Dr. Grymm Laboratories

1000 AMAZING COSPLAY & COSTUME IDEAS

2012-06-27T22:42:00.002-04:00

Many of you know that we are working on putting together a new publication through Quarry Books that will be 1000 Incredible Cosplay and Costume Ideas. I wanted to write a post to explain why we wanted to do this book. Dr. Grymm and I aren’t necessarily known for cosplay, so I want to tell you a little about our inspiration.

I have been reading comic books and playing video games avidly as a geek girl since I was in high school and I discovered a band of nerds to hang around with. I used to watch Animes, trade comics and play Magic the Gathering and D & D with these friends. I remember spending time talking with one friend in particular about the clothing designs in games and comics. It always stuck with me that we would talk about how some of particularly the female costumes seem to defy physics and that was part of the appeal. These were designs that could be free from constraints of the real world. That observation always stuck with me.

Fast forward to 15 years later and I started following along at home with two particular friends who really provided the inspiration bed for us to start researching this process. The first is our friend (and one of the artists featured in the 2011-2012 Steampunk Bizarre) Jessica Lilley. Last summer Jessica worked hard to create a terrifically accurate Tali Z’Orah cosplay from Mass Effect 3 for DragonCon. Joey and I played along at home watching progress pictures and chatting with Jessica about various ways to make the costume come to life and be safe to wear (seeing is really overrated), while still being accurate to the source material. I was so fascinated by the process that I started to look at other costumers and realized all the amazing work that was being done.

People were taking those physics defying designs that are so appealing from games and comics and MAKING THEM REAL. Not only making them real but making them well enough that they could be worn all day at a convention and stay in place or hold up. I started to fall in love with the INNOVATION that these people were accomplishing on a daily basis. No one was selling them a pattern and giving instructions on how to do something, they were just making their own way. Not only that, we learned that people were swapping tips and suggestions on how to make the costumes just that much more accurately and creating this incredible community of people doing amazing things.

You can see the appeal of having these incredible photos that really show off the work that is put into a costume and making all the details perfect. Along with that comes the ability to roleplay a bit and have some fun. I find that my favorite images are the ones where the cosplayers are really getting into the spirit of becoming the character. For instance I saw a Yuna cosplay last night where the subject was standing on water and splashing with her staff. It looked straight out the game. More than that though, IT LOOKED FUN.

Those are the things we want to highlight with this project. Innovation, artistry and fun. I am so amazed to see the submissions I am getting from all over the world. I got one from South Africa, which came with a little back story to the work. The cosplayers who submitted couldn't access the same kind of materials we can get here in the US for a reasonable budget. So instead of cintra or craft foam, they made this incredible looking armor out of cardboard, papier mache and joint compound. That's the kind of work that makes me wish we had more space to include information about each project, because you can't tell what materials were used from the photos.

To add even more excitement to the book, we are joined by Internationally known Cosplayer, Yaya Han as a co-author of this book! She has lent her knowledge and point of view about this great community to this publication and we couldn't be more honored to have her onboard.

In a personal statement from Yaya:

"I just would like to re-iterate what a great project this is. Even though there is no monetary compensation, I believe this book is worth being a part of. Why? Because the cosplay scene is growing fast and shifting toward the mainstream. But right now the public media still has huge misconceptions about cosplayers as fetishists, booth babes, and faux geeks.

We need to set the record straight, by giving the mainstream media a collection of incredible costumes that are hand/home made, with passion and creativity. I want to be a part of "1000 Incredible Cosplay and Costume Ideas" because I know it can help non-geeks and mass media understand what WE are all about, and what is means to be a cosplayer. I believe this book can serve as a guideline to Cosplay for many years to come. So please read the guidelines and SUBMIT! Be a part of Cosplay History!"

When this book is actually in my hands next year I am going to be so proud of it. I can't wait to do some traveling to promote the work inside of it. I will be telling the story about the South Africa cosplayer, and the gentleman who submitted a version of Kilik from Soul Caliber IV that was hand painted by his grandmother. These are the inspirational stories that I wanted to celebrate with this book and these are the stories that I want to make sure are told.

Please help spread the word! Time is running out (August 31) and we want the best from around the world. E-Mail us directly at 1000@DrGrymmLaboratories.net.

Cheers!

Mrs. Grymm

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR GIVE AWAY!

2012-02-28T13:40:00.006-05:00

Mrs. Grymm was recently treated with an advanced review copy of the Girl in the Clockwork Collar, the sequel to the Girl in the Steel Corset by our good friend, Kady Cross. The book is officially released in May.

I enjoyed discovering New York as imagined by Ms. Cross - its always fun to read about a familiar place and enjoy the way the author has captured it. I read most of this book on the train to the city for a meeting last week, and couldn't put it down, its a very exciting and quick read. I had to walk by the current location of the Waldorf-Astoria on my way and found myself immediately picturing Finley standing in the same spot (although, if you read the author's well researched notes Finely would have been at a different address!), as some of the action is related to the hotel. If you like intrigue, action, and good fight scenes I urge you to check out this series.

Dr. Grymm Laboratories happens to have an extra advanced review copy of the book available for giveaway! You can win the copy by leaving a comment here on the blog telling us why you want to read this book! We'll pick our favorite comment a week from today, Tuesday, 3/6. Only comments here on the blog will count so make sure to pass it on. We'll have the book signed by the author and personalized however the winner wishes.

CONTEST UPDATE! 3/6/12

It looks like we have a winner! Kady Cross has made her decision and the winner of the advanced copy of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar goes to JOHN KELLIN! Kellin Please contact us at DrGrymm@DrGrymmLaboratories.net to arrange for us getting the book to you.
Thank you and congratulations to all who sumbitted an entry!

