Welcome from the Chairman I am no different from most who would call themselves geeks or fans. I have longed to be in the company of others but often found myself isolated, outcast, and uncomfortable in company of mainstream society. Unlike some, I was not lucky enough to grow up knowing there were others like me. Alone, I filled these empty times with a pursuit of knowledge. I studied the sciences, engineering, history, and sought out trades: learning woodworking, leatherworking, knife making, and more. But despite all I sought to learn, I found myself incomplete. Unable to remember names and dates to save my life, or to grasp the intricacies of fashion, I stumble through interviews, and I will never be called a wordsmith. As you read this chair’s message, while the words and thoughts are mine, at least three others will have edited it. They will have corrected my bad grammar, spelling that spell check gives up on, and run-on sentences that have cleared the fence, the field, and are heading out to sea. Because no matter how much we know, no matter how much we can do, no matter how much we wish to be able to stand alone, we cannot. We need others. We need one another. Over the last four years, this is the lesson I have learned: At Clockwork Alchemy, we are not alone. When Clockwork Alchemy started, we were a loosely organized group of fans with a dream but no home. It was by the support of another that we found ARG, who gave us a place and time to come together as a community. We found FanimeCon, who supported us by lending us their experience in running a convention. But, most of all, we found each other. We come together and call ourselves staff, guests, and fans, but really, we are so much more. We are there when one of us triumphs. When one of us falls, we are there to help them back up. When one suffers a loss, we all lend our support. For, when we need others, we find that we are no longer alone. We are a community. We are family. As we move forward and continue to grow, we will find that we face many new challenges. The world holds many things for us to overcome, and, in doing so, rewards. Most of all, we will do it together. This is our Legend; it is the Lore we will speak; it is the Myth that has proved to be true. This is Clockwork Alchemy. Thatch Durbin Chair, Clockwork Alchemy Clockwork Alchemy 2015 Staff List Thatch D. (Head) Shawn M.
Video Programming James C.
Joseph S. Gwynn T.
Western Martial Arts Fred K. (Head) Ruth M. (Co-Head) Tom M. (Co-Head) Brooke B. Matthew C. Mia E. Draven M. PJ W.
Gaming MIchael K. (Head) Shelley H. Patti K. Michael P. Misha Z.
Tea Parlor Melanie D. (Head) Wendy B. (Second) Brad B. Angela F. Sabrina H. Doris M. Lori P. Isabella S. Robin V.
Airship Racing Quentin T. (Head) Laura C. Gretchen K. Panels Kory D. (Co-Head) Thena M. (Co-Head) Adam S. (Co-Head) Sharon C. (Second) Jeff C. Mark W.
Registration Ariel I. (Head) Jaime M. (Second) Esther B. Tatiana C. Juliana S. Content Ruth S. (Head) Creative Dave H. (Head) Rj G. Cynthia L. Michael S.
Tech Josh K. (Co-Head) Darren B. Chip C. Info Desk Chelsea K. (Co-Head) Rose T. (Co-Head) George A. Barbara C. Sara C. Jay D.
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Sean F. Darwin G. Ashlynne J. Gina D.
Bethany K. Joshua N. Carmen J. Karl S.
Chirag P. Matthew P. Leslie P. Anton T.
Artist’s Bazaar Sandra F. (Head) Jessie H. (Second) Laura C. Teri L. Meghan M. Joey N. Hayley R. Carrie S. Kat Y.
Volunteers Dorothy-Diane W. (Head)
Special Events Alyssa R. (Head) Jennifer A. Mathew B. Kory D. Matt H. Martin I. Katie L. Prajit L. Nina M. Laura O. Mark R. Emily R. Sara S. Erik S. Linnea S. Jason V. Charlie W.
ConOps Peter R. (Head) Judi F. (Second) Alex P. (Second) Sandra A. Mike F. Raine F. Kat H. Katherine H. Nathan K.
Bobbies Cassie K. (Head) Marshall C. (Second) Cobie A. Mary A. Sean A. Mike A. Lisa B. Christine C. Eddie C. Terisa C. Eddie C. Thad G. Noelle L. CoCo J. Edward K. Jon M.
