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!

This 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).

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.