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Tonight: ANACHROTECHNOFETISHISM

Friday, September 12th, 2008

After six weeks of Oregon Trail-style grueling, dysentery-ridden assbustin’, I’m pleased to finally present the first all-American steampunk, post-civ, and retrotech group gallery show, opening tonight in Seattle, WA at Suite 100. Custom chocolates will be provided by Naftali.

anachrotechnofetishism

For those of you who cannot attend the event or would like to get a head-start on the art action, we’re preselling the show online. I expect most of the items will sell out quickly due to the caliber of artists involved and all the attention the show’s had, so if there’s something you really desire, please grab it up ASAP.

I am incredibly proud of the backbreaking work that the entire artist collective and crew put into this gig. While steampunk’s popularity generally emanates from its captivating and palatable visual aesthetic, I think the true reason why it has appealed to me so relentlessly is because of the meticulous, loving labor involved in creating its artifacts and culture. This has been difficult, and as David’s shadowbox states, “This won’t go on forever”, ‘this’ being a lot of things. But the notion of impermanence, something I feel acutely, clashes with steampunk’s ability to be perpetually outside time. Thus we press on, we work hard, and we hope together for a better future filtered through the triumphs and shortcomings of an altered past.

I could not have managed this endeavor without the assistance and reassurance of the twelve other artists involved, my co-curator Molly Friedrich, and even more so, the folks who stepped up to load in, run errands, produce group meals, and soothe stressful moments out of stalwart friendship alone. This is anarchism at work. An epic thank-you to Willow Bl00 for taking time off of her day job to hang the show, delivering tequila, and being a rock. I owe you one.

Thank you to everyone, and see you at the gallery opening tonight!

The Heather Gold Show / The New York Times

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

–or– Good Lord, My Life Is Crazy

heather goldThis week has quite possibly been the wildest one I’ve had in a while. A few days ago, I was asked to participate in The Heather Gold Show live from the Maker Faire. It will be streamed live from the main stage on this Saturday, May 3 at 4:00pm PDT (watch online at heathergold.com).

The issue we’ll be addressing (for which I’m vaguely responsible) is: How can you be authentic to yourself and part of a (sub)culture?

Through the lens of Steampunk, a meta-subculture that is currently at its tipping point of growth, we explore the inevitable question a subculture faces as it grows from disparate DIY roots. Who and what belongs? Can it transform permaculture?

Conversating with Heather will be computer and car modifier Jake von Slatt, Abney Park singer Captain Robert, yours truly (on behalf of Steampunk Magazine), and the live/web audience. Expect hijinks.

Item Number Two of OMG Insanity is that I learned yesterday that my photography of Seattle artist Molly Porkshanks Friedrich will be featured in the New York Times in a week or so as part of her interview. I’m not yet certain which image will be featured but it will be one from this set, which we shot last fall. I will post more details when the article is published.

Call this my 4.23 seconds of fame. Um, squee.

Weird Tales #349

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Weird Tales #349 (March/April 2008), the magazine’s 85th (!) anniversary issue is now available.

Weird Tales 349

I was asked last November by the inimitable Molly “Porkshanks” Friedrich to shoot the photos for Cherie Priest’s coverage of her steampunk artwork.

Little did I know at the time that Molly’s artwork is actually Molly herself. She’s a fully-automated diesel-powered crafting machine, spouting philosophies and plans, and is constantly decked out in lavish handmade garb and ray guns.

She was a pleasure to work with, and we did the photos for this article in Gasworks Park, Seattle. See some of them here on my Livejournal.

You can check out Molly’s artwork on her Deviant Art site, or in her Etsy store.

You can acquire a copy of this issue of Weird Tales here. I haven’t yet seen the article in question, but I’m very excited about the collaboration between Cherie, Molly, and yours truly.

Many thanks.