Mrs. Grymm

Dr. Grymm on Selling NY: The Steampunk Apartment

2012-01-30T11:03:00.006-05:00

As some of you remember, we had mentioned in summer of last year that we were asked to be on the HGTV show Selling NY, to assist them in helping explain the Steampunk subculture and design aesthetic. Why? Because they had a unique and difficult apartment they needed to sell for an eccentric client. This property has been well publicized in several papers and magazines as well as being one of the Wall Street Journals top viewed articles. This of course brought along alot of negative commentary from both the Steampunk community and self appointed critics of unique apartments. Now I can understand that without actually having the opportunity to experience this apartments first hand, the typical couch jockey might label it cluttered, a mess, juvenile, ridiculous and my favorite, "not Steampunk at all".

So after doing some research, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt a Realtor from CORE found me via our book 1000 Steampunk Creations and brought me on to be the "Steampunk Expert", a title I have never been comfortable with. NO ONE is a Steampunk Expert. Like any art based movement, it is up to the viewer to interpret and make their own opinion on an esthetic that is loosely based on time periods, styles, and materials. Of course being that it is an alternate reality, there is no real right or wrong no matter what the stubborn Neo-Vics and uptight posers would like you to believe. Yes it comes from our rich history of literature storytelling, science and invention, but an actual part of history... No.

So is this unique apartment completely Steampunk? No. But is any thing out there that completely is? No. The movies and books we love have the elements in it and most usually are not completely Steampunk and there is still a thread of realism and actual history to them. This apartment is an nice mixture of Steampunk, Dieselpunk, and Post Apocalyptic, but more so it was designed by someone who loved and appreciated the look for himself. People forget that it's not that the Realtors who decorated this apartment by what they thought Steampunk was because it is a "hot new movement hitting the main stream". This apartment is as unique as the fellow who decided to live in it, not even he knew what Steampunk was, and when he up and moved on he left these Realtors with a challenge.

Coming from an apartment sales background during a chapter of my life, I understood this challenge all too well. They were in a bind. They wanted someone to buy this apartment for what it was, not to gut it and start over. This Apartment is not just filled with junk. most of the pieces are valuable antiques and parts of history that were discarded and refurbished now with a purpose. And no, it's not every ones cup of tea, but that's OK. There is someone who will love it. Their "needle in a haystack" buyer, and I for one was honored to lend my voice to help them find that person.

I made the call to a select few of the people in the Steampunk community to help the potential buyers and other agents realize that we the Steampunk Community are not a bunch of freaks running around in costumes. We are intelligent, talented, business minded artists who haven't forgotten how powerful imagination is. As most who know me, I am very selective about what I lend my voice and image to. I don't do this for fame and glory. I believe that what I say ultimately represents not only me and my business, but also the Steampunk Art community that I have come to love.

So all in all, here is edited episode showing just the Steampunk property. Special thanks to CORE, Parul-Gita Brahmbhatt, Michael Bridenstine and the crew for coming out to my Lab and allowing me to be a part of this.

So final word from Dr. Grymm: It's your choice how you decorate your home. Be it white walls, gothic, tree house, or dungeon. When we as Steampunks start judging what others precieve as "Steampunk done wrong", we are no better then the people who hate our community and our imagination, and we're not helping anyone. Please let Steampunk inspire others the way it inspired you! I don't care if it's Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, your neighbors kid, or your mail man! We all have the right to our own opinions. Don't let anyone ever tell you differently.

Furthermore, it you ARE the right person for this apartment, contact CORE today!!

Thanks for watching and reading.

~Dr. Grymm

BOOK REVIEW: Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos!

2011-11-30T17:40:00.000-05:00

We recently received our review copy of the new how-to book penned by Thomas Willeford of Brute Force Studios. The book is titled Steampunk Gear, Gadgets, and Gizmos. Its no secret that we are friendly with Thomas, his work has appeared in our last two Steampunk Bizarre exhibitions.

That being said, I think he has done a great job putting this book together. If you have ever heard Thomas give one of his panels at a convention, you'll clearly recognize his voice and story telling style all throughout this book. He has lots of side bar anecdotes and tips that come across as though you are listening to Mister Willeford himself.

My favorite section of the book is the chapter he wrote about finding his materials at flea markets and antique stores. I like that he took the time to discuss valuable antiques versus items that are more commonly found and the importance of researching items before disassembling them. Dr. Grymm and I got into steampunk from the angle of enjoying finding old items and learning about their previous purpose as well as a way to give new life to scavenged items so of course this chapter appealed to me.

Beyond that I found the instructions for the projects to be very clear. These are not beginner projects, but I think that is nice. I spend a lot of time in the craft section when I visit a bookstore, so to me it is a boon to have a more complex set of skills involved in the projects. I especially liked the instructions for the Aetheric Ray Deflector solid brass goggles and Professor Grimmelore's Mark I Superior Replacement Arm. I thought both of these projects were good to include in a how-to book because they rely on modifying commonly found items from the hardware store, rather than scavenged pieces. I think for someone new to this kind of project (but experienced with tools and techniques), would find these to be great first steampunk projects.

I would recommend this book as a perfect item to pick up for your favorite Steampunk enthusiast for Christmas. Maybe you might even get a version of one of the items in the book as a return gift! Keep your eye on the blog for a few more reviews coming from the desk of Mrs. Grymm in the next few weeks!

The Mechanical Ink Manipulator featured at the NY Ink Exhibit!