Web Vernon P. (Head) Christofer N. Logistics Gene F. (Head) Joseph F. (Second) Amber A. Gene F. Matt F. Joseph G. Emmanuel G. Vika H. Christian H. Allan H. Kirsten H. Daisy N. Ali P. Andrea S.
Guests of Honor Literary/Artist Guests of Honor – Kaja and Phil Folio Kaja Foglio is a Seattle-based writer, artist, and publisher. She founded Studio Foglio, LLC in 1993 as a venue for her Magic: The Gathering art prints, but quickly expanded into publishing. She co-writes the comic series Girl Genius with her husband Phil, is the chief graphic designer and webmistress for Studio Foglio and Airship Entertainment, and masterminded their successful transition to web comic form. Phil Foglio won the Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist back in 1977, and is still waiting for the wealth and unlimited power he was told this would bring. In the meantime, he’s made a career as a writer and artist because he liked the idea of commuting 50 feet to his office. He’s worked in the fields of science fiction, comics, and gaming. His hobbies include travel, gardening and waiting. Kaja and Phil won Hugo Awards in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for Girl Genius. Read Girl Genius comics online: www.girlgeniusonline.com
Maker and Fashion Guest of Honor – Joel Reid Joel Reid, a native of Central Pennsylvania and now a resident of Seattle, is the proprietor of Ruff Designs. After majoring in Theater Design with a minor in Creative Writing at Carnegie Mellon University, he worked with a number of theater companies in Pittsburgh. In Seattle he’s become involved in the SCA and the steampunk community. He’s attended the flagship year of the Steampunk World’s Fair, the entire run of SteamCon 1–5 in Seattle, and all but one year of Clockwork Alchemy. Joel’s avantgarde costuming and creative work reflect innovative making and sewing achievements. He’ll be presenting panels on costuming, and his fabulous and fierce work will be featured in this year’s Fashion Show.
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Musical Guests of Honor Professor Elemental Professor Elemental has created a unique neo-Victorian blend of hip hop and comedy, and is the man behind the YouTube hits ‘Cup Of Brown Joy’ and ‘Fighting Trousers.’ His music charts subjects such as steam-powered flight, lovely horses, strange inventions, and a nice cup of tea. His act has gone like clockwork at events around the world, including Glastonbury Festival, Dragon Con, and the San Francisco Edwardian Ball. He’s won piles of awards, including Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Solo Performer and Best Personality, a Brighton Fringe award for Best Musical Act, and The Eccentric Club of Great Britain’s awards for Greatest Living Eccentric and Most Eccentric Artist.
Frenchy and the Punk Imagine Siouxsie Sioux and Dee Dee Ramone had a duo that was inspired by Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf, Toulouse Lautrec, and Deepak Chopra—this is what it might sound like. One part Dresden Dolls, one part Sonny and Cher, and one part White Stripes, they are a pixie-spirited flexitarian band of tree hugging, gothic, folky, steampunks by way of Paris and New York. Doused in red wine, kale, and granola, raised on punk rock and ballet, eclectic and uplifting… they’re Fun with a capital F! These indiecabaret folk punks have toured all over the US and Europe since 2005 and have performed at nearly every major steampunk event in the US.
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Featured Events Wind-Up Cabaret Early Friday night, music and performance mix in a spectacle worthy of your fantasies. At this year’s Wind-Up Cabaret, you’ll be delighted and entertained by the musical stylings of Dogwood, Musical Guests of Honor Frenchy and the Punk, and Unwoman. Also featured will be a preview of the fashion show, and Any Moment Now: a musical adventure where every choice matters.
Dogwood
Hailing from the hedge and loam of Seattle’s undergrowth, Dogwood inherited her father’s passion for bluegrass and her mother’s love for eighties pop and opera (and discovered punk and David Bowie all on her own). She’s been hooked on Greek myth since the age of three, and it is from those and other ancient tales that the sparks of her inspiration most often originate, in song and poem form alike. Five years ago, she picked up a ukulele and hasn’t looked back.
