Category: Program

Cthulhu by Gaslight “The Haunting” (18+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 11, 2025

Games Master: Father Henry Astur (AKA Kody Raslawski)
Gaming System: Cthulhu by Gaslight
Players: 3-6
Duration: 3 hours
Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

At the request of a dear friend, investigators will look into the strange happenings at a newly purchased home. Why did the previous family run off? What is the history of this ill-favored home? Find out in “The Haunting.”

Dice, writing implements, and character sheets will be provided.

Cthulhu by Gaslight is the Victorian incarnation of the classic Call of Cthulhu RPG. Gaslightprovides variations to capture Victorian history and societal norms, but is essentially the same rule system as the original 1920’s Cthulhu RPG. If you are not already familiar with these rules but would like to get better acquainted, click on the cover below to access the free starter kit for the latest edition of Call of Cthulhu.

Kody Raslawski has been running games as a Keeper of Arcane Knowledge in Call of Cthulhu for nine years and is a member of Chaosium’s official Cult of Chaos. He greatly enjoys creating a fun and engaging horror setting to bring the sessions to life.

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Program

Steampunk Economics (13+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 7, 2025

Presented by Gregory Laffrenzen

This panel will explore the economics of the industrial revolution, with a focus on how it can be incorporated into the steampunk genre. We will delve into 19th century consumerism, class, trade, and advertising, and discuss their impact on the economy of the time. Well-known steampunk tropes will be examined for their potential fantastical impact on fictional economies based on real-world analogs. How steampunk creators can incorporate economic concepts into costumes, props, and stories will wrap us up. This panel is a mix of real-life history and the fantastic.

Gregory Laffrenzen hates silence and isn’t tolerated by most people, so listens to an incomprehensible amount of podcasts, some of which are about finance and economics. That, plus a love of research and reading mean this panel is chock full of information, some of which is based in the real world, some is fantastical but grounded in logic.

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Cthulhu by Gaslight “The Edge of Darkness” (18+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date February 5, 2025

Games Master: Father Henry Astur (AKA Kody Raslawski)
Gaming System: Cthulhu by Gaslight
Players: 4-6
Duration: 3 hours
Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

A group of investigators are called to a deathbed confession by their dear friend. They are told about a horrible deed that they must reverse, or else face unimaginable consequences. Delve into Eldritch terrors in this classic Call of Cthulhu scenario adapted for Cthulhu by Gaslight.

Dice, writing implements, and character sheets will be provided.

If you are not familiar with the rules of the Call of Cthulhu role playing game but would like to learn them before the Exposition, click on the image below for a free downloadable PDF of the Quick Start Rules.

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Program

Exposition Clothing Exchange

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 29, 2025

HOSTED BY: Mari Rice, Chicago Green Theater Alliance, & Creative Chicago Refuse Exchange.

LOCATION: Slate Hall

Not sure what to wear to a steampunk convention? Tired of items in your wardrobe? Are there items that longer fit items in your wardrobe thanks to the pandemic? Then bring them to share with your fellow steampunk community in our annual FREE clothing & accessories exchange!

Feel free to bring head wear, clothing, shoes, jewelry & accessories. Size of items will range from child to adult.

Costumes remaining after the convention will be donated to the Chicago Green Theater Alliance or to the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange (CCRX).

We will have the following items available:

Clothing racks
Table(s)
Hangers (leave hangers if you take items)
Changing tent (this is if you want to quickly try things on. You may also go try things on in the restroom and bring back what doesn’t work)

What we request of you:

Items are washed and clean
Items should be ready to wear off the rack
Items are new or gently used
Do NOT just dump off, we will turn things away
Ready for being displayed
Do NOT give us tangled jewelry, a bag of crumpled clothes, etc.
Please let us know if your items come from a smoking household and/or a home with animals

REMEMBER, this is for your fellow steampunkers to have a positive experience by having something to wear at the convention. Let’s be considerate and thoughtful of others about what you bring for the exchange.

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Program

State of the Art: What Scientists Knew in 1893

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 23, 2025

Presented by David D. Levine

An overview of the state of scientific knowledge in 1893, including what they got right, what they got wrong, and what we’ve learned since.

David D. Levine is the author of space-opera caper novel The Kuiper Belt Job. His previous works include Andre Norton Nebula Award winning novel Arabella of Mars, sequels Arabella and the Battle of Venus and Arabella the Traitor of Mars, and over sixty SF and fantasy stories. His story “Tk’Tk’Tk” won the Hugo, and he has been shortlisted for awards including the Hugo, Nebula, Campbell, and Sturgeon. Stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Analog, Clarkesworld, F&SF, Tor.com, numerous Year’s Best anthologies, and his award-winning collection Space Magic.