2011-11-18T02:06:00.001-05:00

The newest contraption in Dr. Grymm's arsenal can be seen exclusively at the Mobilis in Mobili Exhibit at the Wooster Street Social Club in NY City through January 14, 2012. Hosted by ModVic's Bruce Rosenbaum, this exhibit has captured some very unique artists such as Tom Seppe, Steve Brooks, Aaron Ristau, and Brett Kelley to name a few. Located in one of the most famed tattoo shops in New York City, the opening reception was no small gathering. About 500 guests graced the parlor that night of all ages. And the guests were as unique as the entertainment. A fashion show, Burlesque dancers, and another amazing performance by our friends, Frenchy and the Punk!

"The Mechanical Ink Manipulator" The Story:

My contribution for this Exhibit was yet another evil contraption cooked up by Dr. Grymm. A Steampunk Tattoo Gun Arm found in a dark closet in Grymm's Lab. The contraption was in an old dusty crate with the inscription "For Lydia", on it. Once dusted off and polished it was noticed that a single glass vile of squid ink remained unused and attached to the device, as if it was only meant for one use. The most devious detail of this device was the business end... It did not have one needle, it had six! Surely made for the toughest of skin and a great tattoo enthusiast who did not mind a little extra dose of pain with their art. The device seemed to still be in working order after all these years. Once plugged in, a violent hum and tremor charged forth as the engine glowed an ominous orange flickering glow. The hand sprang to life as if it had a predetermined design in mind. Sadly after a small spark and the smell of burning copper, the machine shut down before we were able to see what the image it was trying to ink would be. A message perhaps from Grymm, himself? Someday we hope to work out the bugs and find out what the mystery could be.

Construction

The piece was constructed using various vintage parts from the lab. An old paint sprayer, a "hand massager" projector bits, Typewriter parts, radio knobs, and various glass bits. Here are a few work in progress shots of before and after.

DETAILS:

To find out more about the event and the other artists involved take a look at this great article from NYBODYART, or this article from YRB Magazine, and check out some amazing pics from the opening event by Bobby Putney, and these by Michael Salerno!

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And since I'm throwing around LINKS all willie-nillie, I'd like to share a few with you:

One from out friends at WIRED.COM, a review about the new HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK book.

Second, from NEW ENGLAND ARTS, a review of the Steampunk Bizarre!

Third, FLICKUME's Review of Steam Driven, and mention of it also in WIRED.COM!

And lastly, do you want to hear a recording of Mrs. Grymm at the Boston Book Festival talking Steampunk with Kelly Link, Gavin Grant, & Holly Black? go HERE

Enjoy!

~Dr. Grymm

Eye-Pod: "Two Point, OH!" A Steampunk iPod Mod

2011-10-26T11:12:00.003-04:00

At long last, I can reveal the big brother to Dr. Grymm's original 2009 Eye-Pod!

Might I present, Dr. Grymm's Eye-Pod: "Two point, OH!" Dr. Grymm's Eye-Pod: "Two Point, OH!" is the second generation of a Mary Shelly's FRANKENSTEIN style modded iPod following the original designed in 2009.

This version has a full size 7th Generation iPod that can be controlled through the eyeball scroll wheel. The case also has a flip up magnifier and braided cloth cords. The docking station has a USB charging cord and speakers which emit sound through two brass horns. Electrical effects and color changing quartz crystal bring this monster to life! The case will fit and control any classic eyepod without any damage or manipulation to the device. The contraption stands 1' tall and is completely portable.

Dr. Grymm's newest device can be seen exclusively at the Charles River Museum of Industry's Steampunk Form and Function Exhibit Oct. 31, 2011 through Jan. 15, 2012 hosted by Bruce Rosenbaum of www.ModVic.com.

The opening reception will be October 31st and is being coordinated by Dr. Grymm Laboratories. For the night of Halloween and to celebrate the opening of the 2nd Steampunk Form and Function Exhibit hosted by ModVic, The Museum will turn back the clocks to a yester-year when the Museum was a functioning factory bustling with activity. With the help of a Rory Raven who will hold a seance, he will resurrect the ghosts of the factory to join the visitors of the Museum for one spooktacular event!

In addition to food and spirits, Guests are welcome to join in on the seance and also experience some amazing mentalism and magic! The evening will also include a special screening of "STEAM DRIVEN" By Ajar Communications and Dr. Grymm Laboratories which was filmed at the Charles River Museum of Innovation.

The interactive event will be a feast for the senses as light and sound create a haunting mood appropriate for the whole family!

The Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation has fast become the home to the steampunk movement nationwide. Steampunk, Form & Function II offers an informational and interactive look into the world of steampunk and all that it encompasses including, fashion, literature, entertainment and much more. On display visitors will find modern Victorian clocks, steampunk lights, Steampunk coffee makers and even a steampunk humidifier.

All the Steampunk functional art objects will have practical use and will feel comfortable in anyone’s home, business or office. Visitors can also use Victorian computer stations to discover the origins of this technological Victorian world or listen to Steampunk music on a Steampunk sound system and much more!

Mrs. Grymm at the Boston Book Festival!

2011-10-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

On October 15, Allison attended the Boston Book Festival to join a Steampunk panel with Kelly Link, Gavin J. Grant and Holly Black. It was moderated by Maya Escobar, Teen Librarian at the Cambridge Public Library.

Usually Dr. Grymm is the face on stage, but Allison was a natural pick for this panel as she is the avid reader of the two.

We're very proud of here here at the lab for making her big debut to such a huge crowd and I'm sure it wont be the last time!