Unwoman
Unwoman is a San Franciscobased solo cellist-singersongwriter. With timeless songs about love gone wrong and classic covers, Unwoman has been a featured favorite at major steampunk, goth, and scifi-related events all over North America. She received the 2013 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award for best solo musician. In addition to solo work, Unwoman has performed with Amanda Palmer, Voltaire, Abney Park, Rasputina, and Vernian Process. She has released seven albums. See more of Unwoman: unwoman.com
Any Moment Now
Following their successful collaboration on The Antikythera Mechanism, Nathaniel Johnstone and Alyssa Rosenbloom decided to go all Rodgers and Hammerstein, and embark on a quest of epic proportions: to write a musical! The result is Any Moment Now: a story of love, loss, assassins, devious villains, time travel, and butterflies. Meet Petra and Eden, two sisters who live underground with the remnants of humanity after a disastrous apocalypse; Maya, a genius inventor in a long past time of technological progress; Edward Norton Danforth III, a cyborg with dreams of world domination; and Jonathan, a guy just trying to find his place in the world. Together, theirs is a saga that spans the ages where if you change anything, you change everything. The stage is set and the actors are ready. With the vocal talents of the lovely Dogwood, Unwoman, and Jody Ellen on board as well as the piano stylings of Jake Sele from Good Company and set art by Tempest, it is sure to be a show to remember!
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Emperor Norton’s Ball Emperor Norton has made congenial arrangements for this timetraveling ball to feature all of the best dancing from Victorian times, the swing era, and an alternative today. On Saturday evening, Clockwork Alchemy will hold a ball of epic proportions with seven hours of music and dancing! Getting you out on the dance floor this year at Emperor Norton’s Ball will be DJ Persephone, Good Company, Lee Presson and the Nails, and DJ JsinJ.
Good Company
Seattle six-piece Good Co is the US’s first live electro swing band. Electro swing is a new genre that mixes the music of the swing era with the dance music of today. At Good Company performances it’s quite common for such things as beat-boxing harmonica jams, onstage dance parties, and crowd sing-alongs to spontaneously break out. As the US’s first electro swing band, Good Company is proud to present this new genre to the States. Pounding dance beats are mixed with gypsy jazz guitar riffs and a live horn section, turning samples from the past on their heads. Just sit back, order up a stiff one, and keep Good Company!
Lee Presson and the Nails
Lee Presson and the Nails (LPN) are an award-winning big band out of San Francisco. Led by the manic Lee Presson, LPN has been pounding out their peculiar brand of sinister swing since 1994. They are, if we are to take their word for it, the ‘wildest swing band in the Great 48!’ They have been warmly embraced by the steampunk community despite their frequently expressed confusion as to how and why this might have occurred. See more of LPN: www.leepresson.com/
Clockwork Fashion The 2014 Clockwork Alchemy Fashion Show was such a success that we are doing it again! Don’t expect the usual high-energy, runway-style show. We’re raising the bar with a concept unlike
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what you’ve seen before at a steampunk convention: a fusion of fashion, music, and theater! Models will show designer fashions inspired by the amazing music of multi-talented Unwoman, as she performs live. Come and enjoy the show, as designers defy the ‘brown, hot, and heavy’ look of many steampunk fashions with new and refreshing spring and summer looks that are lighter and cooler, in brighter or softer palettes. Returning to this year’s show are the beautiful corsetry of Y Designs and the outstanding menswear of Mr. Allen Jefferies. Added to that are the breathtaking historic dresses of designer Mark Havens and the amazing avant-garde work of our Fashion/ Maker Guest of Honor: Mr. Joel Reid. Don’t miss what some attendees called ‘the best steampunk fashion show ever seen!’ Last year’s show was standing room only, so arrive before the doors open to get the best seats!
Aural Alchemy Perhaps steampunk was originally a literary genre, but today its influence is felt throughout the musical spectrum. Our Sunday night concert brings together some of the most vibrant examples of this musical genre! Serenading us at this year’s Aural Alchemy Concert will be Musical Guests of Honor Professor Elemental and Frenchy and the Punk. They’ll be joined by Unwoman, Jody Ellen, and Marquis of Vaudeville. Performing with them will be Pixie Daye, Greg Schwartz, Janelle Richmond, and Erika Petra.
Unwoman
[See Wind-Up Cabaret for bio.]
