Vintage Futurism. Yes! I had been trying, with little success, to describe what, exactly steampunk is when I would exclaim elatedly to friends that I was driving to Oceanside to graciously and enthusiastically accept a last minute invitation to an exhibit and fashion show highlighting this movement in art, jewelry, fashion, film, and expression. Think Victorian and steam era industrial revolution. Think futuristic, multi-functioning machinery. Think cogs, bolts, brass, copper, flight goggles – but also lace, satin and leather. Add a healthy dose of Jules Verne, and a smattering of the fantasy feel of the film, Brazil…
Still perplexed? Maybe because it is wonderfully open to interpretation and is a movement that encourages creativity, mutation and experimentation. Perhaps I am still meeting with little success in my explanatory efforts. Well, isn’t it nice for us all that I brought my handy little camera to this fantastic (in the literal sense of the word) fashion show and steampunk homage presented by OMA, the Oceanside Museum of Art.
Here are some fun examples of cell phones gone punk. People have turned Steampunk into a verb, converting every day items into sometimes zany, often outlandish expressions of a non-existent bygone era.
Have you given any mundane items a new retro life via steampunking? I’d love to hear of it and especially see it. Feel free to include links in the comments below.
All photos by G.Stark
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Ooh I adore steampunk. I wish I had known about the event! We go to the Maker Faire in San Mateo every year and the Steampunks are everywhere with their artifacts of the futuristic past. BTW, vintage futurism is terrific. Is it yours?
*waving* Helloooo Melani! I can see your comment in the back “room” and I approved it, but for some odd reason it won’t show up :{ Thank you for visiting and your comment. I’m loving steampunk more and more! :)) Cheers, G
Hi again…Vintage Futurism is not mine. It was on the exhibit entrance (a photo of it in the slide show) and the Maker Faire? Sounds delihtful! 🙂 G
Having only recently been introduced to Steampunk art, I truly appreciate you attending and taking your camera~! There are some fantastic pieces on Etsy that first piqued my interest, but nothing is more pressing than the fashion about any movement~! And "every picture tells a story, don't it?"
BIG effusive smooches! XXX Thank you for finding this and sharing it! It was enchanting seeing this fantastical movement in artful creative expression interpreted in fashion! What better person to go with than my sis and past partner in fashion 🙂 I swear we brainstorm about how to incorporate bits of steampunk style into mainstream…or at least into our own closets! I had fun making the slide-show too. Thank again, sweetness, for re-posting it! Steamy hugs – wait…lol! Cheers, G
Love steampunk! Haven't DIY'd anything myself yet, but have got some great pieces in the closet. If you have a chance, check out The Edison in downtown LA!
Hi LB 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting and thanks oodles for the Edison rec! I was born and raised in LA – so I dont mind going back to experience this dreamy steampunky nightclub! I checked out the site – wow! Thanks again and do stop back. Cheers! Gina
hey Gina! Lovely article here!
🙂
this steampunk thing I first saw at burningman, 2007.
there was an art piece there quite fantastic- “steampunk tree house.”
you should look at photos of it, interacting with the various parts was quite a treat. wonderfully zany escapist art- very aestetically pleasing this movement in cultural mishmash- the form factor is fun, but I do always wonder as with any overtly expressive “cultural” movement, if it’s mostly to divisify and give “false identity” to a marginalized age segment, or if there are other more organic reasons it’s evolved bottom up vs being seeded somehow into the socio-cultural-consciousness. 🙂
keep up the good work!
Retro futurism…my favorite of all the futurisms, plus there's no one-piece jumpsuits made of Spandex to go with their hospital wall aesthetic sensibilites. I assume they will still drink real booze and not some kind of synthetic version made in a labratory.
PJ Wright – sorry for the late reply, but I was being retro 😉 I'd love to see more films in this genre/setting. The script and acting can be mediocre and I'd be mesmerized by the costuming, set design and effects 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Raising my "real booze" glass to you! Gina
Huge steampunk fan – the dresses are super nice!
Thank you Erica, for visiting and sharing the love of Steampunk! The dresses were amazing. I would love to craft an outfit one day. Cheers, Gina
Thanks for visiting, Erica. I love the mish-mash creativity of Steampunk. Those dresses were luxe! Cheers, Gina