Stay tuned for our newest book HOW TO DRAW STEAMPUNK - Available NOW!

~Dr. Grymm

Dr. Grymm's Steampunk Bizarre Masquerade Ball

2011-10-25T14:22:00.001-04:00

To continue with the celebration of the 2011 Steampunk Bizarre The Mark Twain House and Museum and Dr. Grymm hosed a Masquerade Ball. So many people came out in their finest and danced the night away, While Magician and Mentalist Rhiakath mesmerized many with both tricks and treats. We also were honored to show a special showing of STEAM DRIVEN that night to an amazed crowd!

I was even interviewed on local Fox 21 Morning Show to promote the event and encourage guests to bring toys to donate to the Hartford Children's Hospital.

Pictures of the event, taken by Jessica Lilly, can be found HERE.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the event!

THE 2011 STEAMPUNK BIZARRE IS HERE!

2011-10-25T13:58:00.000-04:00

Poster by Joey Marsocci and Steve Ziolkowski

The opening reception was held at the Mark Twain House and Museum on October 1st and runs through January 15th 2012. About 500 curious visitors came out to meet some of the artists and see what has been described by the Museum as the most exciting exhibit to be held there and surpassed opening reception numbers by a great amount.

Photo by Babs who Takes Pictures

The images below were captured by Jessica Lilly of Lady of Graves Photography, and contributing artist of the Steampunk Bizarre.

More pictures and video to be posted soon but I would really encourage people to visit the Museum and see all the detail, stories and interactive sounds and artwork for themselves. Information of times and ticket prices can be found on www.MarkTwainHouse.org.

Thank you to the participating artists and the visitors who have come out so far to make this such a successful show!

~Dr. Grymm

STEAM DRIVEN MOVIE PREMIERE

2011-10-25T11:20:00.003-04:00

The long awaited premiere of Steam Driven by Ajar Communications was shown to a packed house at the kick off of the SilkCity Flick Fest in Hartford, CT last week! The film is slated to show at several other film fests this year and then will be available on DVD, while we ramp up for a possible sequel!

Stay tuned!

Dr. Grymm on PBS ARTS

2011-10-25T11:03:00.000-04:00

Recently I was featured on PBS Arts on a feature about Steampunk! Take a look!

MAY/JUNE UPDATES

2011-06-21T16:12:00.001-04:00

Sorry... Things got away from me after The Steampunk Worlds Fair and several projects all collided at once. Here is a summary in images of what's been going on in the Lab and what's to come...

The Steampunk Worlds Fair was a whirlwind of activity! The booth did very well and several Steampug Adventures prints were sold! The screening of I Am Steampunk went amazingly well! We gave away 4 Advanced copies of 1000 Steampunk Creations to some lucky guests. We were interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning to be aired in the near future. I was on the Steampunk Bible panel with the lovely and talented S.J. Chambers.

Here are just a few pics from that weekend! Special Thanks to Jessica Lilly of Lady of Graves Photograpy for the Photos!

The Dr. Grymm Laboratories Booth
featuring Michael Salerno's Steampunk Tricycle

Mrs. Grymm sporting a new outfit with custom pieces
by Redfield Design and Brute Force Leather.

The Emperor, The Queen, and Dr. Grymm at the Steampunk Knighting Ceremony

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Meanwhile, in Movie News... Jesus Hates Zombies has officially been announced on IMDB and has a director/producer at the helm. Some of my artwork for the film can be seen on several websites such as Fangoria, including the Poser I designed.

Above is the third Pre-Viz for the film's finale

The final scenes of Steam Driven will take place next week! A NEW Trailer will be released at the New England Steampunk Expo this September.

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And in other news...

The May/June issue of Hospitality Design Magazine featured this full page add of Dr. Grymm's Telescope as a Thank You to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

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July 2 - 4th Pirates of the Hudson in Sleepy Hollow, NY, Dr. Grymm will not only be showing off some never before seen props in his Museum of Curiosities, but will also feature a live Mermaid feeding 4 times a day! As Dr. Grymm has traveled back in time to join this event, do not be surprised that he has taken on the proper speech pattern to blend in amongst the scoundrells and scallywags!

A sneak peek at the Amazing FISH-BOY, one of the curiosities at Dr. Grymm's Museum.

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Dr. Grymm Book Signing / Steampunk Meetup at the Charles Rivers Museum

July 24, 2011 1 PM to 3 PM

Join our international steampunk City 2011 Mayor Dr. Grymm for is first book signing. Today he will discuss and autograph his lastest creation, 1,000 Steampunk Creations: Neo-Victorian Fashion, Gear, and Art. Packed with 1,000 color photographs, 1,000 Steampunk Creations features a showcase of stunning jewelry, fashion, accessories, headgear, artwork, home decorations, and curious contraptions. Also gather with other steampunks at the museum, exchange stories, show off your latest projects and find what what other steampunks are up to. This month we will feature another Steampunk Swap. Bring a steampunk item you no longer need and swap it with another steampunk for something you can use. Scavenge your closets and see what you have. Its a great way to get ready for spring cleaning and find some new pieces to add to your steampunk collection.

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Recently Dr. Grymm and Ayleen the Peacemaker were interviewed for WBAI 99.5 FM and the Artsy Fartsy Blog about Steampunk. You can read and hear our interview HERE!

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And in closing, I wanted to throw out a signal boost for Beyond Victoriana to ask that you help them meet their goal for the Rising Phoenix Fund to help victims of the destruction in Japan. You can continue to show your support by donating directly to Shelterbox or buying a button from Button Me Up. It's a great cause led by a noble and awesome Lady, Diana Pho! So please do your best to help out!

