I am really excited that we're starting to see sites dedicated to using the lens of Steampunk to examine social issues in both modern and historical milieus. Silver Goggles is one such site, examining issues of colonialism, imperialism and politics. From the masthead:

The purpose of Silver Goggles is to deconstruct narratives in steampunk, with a particular focus on the issues of colonialism, imperialism and politics, as they appear within steampunk literature and/or roleplay, in order to de-center the traditional Eurocentric focus. Using a wide range of postcolonial, post-structuralist, post-modern, race and feminist theories, Silver Goggles will analyze the language / discourse of steampunk that drive and/or reinforce current trends and representations of steampunk elements.

Silver Goggles is the work of Jaymee Goh who I've followed on twitter for some time and who I'm excited about meeting for the first time at the Steampunk World's Fair in May. Jaymee recently posted a particularly interesting and timely piece:  Countering Victorientalism. Folks, this is smart and important stuff.

As some of you may or may not know, in addition to writing here, I am also a no-good ink-flinging word-wrangler. In other words, that most prestiged of useless proffesions, a cartoonist.

This next week I will be coming to Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con, where I will be exhibiting what comics I have left after a fairly devastating roof leak at my studio- a long with a new compilation. I'll be at artist alley table A-12- you should come visit!

In case you can't make it, I still have plenty of stuff up at my Etsy store.

I was in NYC a few weeks ago, and went to The Horticulture Society of New York, which is a gorgeous space full of sun and plants (believe it or not). I went to see an art exhibit called Leur Existence (The Tree Project).

The trees that still live from the time of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima are called, Hibaku trees (A-bombed trees).

In the winter of 2008, from a tree Dr. Riki Horiguchi in Hiroshima, I received seeds of Round Leaf Holly, Persimmon, Chinaberry, Firmiana simplex, Japanese Hackberry, Jujube trees that are the second or third generation of Hibaku Trees.

I have been giving these seeds to the ones that are interested in planting them both in the US and the world. By sharing these seeds, I would like to share the pleasure of growing plants, especially the plants from Hibaku seeds.

. . .

First off, we're looking for a new space. Willow has a post on the current top choice. We want a bigger space, more centrally located, that's easier to let people into; this is all of those and nice-looking too. 

Click through for up-coming events in March:

I ran across this book while on ebay while looking for, well, egg cups. At first I only kinda wanted this book, but now I really really want this book. The tite of the auction says 'occult, rare, magician' which turned me off- those tags are way overused and rarely true. On further examination, however, it's actually more about using 'magic tricks' to teach basic scientific principles.It's beautifully illustrated, and even has a loving dedication to the authors son, encouraging him to love science as he did.

Just looking at it fills me with a glee. I want to be able to pull it down from my shelf, giggle at the fun, and love the F out of it.

Arthur writes:

The First Annual World Steam Expo is coming to the midwest!  Be there as we break new ground in the steampunk world with exciting guests including Abney Park and Tartanic!  See the Mad Scientist's marvelous contraptions at the Mad Science Fair!    Be dazzled at the Midnight Carnival!  Join the gentry for the charity masquerade ball to raise money for local educational programs!  See Thomas Edison's actual laboratory!  Go hands on in the museum dedicated to industry!  There will be panelists from all over the steampunk world that have stumped us with awe and amazement such as the Foglio's of "Girl Genius" and the mythic G.D. Falksen!  Don't miss out on the opportunity to see all of them and much more! 

The event will take place Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 28th through Monday, May 31st!
This amazing exposition will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn along with the Henry Ford Museusm and Greenfield Village!

One of the ways I upcycle old, worn garments is to dye them. Stained, stretched-out beaters, ratty petticoats, and once-white tuxedo shirts with dingy collars enshroud themselves in new life when dropped into a steaming bucket of color. As my best friend is a pedigreed textiles artist, I've spent many a night in a professional dye lab, using bromine and other harsh chemicals to deposit tint onto wool, but I feel that the most satisfying way to dye fabric is to use what is essentially garbage. I speak of items you're probably going to toss or compost anyway, like yellow onion skins, beet tops, yesterday's Earl Grey bag, or that rusting tin of turmeric you bought eons ago for Indian cooking (but instead forgot in the back of the cabinet). Natural dye has been used to color fabric for 4,500 years, and was even popular amongst German soldiers in World War II due to broken trade routes.¹

Coming up soon! 

The Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition will be happening march 12-14th in Emeryville, CA and looks like it will be a blast- they've got some amazing tallent and projects coming in to exhibit and strut their stuff.

Here's the final iteration of my foundry furnace. I've re-built the burner to be fired with propane and waste oil rather than gasoline and waste oil. I built my oil injector based on plans from the wonderful folks over at Lionel Labs, it's essentially identical to "The Brute."  

I also added a light pole. Since I have a day job, night-time is often my only opportunity for recreation of the metal melting sort.

As seen this morning via the oddity sandwich that is Google Buzz/riotclitshave:

Model: Ulorin Vex
Photographer: Allan Amato

This is definitely Doin' It Right [TM]. Heck yes.