Category: Program

Presented by Jeffrey S. Kupperman & Dr. Bee

Lovecraft features nearly a dozen books of magic and insanity in his weird fiction. Since the 1980s, there have been movements to (re)create the contents of these and to use the Mythos in magical operations.

Many have claimed that Lovecraft had a deep belief in the occult. But did he? We will discuss Lovecraft, his books of dark magic, his relationship with the occult, and the occult’s relationship with him.

Jeffrey S. Kupperman (he/him) is a scholar, artist, teacher, and practitioner. Jeffrey has a master’s degree in religious studies from Lancaster University and, having studied religion at Liverpool Hope University, has a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Liverpool. He has studied religion, mythology, and magic for over thirty years and has taught college courses in religious studies, theology, philosophy, and anthropology. His esoteric studies and practices range from Freemasonry to Neoplatonism, tarot and traditional astrology, Victorian and Edwardian occultism, and beyond.

He was the founder and publisher of the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition (jwmt.org). He has contributed several papers on kabbalah, tarot, Hermeticism, alchemy, and theurgy and chapters to books on practical occultism and Freemasonry. His first two books, Living Theurgy and A Theurgist’s Book of Hours (Avalonia Books), focus on the philosophy and theurgy of Iamblichus of Chalcis and the religious Platonic revival.

When not hip-deep in research, Jeffrey can be found in pursuit of an ever-revolving series of hobbies, special interests, and hyper-fixations. These include icon painting, creating illuminated certificates, martial arts, bookbinding, D&D, designing coloring books, and so on. An avid member of the steampunk community, he can be found at presenting at conventions. He can be found presenting on a diversity of topics from necromancy, crossroad curses, talismanry, angel- and demonology, and just about anything from the 6,000 years of religious and occult history he has crammed in his head. He currently resides in central Wisconsin with his children.

Dr. Bee (bio coming soon)

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Convention Foam Fighting (CFF) is a free-to-participate physical combat event. Using foam “boffer” weapons, participants take part in a variety of games, from team battles to tournament-style competitions. Participants of all ages and experience levels are welcome to play (participants under the age of 18 will require consent from a legal guardian). CFF supplies all necessary equipment to the participants, and they welcome all experienced fighters to bring their own equipment to be reviewed and approved by their staff for safety.

Convention Foam Fighting is a boffer combat event. Combatants engage each other in battle with foam-padded boffer weapons and equipment. Come play games such as:

• Big Teams
• Capture the Flag
• King of the Hill
• and more!

All ages allowed as spectators. Must be 18+ to participate. Anyone under 18+ must have parental or legal guardian consent before participating.

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Presented by the Steampunk Lady Scientists (Danaus & Sidonne) & Bobbin Beth

Limited to 15 people. Cost $25/student.

Customize your costume with a street dueling parasol and holster! You’ll be provided with a 10″ parasol and cloth holster. Choose from a bounty of findings to decorate them both. Then learn the basics of Western Territorial Parasol Dueling to put them to use.

The honorable genteel sport of parasol dueling takes a slightly less demure path when it comes to street dueling. One must be quick on the draw to set the forms in time, but it should be done with style.

Participants will be provided with a 10″ lace parasol and their choice of cloth holster. From that point they can choose from a bounty of findings to decorate them both as their creativity directs them. Before we finish up we’ll cover the basics of Western Territorial Parasol Dueling so that participants walk away with the skills needed to defend their honor in matters of steampunk.

Danaus and Sidonne delight in the advancement of knowledge as steampunk lady scientists. When they’re not busy adventuring in pursuit of scientific inquiry, they enjoy sharing their love of making with others in workshops and panels. They are also the creators of the Western Territorial Variant of Parasol Dueling. While they may get a little Rowdy and Howdy at times, they are always at the ready to act as Deputies to assist in settling matters of honor with their message of dueling for all.

Bobbin Beth is the support behind the scenes when it comes to the Rowdy and Howdy adventures of Danaus & Sidonne. While they’re running about entertaining the crowd she keeps the airship on course and floating true.

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Presented by Lucretia Strange, Baroness Strange

Lucretia Strange (aka Cassie Beyer) heads the Promethean Society, a secret society of intellectuals dedicated to improving the world whether the world appreciates it or not.

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Presented by Cap Piehler of . . .

Here is your chance to walk the catwalk!

• The attendee costume promenade.
• Sign-up at registration to bask in the spotlight as you walk the runway and show-off your finery.
• Clothing vendors will be searching for models of all shapes, sizes, ages, genders and abilities.
• Please see Cap (pictured below on the far right) at the As They Sew In France/Captain Wiloby’s Emporium booth before 2pm on Saturday. He will match you up with vendors.  The sooner you connect with him, the better.

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Presented by Jamin Winans & Kiowa Winans

No Extra Ticket Required

The Exposition is thrilled and honored to announce a bonus exclusive one night only pre-event for the evening of Thursday, May 29th, 2025!