I think that's all for now! Stay tuned for several new images of projects in the works as well as the Artist line up for the 2011 Steampunk Bizarre coming this fall to The Mark Twain House Museum!

Cheers!

~Dr. Grymm

DR. GRYMM AT THE STEAMPUNK WORLD'S FAIR!

2011-05-19T11:05:00.001-04:00

Dr. Grymm Laboratories will be at the 2011 Steampunk World's Fair this Friday May, 20 - Sunday May 22 Somerset NJ! We will have a table set up in the main vendor hall where you can stop by and meet Dr. Grymm, Mrs. Grymm and our assistant and Head Minion Rhiakath. We will be promoting several of our books and films, have some shirts and prints for sale, and you can sign up to win a FREE advanced copy of our upcoming book, "1000 Steampunk Creations". We will hold a daily raffle that you can sign up for at the booth, than you must be present at the "I AM STEAMPUNK" Screening at Sat and Sunday where the winners will be announced. (You MUST be present to win!)

Please see the schedule below for activities and panels we will be present for:

FRI:

1pm - 1:30pm Opening Ceremonies (Main Stage)

2p -3p: Start of the Imperial Games hosted by the Emperor of the Red Fork Empire (Coolidge Room)

3p-4p: Steampunk in the Arts (Coolidge Room, 1st Floor)

6p-7p: SPWF 2011 - Knights of Steampunk, Knighting Ceremony (Courtyard Stage, Courtyard)

SAT:

12p-1p Steampunk Bible Book Signing and Q&A (Concierge Lounge)

2p-3p: “I AM STEAMPUNK” Screening (Coolidge Room, 1st Floor)

3p-4p: I AM STEAMPUNK Q&A (Coolidge Room, 1st Floor)

10p-11p: To Whom Does That Line Pertain to, By Chance? - (Coolidge Room)

SUN:

2p-3p: “I AM STEAMPUNK” Screening (Coolidge Room, 1st Floor)

3p-4p: Steampunk in the Arts (Coolidge Room, 1st Floor)

6P - 6:30 - Closing Ceremonies (Main Stage)

Full schedule can be found HERE:

Also I would like to send a special shout out to Oneiro Events and to Whisper (Erin) Merlot and her crew for all their hard work to pull off this amazing event. As someone who also hosts an annual event, I understand full well the amount of hard work and sleepless nights that go into this and it is an amazing feat that she and her crew are pulling off for all of us in the Steampunk Community, so Kudos to all involved!

I leave you all with the newest image of the Steampug Adventures. This image is specifically important because it actually shows the device he built to travel through time and there may be a special showing of it at the 2011 Steampunk Bizarre. I am working to have some prints of it available this weekend!

Cheers and Hope to see you all this weekend!

~Dr. Grymm

THE 2011 STEAMPUNK BIZARRE TEASER POSTER 1

2011-05-17T16:30:00.000-04:00

I finally completed the first teaser poster for the 2011 Steampunk Bizarre! This poster will be revealed this weekend at the Steampunk Worlds Fair! The first in the series of posters to announce the upcoming 2011 Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit at the Mark Twain House & Museum.

The ship seen in the poster will be brough to life by sound effects through out the museum, by sound design master Mark Adams (Whom you may remember brought to life all of my Brainstorm machines and provided the sound for last years exhibit).

The sounds that will be heard will reveal Mark Twain as he begins his first flight in the LONGHORNE FATHOM II, a flying Riverboat that can time travel, built for him exclusively by Dr. Grymm.

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October 1, 2011 through January 15, 2012:

The Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit: "The Unknown"

Dr. Grymm Laboratories presents the third annual, 2011 Steampunk Bizarre Exhibit, featuring the works of 18 National and world renowned Artists that will explore the unknown alternative world of Steampunk and Mark Twain. A complete Steampunk experience like no other, featuring special events, performances and interactive oddities! Opening reception will be on October 1, 2011 - A complete listing of special events and performances, to be announced.

A list of participating artists will also be released very soon!

Stay Tuned!

~Dr. Grymm

STEAM DRIVEN MOVIE TEASER

2011-05-13T15:28:00.000-04:00

As some of you remember, Mike and Tim Marchand from Ajar Communications were two of the artists in last years Steampunk Bizarre. There gallery pieces included 3 fictitious Steampunk film posters, and the contraptions that would hold the posters. They put together a photo shoot to use as the plates of the poster. One of the posters, a romantic comedy called "Steam Driven", was among one of the favorites. So much so that the brothers decided to make a go at producing it as an actual short film. So we were all called together once more to bring this creation to light. After 3 major filming days, they have cut together this teaser, which premiered at the 2011 International Steampunk City.

The final film will premiere at the 2011 Silk City Flick Fest, then will move on to several other film festivals across the country. For more information on this film, please visit www.steamdrivenmovie.com.

Cheers!

~Dr. Grymm

INTERNATIONAL STEAMPUNK CITY WELCOMES MAYOR GRYMM!

2011-04-27T14:01:00.001-04:00

Yes. You read that correctly... MAYOR. First, let me preface this with a quote from the INTERNATIONAL STEAMPUNK CITY website: "On May 6, 7, and 8, 2011, citizens and visitors to the beautiful and historic city of Waltham, Massachusetts may attend a festival like no other. International Steampunk City, presented by the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, is a sort of Ringling Brothers meets the Industrial Revolution event that encompasses the entire downtown area. A small “museum that could,” the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation is working with the City of Waltham, the Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Waltham Business Partnership, the Waltham Tourism Council, Steampuffin and the New England Steampunk Community to create an event that blends historic Victorian sensibility with the whimsical Steampunk movement."

