Right now, as you read this, the fine citizens of Port Townsend, Washington are three days deep into the Brass Screw Consortium Steampunk Festival (June 12–14), a “chronologically discontiguous” weekend where Pirates, Aetherists, Outcasts, and Bodgers settle their differences via games of skill, wit, and an alarming amount of brass.

This year’s plot: a stray Plague Rat has caused a power vacuum in Consortium leadership, and attendees are invited to weigh in on the new regime. Naturally, nature abhors a vacuum, but the Aetherists love one; it gives them something to aetherify. Honestly, “power vacuum caused by a rat” is the most accurate description of several real governments I could name, but the Doctor doesn’t do American politics, so moving on.

The real highlight is the Bodgers’ Grande Exhibition, a maker showcase that is, in essence, a county fair for people who build steam-powered nonsense in their garages and then bring it to a seaport to show off. This is, and I cannot stress this enough, the single most respectable use of a garage in human history. Forget the lawnmower. Build a brass octopus that dispenses tea.

If you’re anywhere near the Olympic Peninsula this weekend, go pay your respects to the rat. Tell them the Doctor sent you, and that the rat has my full endorsement; unlike most candidates, it has never once promised me anything and then failed to deliver.

Via: Brass Screw Consortium

And call it Steampunk…

Via: Reginald Pikedevant

Doktor A built his Thing for an Addams Family-themed exhibition at the Wootini Gallery in Carrboro North Carolina.  Personally, I’d like to see the whole house done this way.  Can you imagine?

Our favorite Steampunk Tease Kato seems to have something fun planned for our entertainment.  I wish I knew exactly what SteamGirl was, but from what I can see it involves rocket packs, ray guns, and strong Steampunk overtones.

I’ve got a little more to show you…

Read more »

PBS Arts brings us this lovely short exploring the facets of Steampunk and the different ways people use it to express themselves.

Steampunk art evokes an alternate reality where steam is the primary source of power. Technology, though highly advanced, has taken on a very different look and feel, and fashion is heavily influenced by Victorian styles. In this episode, we explore the Steampunk aesthetic and art movement. We speak with a Steampunk artist, a composer who created an entire piece of music inspired by Steampunk, and a performing arts collective whose work falls naturally into this intriguing world.

Via: PBS Arts

You can thank “batman-n-bananas” (or just Tasha) on Deviant Art for this one.  We really like it when people use that imagination to make things that poke holes in science, and just imagine all the science we’ll get out of this baby.  At least one or two good train wrecks, and a falling airship.  That’s not a tragedy, that’s science – with holes.  Good job Tasha, high-5!

“Alright this next test may involve trace amounts of time travel. So word of advice: if you meet yourself on the testing track don’t make eye contact. Lab boys tell me that’ll wipe out time – entirely. Forward and backward. So do both of yourselves a favor and let that handsome devil go about his business.”

 As usual, click on the image and then zoom in to see detail.

Girl: Did you like that cake, Mrs Jones?
Mrs Jones: Yes, very much.
Girl: That’s funny. My mom said you didn’t have any taste.

Patient: Doctor, I get heartburn every time I eat birthday cake.”
Doctor: Next time, take off the candles.

From Sillof’s Workshop, “The Avengers”.

Sillof mostly has different takes on Star Wars, including WWI and WWII, Noir Cinema, Wild West, and more.  It’s definitely worth a look.

Sucker Punch is an American action-fantasy film written by Steve Shibuya and Zack Snyder, and directed by Snyder. Sucker Punch features an ensemble female cast that includes Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jamie Chung. The film follows a young girl in the 1950s about to be lobotomized as she attempts to escape an asylum with her inmate friends.

Watch the trailer.  As you can see, there’s a lot of Steampunk influence in there.  In fact, this movie has more Steampunk in it than many other pure Steampunk imaginings (like Riese Kingdom Falling, for example).  Snyder has described the film as “Alice in Wonderland with machine guns”, including dragons, B-52 bombers, and brothels. Snyder’s wife and producing partner Deborah Snyder concludes, “in the end, it’s about this girl’s survival and what she needs to do to be able to cope.”

“Sucker Punch” is an epic action fantasy taht takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality.  Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary.

Dr. Warthan’s Review: ΩΩΩΩΩ – Five Omega’s
That’s right, I own it on Blu-Ray!  I love movies that set the mind free.  It’s on the same level as the Matrix and 300.  A definite must-see and must own.

Via: Sucker Punch

It’s an actual model, not CG.  The detail is incredible.  The artist makes similar robots, but apparently not this one anymore.