We shall be hosting a screening of the new Steampunk epic film Myth of Man followed by a Q&A session with film director Jamin Winans and producer Kiowa Winans!

Myth of Man is a work of Steampunk beauty in which the deaf and mute Ella (Laura Rauch) embarks on a whimsical odyssey between life and death, convinced she has received a message from her creator.

Similar to Winans’ viral short film, Spin (also known as “God is a DJ”), Myth of Man has no spoken dialogue, but is a musically-based fantastical odyssey. Winans doesn’t call the film a musical, but rather, “musically driven” – he wrote the script and scored the film in tandem over the course of three years and produced with long-time collaborator and wife Kiowa Winans.

“Jamin wanted Myth of Man to break new ground cinematically. The film is grandiose and magical, but equally personal and hand-crafted. The no-dialogue nature rewards your full attention and we are excited for audiences to share the experience on the big screen.” – Kiowa Winans, Producer

Myth of Man stars an international cast with Austrian actor Laura Rauch (Un altro Ferragosto, Sturm der Liebe) and Winans alumni Anthony Nuccio (The Frame, Criminal Minds). Also starring London-based Martin Angerbauer (Mars, The Witcher), Jason Stoval (The Frame, 11:59), and young newcomer Ian Hinton.

“Myth of Man is visually transcendent and is a work of art in every sense of the word. It’s why people fall in love with cinema.” – Sean Evans (Back to the Movies.com)

Jamin Winans created Double Edge Films in 1998. Winans plays various roles in each film, most significantly as writer, director, and editor, and more recently composing scores.

Kiowa Winans produces, but also has various other roles in art direction, sound design, costume design, and computer animation.

PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE FLANNAGAN

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Presented by Lady Fontayne Pen-ship – $5 Session Materials Fee 

Using paper made from such unlikely contents as bamboo or wheat straw, we will make several castings of a selection of gears. While your castings are drying, you will complete a dazzling ATC or card using a variety of embellishments.’
note: this class is rated LP (Low Pressure)

Maximum students: 10

$5 material fee will be collected at the session by the presenters.

Lady Fontayne Pen-ship, Steamstress, has attended Steampunk events in Argentina, Canada, England, Italy, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and has conducted workshops at Teslacon for several years and Chicago Steampunk Expo in 2019. When she’s not steampunking, you may find her running 5 k races on airport runways or skywalking (vertical world circuit climbing tall buildings) around the world.

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DJ Zophiel (AKA Thom Truelove) had people dancing at both the Chicago Steampunk Exposition and the International Steampunk Symposium, and we are pleased to announce that in May 2025 he will be returning to Chicago to co-DJ our Masquerade Ball.

Zophiel has over 20 years experience as a DJ, particularly for Goth, hafla, and 80s-loving audiences. He has presented music for dances at such events as Convergence, Dragon Con, Unconvention, and COGS. His sets have been heard in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Las Vegas – to name just a few cities. A stage play in development makes mention of Zophiel’s practice of using every song in a set to tell a story, so even if you don’t dance there may be something in it for you.

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Presented by Lady Fontayne Pen-ship – $10 Session Materials Fee 

One cannot be too careful in these perilous times. Guard your identity with this handmade bracelet in the famous code used ’round the world. Your assignment, should you choose to accept: construct a bracelet with a code-word to be revealed in class. You will receive code-chart, beads and thread packaged in a clever cover.

Maximum students: 10

$10 material fee will be collected at the session by the presenters.

Lady Fontayne Pen-ship, Steamstress, has attended Steampunk events in Argentina, Canada, England, Italy, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and has conducted workshops at Teslacon for several years and Chicago Steampunk Expo in 2019. When she’s not steampunking, you may find her running 5 k races on airport runways or skywalking (vertical world circuit climbing tall buildings) around the world.

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Chicago Goth DJ legend Scary Lady Sarah returns to the Exposition this May for our annual Goblin King’s Masquerade Ball (Saturday, May 31st, 2025).

Scary Lady Sarah passionately enjoys & promotes good, new, dark alternative music. Since 1988 she has been a nightclub DJ, also booking bands and producing club events. Her main event is NOCTURNA, an 18+ dark alternative dance night held once every 6 – 8 weeks in Chicago at the venerated establishment Metro, and is the longest running goth event in North America.

Some other club events/parties which SLS regularly runs include: SHIMMER, monthly shoegaze/dreampop night; LA PETITE MORT, bi-monthly 21st century goth/postpunk night; BACK TO THE GRAVE, annual all goth/deathrock night; and NOCTRONICA, annual all ebm/industrial night, all held in Chicago.

She has many other guest DJ spots at other clubs & festivals around town and the world, plus, she DJs the coolest alternative weddings. She also plays guitar & sings in the band THE BELLWETHER SYNDICATE (as Sarah Rose Faith.)

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