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Program

Cthulhu by Gaslight “Dead Light” (18+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 22, 2025

Games Master: Father Henry Astur (AKA Kody Raslawski)
Gaming System: Cthulhu by Gaslight
Players: 4-6
Duration: 3 hours
Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

A dark and stormy night in the Severn Valley. A mystery lurks in the forests. Unravel the mystery before that very mystery threatens to unravel your lives, in “Dead Light.”

Dice, writing implements, and character sheets will be provided.

This is a scheduled tabletop gaming event – please visit our onsite Gaming Library in Room 1322 for more information and to sign up.

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The Shape of Things: Product and Poster Design of the Industrial Revolution

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 15, 2025

Presented by Fiona Finnigan

The Industrial Revolution, wonder of the world! Goods! Items! Objects! You too can have the Latest Thing. But what should the Latest Thing look like? And how should we advertise it? Lets ask the artists!

In this lecture, we will explore the different styles of Decorative, Industrial, and Graphic arts of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Fiona Finnigan received her Master in History of Visual and Material Culture ( thats the history of stuff!) from Southern Illinois University. She is an adjunct professor of art at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys working on her steampunk gear and doing every kind of needlework known to mankind.

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Program

Mechanical Creature Puppets Made by the Mad . . . We Mean You!!!

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 13, 2025

Presented by Kat Pleviak, Erin Krause, & Maggie Krause

Materials Fee: $5

Do you love animals? Do you dream of being a mad scientist? Are you excited by puppets? Then this class is for you! Come to this make-&-take workshop to design & build your own, original, paper puppet, mechanics and all!

Participants will chose from a variety of heads, bodies, & booties that they can use to make their own unique creature and then add any number of steampunk themed add on’s to blend nature and technology. Guided by the talented staff of Sea Beast Puppet Company (seabeastpuppetry.com), this craft is all ages but is specifically great for kids ages 5-12 as the art is detailed and adults who enjoy coloring will also really enjoy this project.

Kat Pleviak is the Artistic Director and founder of Sea Beast Puppet Company in Glen Ellyn, IL. She has an BFA in Directing from the University of Illinois (2002) and an MFA in Youth Theatre and Puppetry from the University of Hawaii Manoa (2009).
Under Kat’s direction Sea Beast has initiated a number of exciting puppetry projects including a series of original projects and productions including the Puppet Meltdown Puppet Slam, “The Shadow Puppet Conspiracy”, “The History of Light” and “Méfiez-Vous de la Vache-Garou”, which won best in show at the Chicago Fringe 2013. She has taught countless workshops all over the country and currently serves the Membership Officer for the Puppeteers of America. Kat was a featured artist in Puppetry International’s issue of “40 under 40.

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Erin Krause is the best Box Office Manager a group could want and is also a committed puppet enthusiast. She also worked for years as a High School teacher and is one Sea Beast’s go to and favorite workshop presenters. When not at Sea Beast she works as a legal secretary and rocks some of the best original cosplay around.

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Maggie Krause may be young but is a long time Sea Beast alumni. She has been helping Sea Beast present at conferences for years and when they are not teaching puppetry on land, they teach swim lessons in the water. They are also enjoy creative writing and is absolutely crushing driving!

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Let There Be Light!

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 9, 2025

Presented by Lisa Hansen – $5 Session Materials Fee

Using decoupage, steampunk themed paper and tiny gears, celebrate Edison’s transformative technology with a custom (standard size) light switch plate for your steampunk home! Many designs available.

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

Lisa Hansen is a compulsive crafter and thrifter with aspirations of vending, but would rather share her crafting hoard with others and lead makers’ panels.

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Program

A Seminar Illuminating the Safe Operation of the Sliding Rule (13+)

Post author By JP Dean
Post date January 8, 2025

Presented by Michael Bakula

The pursuit of prosperity in the modern Steam Age requires sophisticated calculations, yet the nimble innovator will generally find it impractical to transport a Difference Engine. Fortunately, there is a simpler — and better — solution! Enterprising engineers and discerning businesspersons have for hundreds of years trusted the Sliding Rule for such diverse operations as predicting airship fuel consumption and anticipating profit margins on a novel product.

Participants in today’s seminar will gain direct experience in the manipulation of the Sliding Rule, and discover the myriad applications to which this essential tool is perfectly suited. You will wonder how you ever lived without it!

Those not already in possession of a Sliding Rule will be lent a demonstration unit for the seminar.

Michael Bakula is a retired “computer guy” (that’s a technical term) who now has time to pursue more of his too many hobbies. He enjoys researching and using analogue computers, medium-format film cameras, and other interesting technologies older than he is. He resides in Chicago (yes, really – not the suburbs) with his lady wife and pet Sun Conure.