A Showcase local creators and their workshops – and things they create
We are fortunate to have some very talented people in Adelaide who are part of our steampunk community. These include artists, costume-makers, writers and gadget makers. Let me introduce you to just a few of them. These generous people let me into their workshop and even answered some questions.
Terry Brown – Dragonsblood Creations.
Terry creates custom made wedding, goth clothing, Renaissance and medieval clothing. More recently she has been commissioned to make steampunk and burlesque ensembles. She also makes her own historical and steampunk costumes. Her dedicated sewing workshop is filled with a rainbow of wools and silks, findings and corsetry requirements. She also sells jewelry, hats, purses and all manner of accessories.
How did you get into steampunk?
My first Steampunk event was either the Dress Like a Time Traveller Picnic 2010 that was held in Victoria square OR the second Flight of the Olympia run by Steve Scholz & Catherine Curl, at The (Adelaide) Fringe. I can’t remember when but through friends essentially.
What aspect of steampunk are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about the incredible talent and imagination the Steampunk community has.
Anthony Fagan – maker of Steampunk Weaponry
Anthony has been attending events for some time now. He has a passion for creating steampunk weaponry from toy and water pistols, or by using everyday items and components found in the local hardware store. He recently ran a local workshop. He utilises the dining table, with a side table for gun making and modifications. There is a room outside for spray painting and drilling. The down side is that if anyone visits, he has to clear the table to eat.
How did you get into steampunk?
We got our first introduction to Steampunk through a presentation at Aus Sci Fi and Fantasy club and Marianne Hooper came dressed in Steampunk costume. We had many questions for her and she certainly got us interested in the genre.
What aspect of steampunk are you most passionate about?
Steampunk gunmaking and meeting other Steampunk people are my main interests. I am a member of several on-line groups several of which are international groups – Steampunk Revolution & Steampunk Gun Club – and some Australian groups – Steampunk SA.
Photos: thanks to Anthony Fagan.
Damien Snell – Mystichaggis’s Bazar of Steamfoolery
Infamous for his flame-throwing tophat, Damien is an afficiado of repurposing all manner of items and shaping them into functioning works of art. His work has been described as Steampunk, Teslapunk and Dieselpunk. He rarely uses plastic, preferring natural materials such as wood and metal. His workshop is an Aladdin’s cave of inspirational bits – and so organised! I could spend hours there and still find new things; I am in recycler heaven. He has repurposed old radios, frames, cabinets and vaccum tubes.
(Photo courtesy of MystichaggisBazarSteamfoolery)
How did you get into steampunk?
Steampunk has never been the primary focus for me. I have been modifying and fixing things since I was a child. The aesthetics I like can range from ancient styles all the way through to sci fi, more modern periods or my own imaginings. Steampunk is just a handy category some of my work falls into and I let other people use the description to set them at ease.
What aspect of steampunk are you most passionate about?
I generally just tinker and use my love of mechanical, electronics and strangely engineered objects to guide me.
David Carlisle – Squatter in Our Shed
Our shed is a scary place. It is full to the gills with wood offcuts, sheets of metal and eclectic items collected over the years. David has a small area – 1.5m by 1m – with an old metal topped bench, jars of screws, scavenged bits, spraypaint, brushes, gluegun and tape. Here he makes a variety of accessories, paints steampunk guns, adding metal decorations and studs to leather items and making silicon molds for metal components.
How did you get into steampunk?
Back in the early 1990s, I was a fan of Cyberpunk. One of my favourite authors was William Gibson. Then I heard he’d written something a little different – The Difference Engine was Cyberpunk with a 19th century twist. Apparently it was known as Steampunk. Over the years, I ran across more steampunk influences – first in computer games (The Chaos Engine, Arcana: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura) and later, movies (Wild Wild West, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).
What aspect of steampunk are you most passionate about?
At the moment, I’m getting into ‘punking up toy guns. I started without a clear concept of what I wanted to make, but after painting my Nerf Maverick, I started looking at what I could add to it, and wanted it to have a logical consistency to it. I started having ideas about adding lights, turning it into some sort of raygun… but that wouldn’t work for an obvious revolver like the Maverick, so I’m saving that for my next one (maybe a rifle?). I decided an electromagnetic Gauss gun would suit the style of the Maverick, so I’m adding various wire coils and vintage-looking electronics. And maybe some Victorian embellishments for style.
These are but a few of the local steampunk artisans who create amazing items. I wish I had more time to interview them all! It is always exciting to attend events and wonder what new and fantastical creations we will feast our eyes upon.
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Photographs (c)Karen Carlisle 2015 (unless otherwise stated). Please do not use without permission.
#7 Steampunk Hands: Welcome to Our Workshops
