steam Gear Lab defines Steampunk as “The scholar's science fiction”.
10. What attracts you most to Steampunk?
A. As artists, building Steampunk contraptions is like building Legos. The bits and pieces we find in our travels all belong to certain creations that stir in our minds. and finding just the right place for those pieces genuinely stirs our imagination. I believe that Steampunk is not limited by it's audience such as some other fantasy sub-cultures are. It allows some of man kinds most defining moments as innovators to be taken to another level where science and art can move together.
11. How do you come up with your inventions? What influences your imagination?
A. Most of the devices built by Doctor Grymm and Professor Gauthier are a deconstruction of modern day inventions. I believe this is what sets our work apart from others. Some current Steampunk artists will take a computer and make it look Victorian by adorning it with custom brass fixtures and wooden cases, and although this is sometimes the case at Steam Gear Lab such as the example of Doctor Grymm's “Eye-Pod”, We tend to take a different approach by asking, “What would this device have looked like in the 1800's of it were to be powered by steam and crystals?”. The end result can be seen with our Amelia Earhart Navigational System, which is steam powered and controlled by the brain of Amelia herself. Today this device would be called a GPS.
12.Can you recommend any good movies, bands or literature that is considered Steampunk?
A. Currently, some more popular Steampunk bands are Dr. Steel, Abney Park, Vernian Process and Emilie Autumn. The Steampunk Aesthetic can be clearly seen in films such as Frankenstein, The City of Lost Children, and The Hellboy series to name a few. Some more recent literary work would be Infernal Devices, The Anubis Gates, and Girl Genius Comics.
13.What is the most important thing to remember while putting together a Steampunk costume?
A. Some would say that goggles are to Steampunk as a Mohawk is to punk rock, however there are several different takes on Steampunk costumes ranging from traditional Victorian garb, to a more Gothic approach with leather belts and clasps. Some more modern looks have been created by the designer Kato at steampunkcouture.com. While other fashions include simulated robotic limbs and adornments. Also the base outfits of these costumes are not limited to Victorian, they travel the world from European, to Japan, to the old West as long as they are clothing worn before the early 1900's. I suppose the most important thing we usually stress to our clients is that simply gluing gears onto a costume or prop does NOT make it Steampunk. Really, Steampunk all boils down to having fun with your creations. (no pun intended.)
While at begoths.com, take a peek at all of their wonderful goth creations, some of which are the brainstorm of sculptor, artistic genius, and friend of brother like proportions, James Muscarello.
As promised in an earlier posting, I will now begin to shed some light on Doctor Grymm's"Brainstorm Machines" that were featured in the Steampunk Bizarre this month. As an artist and a fan of science fiction since my youth, I was always fascinated by the use of "the Brain in Jar" found in 50's and 60's pulp B Movie films and comics. However, I never felt that the topic was fully flushed out to it's full potential. Hence, the creation of the series of Brainstorm Machines. Two of the five planned were on display this month and received rave reviews from astonished on-lookers at the gallery. For these were not your typical brain in a jar.
My concept for these pieces were simple at first; "If you had access to the brain of someone significant in history, what could you make it do, and what would you need to power it". The brain after all, is a super computer and I felt that it's output would depend on it's input. Having chosen my specimens, I then set to work of finding not only the story of the person, but also the interesting loop-holes surrounding their death. My first two chosen specimens were Amelia Earhart and Edgar Allan Poe. Having an admiration for both in their former lives made easy choice of what would become of their knowledge in the after-life. I was astounded by the little facts that I didn't know about these people and it was those little jewels that fanned the embers of my mind to create the back story for these machines, using one part history and one part science fiction. Each of these machines use elements of their biographies which were strange enough without alteration. My machines just sort of fill in the blanks of what history could not account for.
