Sacramento Steampunk Society
Posted on April 1, 2010 – 2:50 AM | by OldManFoster
By William Burg photos by Andy Pischalnikoff
One word, “Retro-future.”
Thus does adventurer, mad scientist and steampunk enthusiast Anton Macabre summarize the interests of the Sacramento Steampunk Society. He continues: “Steampunk is a science fiction genre and also an artistic movement… We’re looking at a future that never was and an alternate past where Charles Babbage brought about the information age in the 19th century.”
Steampunk as a literary genre has been around for decades, taking cues from both the history and the science fiction of the late 19th century. Macabre’s mention of Charles Babbage refers to The Difference Engine, by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson, an alternate past where Babbage’s mechanical computers radically reshaped history. This and other similar works were described as “steampunk” as a variant on “cyberpunk,” a science fiction genre pioneered by Sterling and Gibson. Through the 1990s, the genre spread from fiction to comics like Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Phil Foglio’s Girl Genius, games like Space: 1889 and computer game Final Fantasy VI, movies like Steamboy and an extraordinarily loose big-screen adaptation of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Like other genres of science fiction and gaming, steampunk has gained a following interested in bringing this unique visual aesthetic to life. Informal groups like the Sacramento Steampunk Society came together to share ideas and show off their latest acquisitions and creations. Meetings held at Fanny Ann’s in Old Sacramento and the Karma Café in Old Folsom are part social event, part crafting lesson.
Anton Macabre explained his interest in creating steampunk accessories. “I’ve never really been a musician or visual artist but I have found a way to express myself artistically by building static props and giving it a certain look that is ‘retro-futuristic.’ They end up being something that you can display as a piece of art, but they also fit into that science fiction genre.”
According to Macabre’s wife Betsy Bath, the steampunk community can be a natural next step for those already involved in other reenactment or historical recreation societies. “We were really into Renaissance Fairs and Dickens Fairs, it was a natural progression. Where (they) are based in history, this is much more lenient. Really, there are no rules.” Others were drawn into the world of steampunk via their exposure at Burning Man, where Andy and Judy Pischalnikoff encountered artifacts like the “Neverwas Haul,” a mobile, steam-powered three-story Victorian mansion that first roamed the Playa in 2006. Andy, who already had an interest in photography, art and the preservation of historic documents, found common ground in the steampunk scene.
Sacramento’s steampunk group is still small, and many events are based on expeditions to the far-off lands of the Bay Area. Events like the Edwardian Ball, the Maker Faire and the Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition gather the interested from around the state. Locally, the group spreads the word about their clockwork gizmos and Victorian attire, answers questions to the occasional curious onlooker who stumbles upon their outings, and gathers to dream of a past that never occurred.
For more info:
http://groups.google.com/group/steampunk-sacramento
Tags: Anton Macabre, Maker Faire, Sacramento Steampunk Society, William Burg
One Response to “Sacramento Steampunk Society”
By marvin bottum on Jan 8, 2015 | Reply
My wife and I would like to come to one of your monthly meetings. I understand that they are on the second Saturday of the month, is that correct.
I would also request a application for your up coming craft fair in Feb.
Thank you, Marvin
Phone: 530-741-0878