For the past few months, I have been traveling both backward and forward in time—preparing for a steampunk themed art show! This month, two other local artists and I collaborated to bring the Lodi Community Art Center the featured portion of its first physical show since March: Steampunk! The entire steampunk genre is based on an imagined world in which electricity was never discovered, but time has gone on toward a present where Victorian and industrial styles thrive in a landscape of fantastic airships, glamorous costumes, and idealized cities.

Me and Rita Hill surrounded by our pieces!

One of Rita Hill’s fantastical creations, which inspired my piece, “Co-Pilots”, behind it.

The three of us were extremely proud of the turnout at our opening reception. People kept pouring in, waiting their turn to come in the gallery since we were required to keep the number of guests to six. Friends and family shared the night with us, of course; but they brought their own guests as well and we even had some attendees who were visiting our gallery for the first time. It was both encouraging and touching to see how many people came out to support the arts. To top it off, the local paper did a great write up of our show!

My piece “Hot Air Balloon Pilot I” made the cover!

After several months of fevered conversations, brainstorms, daydreams, sketching, and framing (and re-framing); after the hours we spent in the gallery adjusting and re-adjusting each of our carefully crafted creations, and especially after the weeks and weeks of pushing to get the word out about our show—what a marvelous way to celebrate.

Thank you, Lodi News Sentinel, for the great write up!

“Steampunk!” was put on by Elsa Bates, myself, and Rita Hill. You can find out more about Elsa Bates’ art by visiting the Lodi Community Art Center’s website here, and you can learn more about Rita Hill’s work by visiting her website here. The show will be up through September at the Lodi Community Art Center.