To focus on the Amilia Earhart Navigational System for a moment. Although I consider this piece to be more "Decopunk" than Steampunk, It is basically my version of a 1930's GPS System. After all, if it were not for the landmark strides Amelia made in redefining and evolving navigation, we may not even have GPS today. What an amazing woman! How could I not use her tenacity, strength and sense of adventure to help tell a story? Of course when it comes to her unfortunate death, there are many wild insinuations. Doctor Grymm's is no Exception...
*********************************************************** *From the Journal of Professor Geuseppi Grymm Sr.*
Amelia Earhart: July 24, 1897 – missing July 2, 1937 -
"During an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937, Mrs Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. Asrumor has it, Mrs Earhart was secretly working for the American Government to find and relocate items (Artwork and religious Artifacts) that were previously stolen and hidden by the German Nazi Army. Her mission took her around the globe to single handedly remove the items from enemy territories and relocate it to secret U.S. Government locations across the globe. It is believed that this assignment directly led to the disappearance of Mrs Earhart.
Although it was concluded that her plane was shot down, the search for her body remained a mystery. This is however until The Grymm Science Laboratory was contacted by some most unsavory characters of the German influence in late August of 1937. These men possessed the still living brain of Amelia Earhart, were on a quest of a scientist that would conceive of a experiment to gather knowledge stored within the brain.
One could not pass up the opportunity to build such a contraption, and so work began. Knowing full well that the human brain must have personal memories as a stimulus to further engage the memory banks of the brain, work began on a crude but functional navigation system built from a steam engine, radio parts and aviation mechanics. As vacuum tubes are of the plenty, they provide sufficient power to keep the brain functioning once directed into the nerve packets within the brain.
Several months of tinkering and testing proved that through precise tuning, the transmission of Mrs. Earhart's thoughts can be heard on some of the low end frequency channels. Although it is clear that she is not aware of her current circumstance and seems to be in a constant "flight pattern" from her journey across the globe. This contraption will allow communication to Mrs. Earhart by use of a telegraph key unit for the input of longitude and latitude coordinates. Through various testing it has been concluded that Mrs. Earhart not only has information about practical global locations, but also locations that have been deemed of the "Paranormal Interest" by some scientists and religions.
As this experiment has been a complete success on several levels, I am remiss to pen the fact that further testing was cut short by the return of the men who originally commissioned this experiment. Further testing was cut short and the machine was forcibly removed from my laboratory as well as most of my notes. Had I been given a chance to properly explain the outcome of my tests, these men would have come to realize that the information they seek to gain from Mrs. Earhart will most definitely remain a mystery, and may even lead to the disappearance of any foolish pilot that may take her false direction. As the this woman may not be aware of her current state, that does not seem to have effected her strong spirit and determination. It would seem that with my help, she has set a trap from beyond the grave for these men, and their search will only lead to a preconceived watery grave instead of the location of stolen treasures they seek."
Pictures and video of the machine in action are here, and the full sound track by Mark Adams Sound Design can be heard here. Special Thanks to P. Vanderway for doing an amazing recreation of Amelia's voice!
In my next few posts, I will discuss the back story to the Edgar Allan Poe Nightmare inducer. Thanks for reading and taking a peek into my twisted mind.
That's right, after some twisting of the arm, the Doctor has decided to have one last gathering to celebrate the artists and showpieces of the Steampunk Bizarre. Although this will be a smaller gathering than our opening we hope it will give Middletown residents a chance to see what Art and the creation of these unusual film props can bring to our community and local filmmakers.
The Show has been running since May 1st and the opening party brought in a very large crowd, with weekend viewing hours being no exception. It's amazing who will wander in off the street when they see a brain in a jar talking, or a 15 foot tall parachute dress!
I have spent the past few weekends watching the gallery and in between lulls, standing at the wide glass window that looks out on Main Street, tinkering with junk to build new pieces which were not originally shown on opening night. and while I stand there in my bowler hat and goggles polishing vacuum tubes and hammering away at brass pieces, you better believe I get some peculiar looks. and while some just pass on by with a smirk, most came back around and popped their heads in, eventually leading to them spending twenty-plus minutes talking to be. Some are local families and business owners, some have been out-of-towners, but all amazed that sitting in this little interesting town, is a prop making company.
