The Art of Steampunk, Revised Second Edition

Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement

Art Donovan

• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781607650904
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Culture populaire dans l'art

Welcome to the world of Steampunk: a unique fantasy version of nineteenth century Victorian England imbued with today's technology, resulting in devices and contraptions that seem to have sprung from the mind of a mad twenty-first century scientist. The "steam" refers to steam power-as in fire-breathing machines of antique locomotion. The "punk" is an important reference to an outsider attitude. In The Art of Steampunk, Second Edition you'll discover the captivating and dynamic world of this emerging genre through the creative vision of today's leading Steampunk artists. No longer satisfied with the plastic design of today's mass-produced products, these artists are crafting a romantic new standard for modern goods by applying the characteristics of Steampunk. Their artwork consists of everything from jewelry and watches to light fixtures and clocks, every piece demonstrating hours of painstaking work and unlimited devotion. The Art of Steampunk chronicled the works featured at the first-ever museum exhibition of Steampunk art, held at the Museum of the History of Science at Oxford University. Now this expanded second edition features the work of additional world-class Steampunk artists, as well as new Steampunk lighting creations from author Art Donovan. With more than fifty new photos, The Art of Steampunk, Second Edition, remains the single most important book on the subject of Steampunk.

Amanda Scrivener

PROFESSOR ISADORA MAELSTROMME
London, United Kingdom

Photo by Martin Small

Amanda Scrivener is a well-known designer of wearable pieces of art whose work is clearly unique. After attending two art colleges to study textiles, jewelry design, and jewelry production, Mme. Scrivener’s work became inspired by the shadowy side of Victorian England. As her creator persona Professor Maelstromme, she crafts items in her laboratory that will bring to mind romance by gaslight, arcane science, the steam age, carnival sideshow curios, and aged materials from the vaults of the Victorian past. She loves working with pocket watches and wind-up clocks, often cannibalizing them for parts. Mme. Scrivener’s creations (sometimes designed in collaboration with Thomas Willeford) have been hailed as imaginative oddities that masterfully epitomize the diverse landscape of Steampunk design.

Early Era Lady Automobile Driver Lace Choker, 2010, lace, chains, photograph.

Old Camera Lens Monocle, black and burgundy leather, camera lens.

Watch Chains Steampunk Inspired Necklace, 2010, old pocket watch, old pocket watch chains.

Old Pocket Watch Necklace, 2009, pocket watch, pocket watch chains and clasps.

Old Syringe Necklace, 2009, brass syringe, chains.

Winged Old Broken Pocket Watch Necklace, 2009, broken pocket watch frame, silver ornament, chains.

Steampunk Adventurer’s Club Necklace, 2010, old binoculars, bolts, chains.

Shown here is the Steam Ornithopter, designed and created by Thomas Willeford and Amanda Scrivener, and worn by Scrivener.

Steam Ornithopter, Leather Gas Mask, and Clockwork Arm Replacement Arm Mark II, brass tubing, sheet brass, chrome sheet, various fittings, kydex, leather, found objects. Worn by Scrivener, these pieces were created in collaboration with Thomas Willeford. The raygun was made by Weta Workshops, New Zealand.

Thomas Willeford

LORD ARCHIBALD “FEATHERS” FEATHERSTONE
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

With degrees in physics, history, and art, it was perhaps inevitable that Thomas Willeford would be a Steampunk enthusiast. His work attempts to blur the precarious line between art and engineering. If upon viewing a piece one does not ask, “Does that actually work?” then Willeford considers the piece a failure.

Sculpture and wearable art are Willeford’s preferred art forms because he cannot draw or paint very well. Willeford’s alter ego, Lord Archibald “Feathers” Featherstone has been exhibiting his work throughout the United States and Europe for years. He hopes to continue to support the cause of mad scientists everywhere for many more years to come.

Arachnia Mechanica, brass. Thomas Willeford’s brass spider is a fully articulated stop-motion animation model.

Several angles of Willeford’s Arachnia Mechanica show the details of its construction and movement.

This piece, on display at the Steampunk exhibition, was created by Thomas Willeford and Amanda Scrivener.

Cliff Overton

MAD UNCLE CLIFF
Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

The Gentleman’s Grooming and Information Station, 2010, approximately 2' x 7' (610 mm x 2130 mm), old farm equipment parts, old water pump parts, old plumbing parts, old lamp shade, old chandelier parts, various salvaged parts, black spray paint. The GGIS has been lurking in the mind of Mad Uncle Cliff for a few years waiting to get out. He wanted to make a bathroom-sink-like device that would be intimidating in a dentist drill sort of way, with articulated arms and lots of functional accessories.

For Cliff Overton, Steampunk art is many things: it’s a rebellion against the beige and plastic look, it’s an attempt to subvert design culture, it’s ornamentation for the sake of ornamentation, it’s recycling and putting the fun back into modern products, and it’s romanticism.

Overton begins any modification by looking at a modern product and trying to decide what it would look like if it were running on steam, and wheels and pistons ...