Jody Ellen
The only way audiences have been able to describe Jody Ellen onstage is with the phrase, ‘Random Awesomeness.’ Hailing from Seattle, WA, Jody Ellen is a full-time performer, musician, and singer/songwriter, and her music has touches of dark rock, punk rock, and soul, mixed with catchy pop melodies. She is best known for her work as the former female singer in the world-renowned steampunk band Abney Park. See more of Jody Ellen at www. jodyellen.com/
Marquis of Vaudeville
With imagination at their core, the theatrical flair and intriguing songwriting of Marquis of Vaudeville have grasped the attention of a broad range of music lovers. The group is known the world over for their progressive, psychedelic, punk-cabaret stylings, fusing timeworn elements of the old world with newfangled innovation. The musical menagerie is most widely known for their extravagant, Vaudevillian-inspired, sold-out spectacles.
Featured Guests Mark Coker
Based in Los Gatos, Mark Coker founded Smashwords in 2008 to make it fast, free, and easy for authors to publish and distribute e-books. Today, Smashwords is the world’s largest distributor of self-published e-books. 100,000 authors and small independent presses around the world publish over 350,000 books with Smashwords, distributing globally to Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, OverDrive, and more. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markcoker, at blog.smashwords.com, and in Huffington Post’s Books section: huffingtonpost.com/mark-coker
Harry Turtledove
Harry Turtledove earned a PhD in Byzantine history from UCLA, which taught him that history is weirder than anything you could possibly invent. He writes science fiction (including a lot of alternate history), fantasy (much of it historically based), historical fiction, and, occasionally, mainstream fiction. He has won a Hugo Award, two Sidewise Awards for alternate history, a Hal Clement Award for YA science fiction, a Prometheus Award, and the John Esten Cook Award for Southern Fiction.
Doc Phineas
Dr. Phineas Tetrachomatome Kastle is the Steampunk Persona of Dr. Kenneth A. Kastler, a scholar, professor, actor, and director who has traveled in 92 countries; been in 15 motion pictures in Hollywood, 18 original theatrical pieces, 5 books, and 3 musical CDs; and experienced 45 years of educating young people. He can currently be seen as an expert on television’s Pawn Stars and at www.docphineas.com/
Thomas Badillo
Returning coach Thomas Badillo, is a martial arts instructor from the San Francisco Bay Area, with a dedicated interest in Western Martial Arts, Bartitsu, and Steampunk. He has served as Vice President of the Broadsword League, a member of Legion Fantastique, and an instructor at the Dickens Christmas Fair, the Edwardian Ball, Nova Albion Steampunk Expo, GearCon, Steam Con, Clockwork Alchemy, ISMAC, and CombatCon. You can find Tom on Facebook: Royal Airship Kamehameha, Martial Arts in the Steampunk ‘Verse, and Steampunk Bartitsu.
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Featured Exhibits Artist’s Bazaar
Clockwork Alchemy’s Artist’s Bazaar is an artist-only venue where handcrafted one-of-a-kind finery and frippery are offered for sale next to fantastical instruments and armaments. You are warmly invited to wander the aisles of a Bazaar more wondrous than any found in standard reality or dreamed of on Arabian nights. You’ll discover everything from fairy relics, hats, spats, corsets, crinolines, and other apparel and accessories, to clever creations to be used and enjoyed in the home, and much, much more. Come sample the fruits of the astonishing talents of the steampunk community’s makers and dreamers!
Artist’s Gallery
Above all else, Clockwork Alchemy is an event for artists, makers, dreamers, and doers. We have chosen to honor such intrepid souls by putting the fruits of their labor on display in the Artist’s Gallery, a cornucopia of fantastic oddities constructed by steampunk artists and artisans from all walks of life. From paintings and sculptures to costumes and props to toys and inventions, if a steampunk can make it more awesome you’re likely to find an example of it here. Feast your eyes, feed your imagination, and inspire your own creativity by observing what can be accomplished with a little ingenuity and a lot of imagination.