It has been wonderful meeting people in this community who have come in to see the show. Several people admittedly did not know what to expect, but asked many questions and were fascinated by this new art form called "Steampunk". I, of course, gladly gave them a history of the meaning and background or the term and found myself to be swept up in it all over again describing each piece and why it was created. As previously mentioned in the press release...
"Steampunk: The scholar’s Science Fiction.
Born from the imaginations of H.G. Welles, Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, Nikola Tesla and several others, Steampunk offers a melding of late 1800's aesthetic with scientific discovery and other-worldly technology. Though Steampunk reached a tipping point recently, it is not just a current trend. The Steampunk aesthetic has been woven through our media and consciousness for more than a century in books, film, music, fashion, and art.
Today, the Steampunk movement is alive with artistic creation and ideas to bring “a world that never happened” into reality. Steampunk artists create an alternate world not bound by the modern millennial conventions of physics, science and convenience technology. Steampunk is a chance for artists to build with their hands and their imaginations, just as the great innovators of the Industrial Revolution did.
Hosted by The Libertine Collective and SteamGearLab.com, this gallery art show will harness just a tiny cog in the great machine that is Steampunk. The show will be alive with sights and sounds of ingenious and strange contraptions. The mission of this show is to give both a history and a premonition of this art form by bringing together local artists to share their vision of what Steampunk is and will be."
So please, during these last few days, stop on by! The Closing Party will be held Friday May 22nd 7-10pm and final viewing hours will be Saturday 10am - 2pm (perhaps later if I feel the need) and Sunday 10am - 12 pm, which at that time it will be disassembled and brought back to the lab, (for more tinkering).
Well the Steampunk Bizarre gala opening finally opened last Friday, and despite many bumps, somehow it opened to a very favorable crowd who liked it. I say liked it in that we had nothing but awesome things said to us about it, and I wish to remain humble about the entire experience. But yes, in a nut shell, it was awesome. The team I decided to pull together just a few short months ago, dazzled me with professionalism and teamwork. Silas Finch wowed the audience with his marvelous 15 foot parachute dress and flying vessel, while Noel Ewing-Coonce not only brought a flair of class and the macabre, but also dished out quite the horsdourves and refreshments. P Vanderway skillfully recreated the voice of Amelia Earhart to life using my script, and Mark Adams worked wonders on such a short time line, to brilliantly make a sound mix for my machines that still makes me excited hearing it. What should have taken a year to prepare really only took 5 months, and 2 of those months were with the addition of Noel and Silas to the mix, (which was definitely a good executive decision on my behalf).
Truth be told, the past 3 weeks I had somehow convinced myself that this show would be an utter failure. Not for the guest artists but for myself, for Steam Gear Lab. This was after all, my first gallery show, but it seemed like no matter where I turned something was keeping me from doing my best. I could not bare the thought of having any of the pieces show up in some sort of half-assed state of completion. Most who really know me, know that just isn't my style. It's not good enough to me even if the audience doesn't know that it's not 100%. I know and it would bother me.
Regardless of my lack of optimism, I had quite the cheerleading squad to keep me pressing on. And so, right up until show time, we all worked to get the show ready. And ready it was for the guests who lined up at the door. Yes I am pleased to report that there was a steady stream of guests in the gallery all evening! Some arrived decked out in full Steampunk attire, others curious about the whole genre, looked on in awe at both the artwork and the other guests. At 7:05 when I rolled the Poe Machine into place and clicked the power on, I suddenly felt relieved. We had done it. A gallery full of intriguing artwork from top to bottom. In my head I had guessed that the gallery was bigger and possibly growing, enough to trick me into thinking that we would never have enough art to fill the space. But we did. I stood back later that night after the guests left and felt proud.