Dr. Grymm and associates are honored to be attending and assisting with this event! We will be showcasing the newly updated version of "I AM STEAMPUNK" By Neurotic Films, I will be hosting several Steampunk Art Panels with the assistance of The Emperor of the RFE, and, as mentioned above, Dr. Grymm has officially been named as the "honorable" Mayor of Steampunk City! I and several other members of the "Town Council" will be holding an open forum at the Museum on Sunday, so be sure to grab a sign (seen above) at the door, and join the crowd for a lively Q&A! The FULL SCHEDULE of events can be found HERE!

We hope to see you there!

~Dr. Grymm

DR. GRYMM'S MAGIC LANTERN GOGGLES

2011-04-21T18:16:00.002-04:00

Photos by Michael Salerno

So when fellow Steampunk Artist, Michael Salerno (A.K.A. Professor Fumolatro) approaches Dr. Grymm with the task of building a unique pair of goggles for a dear friend of his who has a fondness for Magic Lanterns... I believe the term is, GAME ON!

Of course these couldn't be just any typical goggles! As Michael himself constructs quality contraptions out of only the finest materials, these goggles would have to follow the same suit. This means they would NOT be modded from my typical resin based welding goggles, but would be a scratch build using a walnut wood, base, brass, metal, leather and glass as well as antique objects.

The base was cut from 3/4" walnut stock to form to the forehead and nose bridge, then was trimmed with stitched leather for comfort. The design is not a box, but tapers forward more to give a distinct look. An antique walnut stain was applied as well as polyurethane to protect the finish. Applications of antique drawer pulls, brass screws and corner protectors were added for decoration. The strap is brass chain which can be adjusted to the wearer. And finally the optics! The projector nose was taken from a 1909 hand-crank projector. I used this because it was small enough to fit on the face without being too heavy or awkward, while still giving the appearance of an antique projector. The face plate was from that same projector and was filed down to fit between the goggle eye pieces. The curved latch below the lens doubles as a nose guard and display leg when not being worn.

Photos by Michael Salerno

Those fantastic eye pieces were taken from a pair of 1893 Opera glasses. The pearl inlay displays the etched company name J Gall & Co. I thought they were appropriate as they would be a gift from Michael who lives in NY and could serve as a reminder to the recipient who lives in England.

All in all, I'm pretty proud of how they came out and may prove to be a new style of goggles I create for customers. Reports from across the pond were very positive! It seems the recipient was quite impressed by the gift and in his words, "he has now officially been introduced to Steampunk!"

Thanks for the challenge, Professor Fumolatro!

~Cheers,

Dr. Grymm

JESUS HATES ZOMBIES - THE MOVIE: Concept Renders Pt. 1

2011-04-21T14:23:00.000-04:00

As was reported on the main website earlier this month, Dr. Grymm Laboratories is providing the concept art for the upcoming film, "Jesus Hates Zombies", based on the sleeper hit comic of the same name by Stephen Lindsay. The screenwriter, Michael Mongillo (director of "Being Michael Madsen" by Mean Time Productions) is also currently at the helm to direct the film.

This is very exciting for me on several levels. I haven't been able to do concept art since working on theme park attractions so many years ago. Most of the graphic work Ive done since then has been of the family friendly variety in the form of theater posters and business marketing. Also, to be able to work on such a cool concept and help bring it to the big screen is such an honor. And on top of that, it's about one of my favorite genre's... ZOMBIES!

So I read through the screenplay a few times and totally dug the concept, then went back and read all the comics so I could understand the original material. Both were fun reads and got me instantly inspired for the look of the renders. Mongillo, like myself, is a huge fan of the Left 4 Dead games and wants the look of the concept renders to resemble the various movie style posters in the game that tell the story. The style I chose is a fairly realistic looking photo/watercolor, as the film will be live action.

I started as I usually do, with rough pencil sketches of the scene. The first was the intro to Jesus as written into the screenplay, standing tall on a pile of recently silenced zombies while the world he has been challenged to come back to protect, falls apart around him.

The final concept render above was then used to create the poster at the top of this post. It was fully created in Photoshop using photos and hand drawn elements then lighting effects were added before using a water color image.

The second image again began as a pencil sketch and places the main characters in a scene entitled "Cannibals want to eat the body of Christ".

Mongillo had a grand scheme of the hero's walking through a town that has been heavily barricaded off as the town is now infested with still human cannibals who live in the sewers below. The character in the foreground acts as the ringer of the dinner bell, striking the sewer caps with a tire iron to alert the horde of the approaching buffet.

The main characters consist of: Jesus H. Christ (Image inspired by Producer/Actor Jason Alan Smith), Eli (Inspired by actress Mila Kunis), and Laz, the Zombie (Image inspired by the actor Garret Dillahunt), as seen below.

There are more renders in the works but these are the first, so keep an eye on the official website www.JESUSHATESZOMBIES.com for updates on the film!

~Cheers!
Dr. Grymm

Steampunk Las Vegas - The Continuing Story from Dr. Grymm

2011-03-31T22:24:00.005-04:00

Here is an update to my post in December about the Steampunk Telescopes I built for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In short, because the Scopes were put into a very heavily used area and were subjected to a larger volume of guests than were originally anticipated. We needed to quickly approach a redesign of the scope bases to further support the scopes, as it seems that the design I created let people to believe that the scopes could be moved and do more than they did on an interactive level.