Panels Workshops
Dance Lessons
Over the course of the weekend, Clockwork Alchemy will be Ready to cut loose and shake a leg? Need to brush up on your presenting workshops where you can learn to make your own form for a waltz? Clockwork Alchemy is offering dance lessons steampunk accessories and props. Learn how to take thrift throughout the weekend whether you are just beginning or need a store finds and turn them into steampunk fashion and gadgets. little fine tuning, Lessons being offered include: Planned workshops include costuming, simple prosthetics, writing • Basic and Advanced Waltz—taught by John Schmidt and Stacy and publishing, and 3D printing, to name just a few of the skills Hanssen our instructors will pass on to you. We even have Kids Crafting • Congress of Vienna Waltz—taught by Cathleen Myers Workshops to entertain the young ones! • Swing and Blues—taught by Brian Gardner, Stacy Hanssen, and Panels Gregory Friedman Clockwork Alchemy has enlisted the aid of some very talented • Belly Dance—taught by Tempest (Laura Zakroff) and Firefly writers, filmmakers, fashionistas, makers, and experts in (Lisa Felten) 19th century culture, etiquette, technology, and the world of steampunk. They bring panels and presentations that will help you create your steampunk persona, plus history that never was but might have been. Please consult your Pocket Guide for a detailed panels schedule.
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Events and Exhibits Alchemist Tea Parlour
Join us and steep yourself in our legendary blends of fine teas. Our cordial staff will greet, seat, and serve you a nice, warm, cuppa—and, should you desire, a cookie or two. Come with your friends, or come alone and make new acquaintances, to engage in stimulating conversation or relax between panels and workshops. Who knows what mythological creature you may meet, or lore you may create?
Astonishing Air Races
What good steampunk legend doesn’t involve an airship? We love dangerous altitudes, daring escapes, dauntless aeronauts, and dapper pirates. Have you ever dreamed of flying one of these majestic machines? Join us for Clockwork Alchemy’s own Dirigible Races: our special, smaller, indoor variation. Compete to become ‘Master of the Dirigible’—a legend of the fleet!
The Authors’ Salon
Clockwork Alchemy hosts an incredible set of steampunk, historical fantasy, and sci-fi fantasy authors, who will be sharing their tricks of the trade and showing us how to not reinvent the wheel as a writer. You’ll find them in the Monterey Room, renamed The Authors’ Salon. Many of our authors are releasing their latest works at Clockwork Alchemy, so a special BOOK RELEASE PARTY will be held in The Authors’ Salon on Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Meet the authors, get your books signed, and see the latest in print and on the web.
Caravan Tent
Featuring floating veils, flying carpets, and all the mysteries of the near and far east, the Caravan Tent is host to belly dancers and other performers on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the Gateway Foyer. Exotic, enchanting and elegant, these performers will spirit you away to a place of legend, lore, and myth where genies, sultans and viziers ruled the Silk Road and only the bravest adventurer dared travel.
Gaming
Just want to sit down and play something? Have a steampunk based game you want to try out with a bunch of people? Head to the gaming room, we’ll have a large library of games you can check out for use in the room. We’ll also be running some demos of games so check the schedule for when you can join in.
Telegraph Office
The Aetheric Message Machine Company offers free telegram service within Clockwork Alchemy. Text a message to our office, and it will be printed on our antique brass and glass machines and delivered by one of our messengers at no charge! Pick up one of our cards at any Info Desk for details, or find the Telegraph Office just off the lobby near the Artist’s Gallery. Come by and visit. We always have the latest news.
The War Room
Experience Martial Arts in the Steampunk ‘verse. Prepare to face mythical beasts, rotting ghouls, possessed air pirates, and dark sorcerers. Our crew has traveled on airships, submarines, and a myriad of steam-powered conveyances, to the four corners of the globe, to bring to you instructors from a range of Western and Eastern Martial Arts. These instructors have an average of 30 years of martial experience and will provide hands-on instruction. Join us to hone your skills with a wide range of weapons, such as swords, canes, spears, knives, and LED sabers from galaxies far away. Experience skills the Suffragettes used to win the vote for women. Learn exercises the British expeditionary forces used to hone their saber skills. And, don’t miss the martial art used by Sherlock Holmes: Bartitsu.
Steampunk Film Festival
Gas lamps up! Kinetoscope to speed! Quiet on the set! And... ACTION! Join us in a history that never was but might have been as works of independent filmmakers are showcased alongside favorite steampunk and steampunk-inspired films. After dark, let Al Omega (the alpha and omega of all things science fiction and horror) bring you the best of the worst and the worst of the best of steampunk-flavored sci-fi, fantasy, and horror films.
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