As far as the guests were concerned, it was a nice surprise to meet so many new people, artists from the community, mixed with old friends I had not seen in a very long time. One of the highlights of the night was having James there. He had 2 pieces in the show and was so proud of them. He got alot of attention and would tell whomever wanted to listen, exactly how his inventions worked. It was a great experience for him and I was very glad his mom brought him to see this. Lets hope there are more artistic adventures in his future. Anyhue, take a look for yourself. I have made a video of the show and a slide show below, as well as two separate videos of the Amelia and Poe machines that I will blog about separately to give the back stories.
Very special thanks to all the artists who participated, and to everyone who came out to see the show.
Doctor Grymm presents the CLERIC gun built for Medicine Show Cinema. This weapon will be the main characters weapon of choice for eliminating those pesky demons.
David Williams, Producer/Writer describes CLERIC as follows:
"The backstory of Cleric is that 500 years in the past something happened. No one is sure what and most don't even know it happened. Possibly an alien invasion or a global war or a meteor strike or a time shift or dimensional rift or...something. The world has become a mash-up of steampunkian cities and industrial wastelands, of a genetically pure elite protected from the proletariat and Heretics by the psychic Clerics. It is a place where alien technology has been used to modify old human technology to create strange, powerful and usually dangerous hybrid weapons. For example - a blunderbuss pulse revolver or plasma chainsaw."
The Cleric is a fusion of an airsoft double barrel shaogun, and a Nerf Maverick plus some other odds and ends from around the lab. Yes, I swore never to do a modification of a Nerf Gun, but our clients budget was tight and they needed a prop that could hold 6 glowing energy cartridges in it's chamber, while looking Steampunk-ish. Very little of the original Nerf Gun remains. The chamber is now rear facing and and can spin and swing all the way out. This proved to be more challenging then one would think. As it is "just a toy", it has some very complicated innards! Trust me... Open one up, you'll see.
The CLERIC gun has a working laser sight, spinning gears affected by movement, and the removable bullets glow a deep blue inside the chamber which you can see through the little portals. She's allot heavier than it's original form but very sturdy. I'm happy how close it came to my original design that you can also see above. Both this prop and the Vampyr Blood Transfusion Device will be featured in this film, as well as some of the props we built for Fable: Teeth of Beasts.
After many sketches and drafts I have finally created my SteampunkiPod! Although modding actual products in not my usual forte', I have long wanted to create this piece using my now archaic first generation Apple iPodNano. The design is inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I wanted to create a MP3 Player that would seem fitting in the laboratory of Dr. Victor Frankenstein (given the technology).
The "Eye-Pod" can be worn on the wrist via the leather cuff, or placed on it's custom Victrola base. All functionality of the iPod remain intact an a hidden USB cord retracts from the base to either a wall charger or your computer. There are hidden pressure plates that when touched send a strobing "static charge" into the quartz crystals on either side of the magnified viewing portal. Music can be heard either through the Victrola horn or though a portable personal hearing apparatus (in progress). Yes, the music actually plays through the horn, and no, there are no other external speakers.
The piece was handcrafted using various metal pieces from old typewriters, formed brass and steel, leather and quartz crystals. The magnifier is an acrylic half sphere and it is tinted a sepia tone to give a slightly blurred and tea-dyed look to the screen. The most difficult part of the contraption was the new controller which is built from a glass eye, steel and a precision cut brass mechanism I developed to enable the controls to act as they should; including the menu and volume features. After several tries I finally got the tension just right so it moves and rolls fluidly when selecting music. (Incidentally, the current "plague-list" includes over 8 hours of classical music).
The base was configured from an old brass lamp base and an old bicycle horn that I added some sculpting work to such as the face. I then gave it and the casing a rich patina and grimyweathered look suitable for the time it was pulled from in my mind.
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The CLERIC gun has a working laser sight, spinning gears affected by movement, and the removable bullets glow a deep blue inside the chamber which you can see through the little portals. She's allot heavier than it's original form but very sturdy. I'm happy how close it came to my original design that you can also see above. Both this prop and the 
