'All Things Musical - Steampunk Art' INTRODUCTION
Steampunk is a retro futuristic subgenre of science fiction that was recognized and identified with the phrase ‘Steampunk Art’ in the 1980s. It is an art form that combined aesthetic and technology designs inspired by 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery. The term ‘Steampunk’ was coined by science fiction author Kevin Wayne Jeter who also wrote the first cyberpunk novel ‘Dr. Adder.’ Jeter has written and published many books in this genre, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, and Warner Bros. ‘Blade Runner.’ Nevertheless, many scholars remind us that the concept of the ‘Steampunk’ existed in literature decades before the term was coined, especially when reading the visionary stories of authors HG Wells, Jules Verne, and Mary Shelley, back in the 1800s.
ABOUT
Invite your guests into the world of Steampunk Art, an art, fashion, and culture movement that was inspired by the industrial revolution, a form of nostalgic futurism that expanded past engines and tesla coils. This ‘All Things Musical – Steampunk Art Show’ combines found objects such as machine parts like cogs and rivets; musical instrument parts like keys, valves, mouthpieces, and bells; clockwork and bicycle parts – with futuristic concepts such as modern modes of transportation and the reconfiguration of musical instruments.
While in Steampunk Art the most prominent material is metal, such as brass, copper, steel, and iron, it may also include wood, fabric, and glass. In this display, the focus will be on musical instrument parts, forms, and function. Your guest will also lean about these Steampunk Artworks in different ways, such as:
- How do they work?
- What is Steampunk style all about?
- What are the functions of these Steampunk Artworks?
- What objects and materials are used to make these Steampunk Artworks?
- How do they relate to the past and to futuristic concepts?
KEY MESSAGES
- Steampunk Art is firmly established with the arts scene and has proven to be one of the biggest cultural phenomena of the last two decades.
- Not only are some of these objects a ‘work of art,’ but were remade and modified to have a new function, both musically and visually.
- Steampunk objects are recycle works turned into art objects that can be found in our neighborhood and all around the world.
Art is the work of humanity, an expression of who we are as a society. It draws from the past and calls for creative skills and imagination about our future.
VISITOR APPEAL
- Experience new creative art forms using technology for future generations.
- Introduction to budding artists to new ideas and methods of making music and art.
- Relive your own nostalgic experiences with objects of the past.
- Reinforces memory in the historical development of technology beginning with America’s ‘Industrial Revolution.’
- Recycling our thrown away objects (trash) and turning them into new products and art work, can benefit our community and the environment.
- Today, Steampunk Art is divided into two groups of artists, those who are designers and those who are DIYers. There are no rules, only the requirement of having an imagination, a creative nature, and a free spirit.
