SLPS attended the 5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, reading steampunk tarot and palm readings for the attendees. The convention was held at the Utah Cultural Center in West Valley from Friday, August 12-Sunday, August 14, 2016.
The convention featured many vendors and artist from across Utah and the West, with some driving in from Nevada, Colorado, and Washington. AnomalyCon, Denver’s steampunk and alternative history convention had a booth promoting their convention. Many people played with animals thanks to Creature Encounters who brought snakes, scorpions, hissing cock roaches, and tarantulas. Music and various performances as well as panels happened throughout the three days, ranging from Victorian weaponry and steampunk world building, to the fate of steampunk and airships building. A dead poet’s poetry slam saw dead poets rise from the grave to participate: Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Richard Brautigan, Johnny Cash and others. The top three were William Shakespeare, Johnny Cash and Richard Brautigan, with the final winner being Brautigan, who received $50.
A wonderful fashion show displayed historic costumes in almost pristine condition thanks to the Margot L. Shott Historic Fashion Collection from the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Fashion Institute. The dresses were owned by a wealthy woman and had a chance to survive instead of being worn out as many were by the common folk. The whole collection at SLCC contains about 1900 pieces of historical clothing.
Sunday brought a delightful race of airships. Contestants raced up and down the lawn of the cultural center between light polls, using airships built from cardboard. A farewell ceremony was held for the creator and organizer Nickoletta Sauniere who started the convention in 2012. No one has stepped up to take over, so the fate of the convention is in the air (like an airship!) until further notice, with many folks nervous that it may collapse and fade into Victorian history.
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Daniel Cureton, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Friday, artist alley hall, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, artist alley vendors, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, vendor hall, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Damsels in this Dress corset vendor in vendor hall, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, art show, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Fashion Institute-Margot L Shott Historic Fashion Collection, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, sign for fashion colleciton, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection timeline sign, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection afternoon dress circa 1910, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection afternoon dress info card, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection coat, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection two piece day dress circa 1890 (left) and walking dress Mme. C. Drevet circa 1890, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Friday, fashion collection info cards for two piece day dress and walking dress, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection shoes from 1900-1919, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection dress, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, fashion collection shoes, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, Dead Poets Poetry Slam, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, judges judging Dead Poet’s Poetry Slam, Friday, August 12, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, April Love (l) with client, Saturday, August 13, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, cosplayer cosplaying as Data from Star Trek TNG, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, cardboard airship racers racing, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, cardboard airship race, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, cardboard airship racers chatting, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, celebration ceremony and farewell for Nickoletta Sauniere (flowers) creator and organizer from 2012-2016, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
5th Annual Salt City Steamfest, food vendor, Sunday, August 14, 2016, Utah Cultural Center, West Valley City, UT
Salt Lake Pagan Society 