The weekend of May 7, the city of Waltham, Massachusetts was invaded. Radiating out from the city’s Common were folks, young and old, celebrating their love of all things steampunk at the International Steampunk City Festival, presented by the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation.
What is steampunk, you say? The term was coined by author K.W. Jeter in the 1980s. In brief, it’s Victorian science fiction, à la Jules Verne and H.G. Wells; a tribute to what 19th century visionaries thought our future would be. Think of the submarine in the Disney film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Oddly, there really isn’t much punk involved.
The International Steampunk Festival included various vendors of Victorian wares as well as real, live blacksmiths. William Brent Tepolt of New Hampshire was among the talented blacksmiths sharing his craft with the crowd. Loads of participants were dressed in steampunk fashion, including the lovely Jessica Jackson as Madam Mercy, who crafted her own stunning costume.
The festival was celebrated throughout the city, including various academic discussions and lectures at the Waltham Public Library. Several local merchants offered discounts and special events. The Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation was home to “Steampunk, Form and Function, an Exhibition of Innovation Invention & Gadgetry,” which closes on May 11, 2011.
Want to learn more about steampunk? Add 1,000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear & Art, by Dr. Grymm with Barbe Saint John, to your reading list. It will be published in July 2011 by Quarry Books.
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