Art Donovan - The Art of Steampunk: Extraordinary Devices and Ingenious Contraptions from the Leading Artists of the Steampunk Movement

As presented by Oxford Universitys Museum of the History of Science, Steampunk is rooted in the aesthetics of Victorian technology. Yet it is not a nostalgic recreation of a vanished past: its devices are both imaginative and contemporary. The Steampunk exhibition, curated by Art Donovan, revealed the many possible responses to Steampunks characteristic preoccupation with the historical and the contemporary, the mechanical and the fanciful. In imagining a Victorian future that has not come to pass, Steampunk artists cast an oblique light on the present. But their unrealized futures are more celebration than commentary. Steampunk revels in the ingenuity and absurdity of the mechanisms produced and the unqualified pleasure in creation. It is only fitting that the worlds first museum exhibition of genuine Steampunk art premiered at the Oxford University Museum of the History of Science, which houses the worlds greatest collection of important scientific artifacts and devices. Now Donovan is back with new artist profiles and a fresh look at what is happening in Steampunk today.

2013 by Art Donovan and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., East Petersburg, PA.

Foreword 2011 by Dr. Jim Bennett

Cover art:

La Courtisane (courtesan), courtesy of Sam Van Olffen. Based on photos by Nadar.

The Art of Steampunk, Second Edition, is a revised edition, first published in 2013 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., East Petersburg, PA.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder.

All images were taken and provided by the artists unless otherwise noted, and were collected
by Art Donovan.

The following essay was printed with permission: Steampunk 101" by G. D. Falksen, page 70.

The quote on page 4 originally appeared in the article Steampunk Art and Design Exhibits
in the Hamptons by Eileen Casey, Hamptons.com. Reprinted with permission.

eISBN: 978-1-60765-090-4

ISBN: 978-1-56523-785-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Donovan, Art (Arthur W.), 1952

The art of steampunk / Art Donovan ; foreword by Jim Bennett. -- Second Edition.

pages cm

Includes index.

Summary: Welcome to the world of Steampunk: a unique fantasy version of nineteenth century Victorian England imbued with todays 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, 2nd Edition, youll discover the captivating and dynamic world of this emerging genre through the creative vision of todays leading Steampunk artists, all featured in the worlds first museum exhibit of Steampunk, held at The Museum of the History of Science at Oxford University in England. No longer satisfied with the plastic design of todays 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. You will find that many of the artists are as unique and colorful as their masterpieces, often adopting alter egos of Victorian mad scientists and world explorers, allowing themselves to become fully immersed in the imaginative and exciting world of Steampunk. This expanded edition has added artist profiles and a look at what is happening in the world of Steampunk since the exposition. -- Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-56523-785-8 (pbk.)

1. Art and technology--History--21st century. 2. Art, Modern--21st century--Themes, motives. 3. Technology in art. 4. Steampunk culture. I. Title.

N72.T4D66 2013

709.05'107442574--dc23

2013002273

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call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

Note to Authors: We are always looking for talented authors to write new books. Please send a brief letter describing your idea to Acquisition Editor, 1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520.

eBook version 1.0

Dedication

With love, for my beautiful wife, Leslie Tarbell Donovan, without whose talent and vision, this exhibition and book would not have been possible.

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the generous support of the following individuals and organizations and thank them for their gracious support.

• Anne Surchin, American Institute of Architects
• The American Hotel
• Barber-Wilson Co, UK
• Bethany Peters
• Carleen Ligozio
• Cory Doctorow
• Deidre Woolard
• Dr. Jim Bennett, Director, Museum of the History of Science
• The Hamptons Antique Galleries
• Joanne Molina
• Laura Ashby, Museum of the History of Science
• Lauren Sloan Weisman
• Sam Van Olffen
• Sara Brumfield
• Sydney Padua
• Margaret Hauser, Museum of the History of Science
• Nick and Owen, Museum of the History of Science
• Nick Ottens
• The Sag Harbor Yacht Yard
• Whites Pharmacy

PUBLISHERS FOREWORD

About five years ago, we started hearing buzz about Steampunk at the European bookfairs. Although new to us, we were intrigued by the concept of combining the literature, art, and science of the past with modern technology. We started researching the genre to determine how popular it was in America, sending Peg Couch, one of our editors, on an exploratory trip to the Steampunk Worlds Fair. What we found there was an incredible community of creative individuals who wanted nothing more than to share their work. She said, When I arrived at the show, I felt as though I had stepped into another world. The crowd of over 3,000 attendees was buzzing, and there was a festival-like feel to the event with people walking on stilts, dressed as time travelers, vaudeville entertainers, inventors, and mad scientists. There were sights for the eye everywhere you turned!

The honor of publishing truly innovative subjects often falls to independent publishers such as ourselves. With our love of craftsmanship and appreciation for authentic work, we fell in love with the ingenuity and creativity of the Steampunk community. Having decided that we needed to create a book on Steampunk art, the search for the right author began. It was difficult to find someone with good design sense across the many types of Steampunk art.