It’s been six years since firefighter Cedric Whittaker left the realm of his fire engine and took up the controls of an airship.
Now, with the self-proclaimed title of captain, he and his crew transverse the country, donned in anachronistic uniforms that shimmer with the memories of a bygone age, one that never existed except in their minds.
Whittaker is the full-time CEO of Airship Isabella (ASI), a group of artists, performers, and manufacturers of Steam-punk apparel that tour the country sharing their knowledge and love of the subculture, while creating art for like-minded fans.
In lieu of an actual airship, his New Orleans-based group explores the edges of their galaxy with a truck and trailer, driving from venue to venue close to 10 days a month. It might not have the same flash, but it gets the job done.
This weekend, they will be in Tucson for the Wild Wild West Con 4 Steampunk Convention & Festival, an event expected to draw about 3,000 across three days of activities. It includes concerts, a fashion show, artists and authors, movies, concerts, discussion panels and more than 60 vendors.
But just what is Steampunk?
“Steampunk, at its most basic, is an aesthetic based on the look and feel of the 1800s but with anachronistic twists,” says Kevin Steil, creator and editor for the Steampunk news website Airship Ambassador. In Steampunk, “Technology happens sooner but with the materials of the time, fashions have that old-fashioned style and cut but with a more modern design.”
According to the Seattle-based Steil, the community began with online forums. That led to gatherings, websites, and eventually conventions like the one at Old Tucson, now in its fourth year. “Mad Science” is this year’s theme.
“I really like a lot of the design elements incorporated in Steampunk,” says Bill Buth, owner of Desert Neon in Tucson, and one of the vendors showcasing work at the convention.
A 30-year veteran of the neon art world, Buth’s original intent wasn’t to make Steampunk-inspired art. But his unique style has garnered attention he didn’t expect.
“I’ve been making steel lamps and clocks, many of which might be described as Steampunk, for a couple years now, and I thought this would be a good venue to see if there was any interest,” says Buth.
“I really like a lot of the design elements incorporated in Steampunk. Personally, I like the mechanical, hardware and machinery aspects. I don’t get into the dressing up in costume part, which is what a lot of people live for,” says Buth.
Like the hands of one of Buth’s clocks, the hands of time can be turned back to another era for those who come to experience the convention. From Steampunk-style bands performing live, to the frivolity and passion of an Absinthe tasting, and the tribulations of a grueling tea-dueling exhibition, the event will have something for everyone.
“Steampunk celebrates being creative, having fun, and learning and doing new things. It’s more about ‘what if,’ instead of being bound by societal, cultural and reality restrictions,” says Steil. “Wild Wild West Con is … in a more immersive historical, or at least historical-looking, environment, which goes a long way to suspending disbelief and creating the experimental feel of the future that never was.”
