Category: Steampunk Art

Lego Pegasus Automaton

January 2, 2012

I have loved Lego for as long as I can remember. Hundreds of hours of my childhood were spent assembling and reassembling those little plastic bricks into countless combinations. That said, the Lego of my youth was quite limited compared to the range of parts available today, which allow for some wonderful creations.

One of the most amazing I’ve seen lately is this Pegasus Automaton from Studio Amida. Not only is it beautiful to look at, it actually works if you turn the crank (see video below). If you want one of your own, they sell both kits and plans in their Bricklink store. Even the plans have a bit of steampunk to their look.
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PBS Takes on Steampunk

September 1, 2011

So, PBS has decided to give us their take on Steampunk in the latest installment of Off Book. PBS Arts’s Off Book is a “web series focused on experimental and non-traditional art form,” so it is certainly an appropriate forum for steampunk to be discussed. Their brief documentary gives a nice look at steampunk aesthetics, especially as applied to craft, music, and performance. It is unfortunate that the literature that gave birth to the movement is not discussed, but that may lie outside of the Off Book‘s core focus (although why literature would not be part of “arts” is beyond me). Regardless, it is nice to see steampunk getting some wider attention.

Here’s the documentary; let me know what you think.

Help Save Parsifal the Steampig

August 11, 2011

The 2010 ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, MI drew 1700 entries, but the big news for steampunk aficionados was Parsifal, the Steampig. And “big” is the key word in that sentence. Steampig is a giant sculpture, measuring 55′ long, 25′ wide, and 36′ tall. For all that size, the work is beautifully crafted and was built to withstand winds up to 70 miles per hour.

You know you love it. Would you like to own it?

You see, there’s a problem for the Steampig team. Parsifal needs a new home. ArtPrize 2010 has been over for some time and the next ArtPrize is rapidly approaching, so Parsifal needs to move.

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A Steampunk Tarot

January 17, 2011

Etsy artist Charissa Drengsen is producing some striking steampunk tarot cards.

Now, some are more steampunk than others. Death is simply beautiful, from the traditional skeleton to the mounted scarabs down the side. Harry Houdini as the Magician seems spot on. On the other hand, Albert Einstein as the Hierophant feels out of place to me, as most of his work was done outside of the conventional steampunk time period. Most of the cards have a rich collage feeling, although a few, such as the ace of cups, look more like stills from one of Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python animations. Whether any of these quibbles detract from your enjoyment or appreciation of the deck is, of course, a matter of individual taste.

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