Port Townsend to Host Local Jewelers at the Second Annual Steampunk Festival Next Weekend

Steampunk Outfit. Photo by Alexander Schlesier, 2012 (CC BY-SA 3.0).   Next weekend, the Brass Screw Confederacy will transport Port Townsend visitors to "somewhere between 1881 and a time that may yet be" {cited}. Take a step into an alternate Victorian dimension, where the imagination roams unfettered against a backdrop of steam-powered machines, madcap inventions, and extraordinary costumes. Highlights of the festival include Magic and Mayhem at the Pope Marine Building, a Masquerade Soirée at the Cellar Door, a contraptional Fashion Show, a Hootenany which promises otherworldy performances, a Zombie Hunt, and the Bazaar of the Bizarre. The Bazaar of the Bizarre, which is free to the public, opens June 8, 2013, at the American Legion Hall. Milling among the bodgers (Steampunk artisans and vendors), visitors will find three impressive Washington jewelers vending their wares in true Steampunk style. The show leader is Clockwork Beetle, from Kenmore, who calls herself a professional trouble and jewelry maker. Her pins, brooches, and necklaces are crafted with "a large dose of whimsy" drawing heavily from hours spent "haunting estate and garage sales, antique and thrift stores" {1}. Nearby, you'll discover the meditations in art of Port Townsend jeweler, Lelah Wright, owner of Dancing Silver Designs. Prominent in her display will be her signature piece, the Eternal Spiral Pendant. "The ancient symbol of the spiral represents the flow of our lives and the cycle of nature. It points inward while maintaining a fullness and richness in its deep movement. The flow of silver in my designs represents the inevitable dance our lives take on... us of our higher, more creative connection" {2}. And somewhere around the corner, you will encounter UncommonWork. Jeweler and artist Shane Miller finds her inspiration in nature's textures, metal's dark patina, and history's narratives. She views each of her pieces as a miniature sculpture and hopes that the story she began in the making of the piece will carry on in the heart of the person who purchases it. Steampunk jewelry enthusiasts will not be disappointed in the variety and ingenuity offered by these fine craftsmen. Indeed, Port Townsend's Steampunk Festival promises a barrel of fun for all participants. To order tickets and for more details, we invite you to visit the Brass Screw Confederacy online. ~Angela Magnotti Andrews Notes 1. Quotes taken from Clockwork Beetle's Etsy profile. 2. Excerpt from "About" on DancingSilverDesigns.com.