Page 59 - Tropic Magazine Issue 31

TROPIC • ARTS

Corsets & copper

TROPICAL STEAMPUNK
A series of upcycling workshops
is putting the steam into punk
as neo-Victorian, futuristic
costumes and crafts come
to life. Credit: Caz Knight

Tropical Steampunk is taking creatives
on a journey into the future of the
past, producing a suite of workshops
culminating in a gala costume party
at Tanks Arts Centre. The 16 classes,
facilitated by artist Hayley Gillespie,
began back in February but are
now going into top gear through an
op shop costume challenge. Event
producer Rebecca Scott told Tropic
teams will battle it out by foraging for They are a great
costume pieces and crafting them into
steampunk show-stoppers under the opportunity to connect
guidance of seamstress Sasha Ruski. with other creatives and to
“The aim of the challenge is to show
people that they can find so many great make new friends
steampunk elements in the op shops Rebecca Scott
around town and that it is really fun Event producer
to craft a character and a costume,”
she said. “At the same time we will be The gala event, at the very fitting
raising funds for the charity SHAC Tank 3, promises to be an elegant and
to highlight the chronic and serious whimsical celebration of live music,
housing shortage in the Cairns area.” decor design, art and costuming. What is
The costumes will be judged by local It’s not just for adults, with children steampunk?
fashionista personalities and winners catered for earlier in the day through a
will be announced at the Tropical steampunk pirate costume party with A retro-futuristic subgenre of
Steampunk gala costume party in games, a photobooth and a Punch and science fiction and a popular
September. Judy puppet show. film theme, steampunk can be
“The other workshops will allow people As the sun sets, the ticketed event set against a backdrop of either
to build up the various elements of begins. The program has received Victorian England or America’s
their steampunk costumes, such as funding through the Australian Wild West and incorporates
arm bands, gaitors, staffs, top hats or Government’s Regional Arts Fund. 19th-century industrial steam-
goggles,” Rebecca said. powered machinery and post-
apocalyptic elements.
Think petticoats and corsets,
goggles, gears, screws,
propellers, dials and clocks.
The applications are endless,
from fashion to music, art,
Steampunk Great Op Steampunk Steampunk event Tropical Steampunk comics, design and décor.
costuming Shop Costume costuming staging & décor 2021 Gala
(child friendly) Challenge adult’s top hat SEP 4 & 11 SEP 18
AUG 7 & 21 AUG 14 & 28 SEP 2
SEP 9 MORE: createmore.com.au

59 • tropicnow.com.au