Besides that, we needed to resolve an issue with the Kaleidoscope's video unit. The initial technology used was picking up some strong transmissions from the nearby buffet, so a better transmitter was needed to alleviate the noise it was picking up. When I left the site the Kaleidoscope only showed a rotating ball of changing colors, and that was not the initial plan. Both scopes were to have a video feed that would allow you to see the vantage point of the other scope from 60 feet away. And now they do! And I can tell you first hand, it really messes with people's heads!

The base was redesigned by Dr. Grymm Laboratories with the remote building assistance from Daniel Fine Art Services. As you can see from the images below, the new bases are much bigger and fully support the nose of both scopes.

I decided to go with a Verne-esque style fin to support the main structure. The fins and bases are built of mahogany and have a steel trim with rivets. Do I miss the original bases? Yes and absolutely, especially because they too were found objects and were very special pieces. They were also quite the find because they matched the original renders so well.

But the change was necessary and it will ensure that the sculptures will be safe and sound for a long time as they are once again a permanent feature at the Hotel. Reports from the site say they were missed very much by the staff and returning guests. They were glad to have them back after there two month removal to prep and rebuild. From what I hear they were the most sought after pieces of art there and the guests loved to interact with them. I'm sure now that they are fully functioning again, they will be an even bigger hit! I hope to get back there again someday and see them completed in person.

In the mean time, here again is the original video I took the day they were first installed. Note that the day I left the counter on the Kaleidoscope was at the number 12. Currently it sits somewhere in the 5000 range, and that's from just a month of usage.

I hope you yourself can go and see them someday in person as I promise they look even better than the photos. If you do, stop back by and let me know what you think! But don't stare into them too long... Doc Grymm says it can lead to madness and delusions of grandeur! But it's only a side effect!

Sincerely;
~Dr. Grymm

UPCOMING STEAMPUNK PUBLICATIONS for 2011

2011-03-25T16:06:00.001-04:00

Eyeballs and brains are not the only medium we work with! Mrs. Grymm and I have been hard at work on two books to be released this year! The first, of course, with the assistance of hundreds of artists across the Steampunk Community. The 1000 Steampunk Creations Book by Quarry Publishing.

(Actual cover design)

If you wish to pre-purchase the book go to http://www.qbookshop.com/ and enter the promo code: DRGRYMM to receive 25% off this and ANY BOOK at Quarry Publications! (Offer ends at midnight on Thursday, June 30th, 2011)

If you were a participating artist you will be contacted directly by the publisher with the info on receiving your discounted book.

***

The second book which required alot more writing on both of our parts is How to Draw Steampunk by Walter Foster Publications. Slated to release this October, with the wonderful artwork of Bob Berry.

To quote the Walter Foster website:

"As you learn how to draw steam-powered machines and gadget-toting characters, Joey Marsocci and Allison DeBlasio of Dr. Grymm Laboratories explain the history and origin of steampunk, its cultural relevance, and other interesting facts about real-life steampunk machines and their makers."

We are very excited about the release of both of these books!

Dr. Grymm Laboratories will also be featured along with several other Steampunk Artists in the highly anticipated books:

The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer and The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan, both to be released this summer!

And although I was only an initial consultant on it, I must point you in the direction of the lovely Kady Cross's upcoming book, The Girl in the Steel Corset. Due for release this Fall!

These books will be available for sale at most bookstores, Amazon.com and wherever fine Steampunk Books are sold!

Get your reading goggles ready!

~Dr. Grymm

Dr. Grymm on BBC America!

2011-03-23T09:52:00.006-04:00

So alot has been going on at Grymm Manor (so much so that I have barely had time to post) but I will get to that a bit later. For now, something pretty exciting has happened! I was given to opportunity to be the focus of a segment on Steampunk for the BBC America World News. Shot by the very talented corespondent Andy Gallacher, this piece aired March 22, 2011 as part of their First Person series. With the assistance of Diana Pho of Beyond Victoriana, Andy was able to get some great footage of some Steampunk regulars and friends at the new Way Station bar in Brooklyn NY. And spent time with me in my Laboratory to get some beautiful shots of my work and interview me for his piece.

Though the clip below is footage from the actual show, as I still am in awe that Ted Koppel said my name on the news!

I hope I did the Steampunk community justice with this segment. Although 3 hrs were filmed and alot was covered it was edited to this. When I was told I was going to be "The voice of Steampunk" for this segment, I was terrified! I don't claim to be the voice of Steampunk. In fact as the opening quote of the film "I AM STEAMPUNK" proudly states:

"Steampunk cannot be explained away with one man's definition. It takes many voices to create this world and all are worth hearing."

This is something I truly stand behind.
Enjoy!

~Dr. Grymm~

DR. GRYMM at TEMPLECON: Feb 4-6, 2011

2011-02-03T15:30:00.001-05:00

I am honored to be a featured guest artist at the 2011 TEMPLECON Event in Warwick, RI this weekend.

I will have a vendors booth in the Atrium where you can catch a sneak peek at the Steampunk 1000 Book that Mrs. Grymm and I have been working on, Get a 25% off coupon for the Steampunk Oxford Exhibit Book, see some of my sculptures and devices on display, and purchase some great swag from the 2010 Steampunk Bizarre including shirts and prints from AJAR Communications. I'll also have some sculptures and devices on display. Be sure to pick up a flyer announcing the World Premiere of the Neurotic Films Documentory "I AM STEAMPUNK", and take a peek at the teaser below for more info!

You will also have 3 chances to hear panel on Steampunk in the arts by yours truley and my special guest, The Emperor of The Red Fork Empire!

