From a guy who made a wrench the size of a kid, to a sculptor who built a 16-foot robot, you’d be amazed at the number and variety of artists and makers at every level of the Steampunk World’s Fair.
This year’s event, held last weekend in Piscataway, NJ, looks to have been the largest steampunk event the world has yet seen. Since launching in 2011, SPWF attendance has grown every year. Leading into this weekend’s show, Fair organizer Jeff Mach said that he expected about 6000 attendees.
It’s a passionate community — the location makes a good central hub for steampunk enthusiasts in the Northeast US, but Jeff says about half the attendees come from 500 miles away or more. He credits the tremendous ability of the steampunk movement to inspire people to make something that is unique, yet absolutely recognizable as steampunk.
“Steampunk has its punk roots, with a DIY aesthetic,” Jeff says. “The Ramones purposely didn’t practice to make their music sound more polished. They wanted to show you can play music without being a giant progressive rock band like Yes.”
Steampunk has that same feel. While there are artists that have taken their craftsmanship to a professional level, steampunk invites anyone to try their hand at making a costume or some gear. Even if it is the equivalent of a three-chord song, it can still rock!
The SPWF definitely draws in many makers, both attendees and vendors. You can make something yourself, or support steampunk artisans who are selling their wares. Either way, the event is a win for the steampunk world. Many attendees leave the fair inspired by something they saw, and come back the next year with a creation of their own.
While nearly impossible to provide comprehensive coverage of all the cool makers at the fair, here is a sampling of some standouts I ran into on opening day.
Matt Winkelmann of PH Factor makes custom walking sticks with handles from door knobs and other odd and ends. Matt has a chemical engineering background and colors his goggles using a special process. The paint is melted/bonded into the surface and does not easily scratch off.
http://www.phfactor.ws
Kelly of Voltaire Design Studio makes jewelry, handbags, iPhone and iPad covers. She’s also a talented seamstress, and makes her own steampunk and other period costumes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Voltaire-Design-Studio/1522944034597659
Kara from Pyaara makes hand crafted hair sticks, flower clips, and facinators.
http://www.pyaara.com
Merlin and her two sisters from Rambling Eclectica make quirky creations like these fantasy horns. They will also write stories for you on demand.
https://www.facebook.com/RamblingEclectica
Scott from Scrap Yard Aesthetics made this cool lamp from engine parts. The gear at the lower right is the on/off switch.
http://www.scrapyardaeesthetics.com
Some of the more realistic looking steampunk weapons I saw were created by q of q.phia.net. These items are true movie prop quality.
http://www.qphia.net/
This attendee made a giant wrench to go with his outfit! He has access to a CNC, so cutting the main parts was fairly easy. He considered using real meters, but instead opted for a high resolution print and some wood to create gauges. Additional wood trim was added as detail.
Samantha from Bohemian Romance is super enthusiastic about making jewelry and other crafts from things her family picks up at garage and yard sales.
“When I’m upcycling, sometimes these objects are so rare that transforming them would be a disservice to their history,” she says. “I have a rule: I never upcycle anything that can be fixed. If it’s broken, it’s fair game!”
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bohemianromance
Josh Aterovis of Steampunk Blacksheep makes handcrafted jewelry and art. I was particularly fond of this piece made from a screw thread die.
http://www.steampunkblacksheep.etsy.com
Brooke VanDerzee’s original wearable art is hand crafted using a variety of mixed media techniques.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BrookeVanDerzee
Willow says she can crochet anything! She makes a variety of little creatures, and even an R2-D2 replica. Willow also showed me a picture of a tightly-knit cup that can actually hold water!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowsCreatures
An old dented metal vase, some bowls and a lamp, some paint and other details, and this attendee had a cool steampunk weapon.
Thomas Willeford of Brute Force Studios built a 16-foot robot for the Steampunk World's Fair. The statue towered above on-lookers under the tent of the fair's "Goblin Market".
What will they do with this colossus now that it is built? Jeff Mach says he will use it to raise funds to help friend and author CJ Henderson, who is battling cancer.
"We’re going to share CJ with any event which wants to host him. Whenever he’s at an event, ours or another’s, the robot will collect money for CJ’s recovery, his family, and his medical bills." (source: http://steampunkworldsfair.com/giant-robot/)
http://http://www.bruteforceleather.com/
Caruso Kith Kin & Co. is a wonderful NJ family business of metalwork artisans. Their metal ring formed cephalopod army is really adorable. They also deal in coins and watches.
http://www.kithkinco.com
If you like your steampunk dark and dreary, you’d appreciate the fantastic designs of Michael Locascio of Dellamorte & Company.
http://www.dellamorteco.com
Gearologists encourage hands-on participation with CNC-cut plywood gear sets and puzzles. A variety of gearbox and ornament kits were available as sheets of pre-cut plywood. Pictured with SPWF attendees Maria Calderone and Nicholas Eng.
http://www.cogbots.com
The gearologists at www.cogbots.com also design intricate keychains and latching curiosity boxes.
Custom designed medals by Shara Donohue of Mad Dash Studios.
http://maddashminstrels.etsy.com
Movable steampunk art upcycled from toys by Katrina Davies of Oil and Lace. Katrina stressed that her art is meant to be played with, and encouraged visitors at her table to touch and explore. There was even a triceratops ride-on toy!
http://www.oilandlace.com