So be sure to stop by and say hello this weekend. I'm just dying to meet you!

~Dr. Grymm

HAPPY HOLIDAZE 2010!

2010-12-23T11:43:00.000-05:00

It's been a whirl-wind of a year here at Dr. Grymm Laboratories! To name a few, there was the arrival of baby Jack, The 2nd Steampunk Bizarre, two books in the works by myself and Mrs. Grymm through Quarry Publishers and Walter Foster Publishing, filming the "I Am Steampunk" Documentory with Neurotic Films, The EYE Pod meets The Black Cards, our art at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and my Lab assistant and son, James, turned 10!

2011 has even more in store including the release of said books, appearances at various Steampunk festivals including the Steampunk World Fair and TempleCon, and of course the 3rd Annual Steampunk Bizarre being held at the prestigious Mark Twain House Museum! It's going to be a full year with even more surprises to come.

But we wouldn't want the year to go by without wishing you all out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! To all my Steampunking friends...

Keep the spark of imagination flowing, and we will create an even more amazing tomorrow, using yesterdays past!

All the best~

Dr. Grymm Laboratories

THE STEAMPUNK ART OF DR.GRYMM AT THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS

2010-12-14T21:38:00.009-05:00

I have kept things pretty quiet over the past few months as we at Dr. Grymm Laboratories have been working away at a secret project for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. All can be revealed as the Hotel opens today, December 15, 2010. Earlier this year I was contacted by Daniel Fine Art Services, an Art representative for the hotel, and asked if I would be interested in creating exclusive Steampunk sculptures for the Hotel. Of course I said yes. About 24 hours after that phone call, I designed the two below contraptions.

The Transcendent Perceptiscope and Ecclectiscope became their title, and several meetings with the hotel owners soon followed until it was unanimous that they were approved! Simply, they are a Steampunk Telescope and a Kaleidoscope. But with all of Dr. Grymm's devices, there is a catch. There was, of course, a long process involving the final design and production of these mechanisms which I will soon post in a production log, but for now I will give you a few details.

- 90% of the scopes parts are constructed

of found objects and antiques

prior to 1900 and after 1820.

-The Scopes weigh about 500lbs each

and stand approximately 6 feet tall.

-The designs seen above were drawn without

having any of the parts needed to build them.

-All parts were acquired after the final

approved designs by scouring flea markets,

antique stores, and E-Bay.

- The Scopes now reside on the second floor

lobby of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas,

located outside of the Wicked Spoon

Restaurant and the Hotel Elevator bays.

-There is a wireless video feed between the two scopes.
When you look in the Telescope, you can see
the vantage point of the Kaleidoscope.

Well, without further ado, I present to you the first video footage taken of Dr. Grymm's Transcendent Perceptiscope and Ecclectiscope.

The Art of Dr. Grymm at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas from Joe Marsocci on Vimeo.

There will be a few tweaks made to the machines in the next few weeks and professional images and video are on the way, but I hope that if you are in the area of Las Vegas, that you will stop by and visit them in person. In addition to these two permanent custom pieces, the Cosmo also is the proud owner of Dr. Grymm's original "Eye-Pod" Victrola, Nautilus Goggles, Squid Attack Goggles, and Mrs. Grymm's "Whole 9 Yards Goggles".

I am honored to have my work displayed along with so many other amazing original artworks that adorn the halls of this unique Hotel. My short visit there was breathtaking, and unlike any other Hotel I have seen anywhere.

See for yourself...

(CLICK THE GREY BAR BELOW THE IMAGE TO PLAY THE VIDEO)

I would especially like to thank my new assistant fabricator Ruben, my partner and wife Allison, and my book keeper Amie for the amazing amount of work they did to make this project happen. I also want to thank my family and friends who supported through this project. This was definitely one of my most difficult projects to pull off in a very short period of time, and I would not have been able to pull it off without my support group.

And now after a bit of rest, I am back into the swing of things. Stay tuned as there are several new projects and events on the horizon, including the Third Annual Steampunk Bizarre which will be held late 2011 at the Mark Twain House Museum!

Cheers!

~Dr. Grymm

VEGAS OR BUST!

2010-12-01T22:22:00.001-05:00

So there I go again, not blogging in forever. However I've had good reason as usual. I have barely come up for air the past few months as I worked night and day on two Steampunk sculptures built and designed exclusively for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. My daunting task is nearly at it's end.

This weekend, Ms. Grymm and I are on our way to install said sculptures in the second floor lobby of the hotel. Everything shipped out this week after several months of work between myself and my team. I must give a shout out to my Minion, Ruben, who worked tirelessly to help me get the job done.

It has been quite a process that I'm happy to report I actually kept a photo journal of, which I will be sure to post as soon as the dust clears.

For those of you who have seen the marketing ads for this hotel, you know that it is not your "typical" experience. In fact it is a very "art-centric" hotel with the hopes of making art more accessible to their guests by taking it out of a museum and into a more casual atmosphere. I along with many other artists with be sharing this one of a kind space, and it is a very exciting and humbling experience. It's not just Steampunk art, but a collaboration of work from around the globe. Special thanks to the great team at Daniel Fine Art Services for bringing it all together!

As I am not at liberty to share any pictures yet, I will be sure to take plenty while I am on site and maybe some video too, as they are interactive.

The official opening in New Years Eve although there is a soft opening on Dec 15th, so if your in the area, be sure to check it out.

There is much work to do over the next few days for us here at Grymm Laboratories, but it will all be worth it!

~Dr. Grymm

P.S. I'll let you know how my "pat down" experience goes at the Airport!