At Nova Albion. Attendee Astra Kim, artist James Ng, and my intellectual partner-in-crime Jaymee Goh (with Viceroy Chang on her shoulder) all showing off their buttons with pride.
The musician Voltaire points to his Helping Hands button at The Anachronism II in NYC. We raised $220 in button sales that night!
Wow–less than one month into our fundraising period, and the Rising Phoenix fundraiser is already 2/3s of the way towards its initial goal of at least $1000. We’ve raised over $600 dollars so far — and we have barely begun. My fundraising partners and I are thrilled and grateful for the continuous signal-boosting from everyone in the steampunk & anime communities.
In addition, people have been asking if there is a method of donating under the Rising Phoenix banner for amounts more than the cost of a button. Well, your generosity has been answered–you can now directly donate to our cause via the Rising Phoenix Volunteer Fundraiser page on Shelterbox. Just be sure to email me directly if you want to be added to our Rising Phoenix Circle page & to enter in the steampunk giveaway in September.
The convention season is now in full force. Almost every weekend from now until the end of May, I will be doing something steampunk-related for Beyond Victoriana.
After the jump is a recap of some upcoming places where myself and my fundraising partners at Button Me Up will be.
This Sunday, I will be doing a bit of extra fundraising– this time for The Arts. At The Way Station, we will be presenting Steamy Screens, an event to support The Steampunk Picture Show. Check out this spiffin’ poster with the details below:
Less than two weeks left until Anime Boston! I will be there on staff in Artist’s Alley that weekend and presenting panels with the help of Lucretia Dearfour.
In addition, one more panel has been added–Steampunk in Anime. The times & locations have also been confirmed:
Race Matters in Amestris: Multiculturalism in Fullmetal Alchemist
Panel 306 on SATURDAY, April 23rd at 8:00PM
Description – In light of the common misconception that in Japanese anime, “All the characters are white,” we’ll discuss an anime that does talk about race relations: Fullmetal Alchemist. We will analyze how characters of color are portrayed in both Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in an open discussion approach that will tackle the complex intersection of race, culture, and assimilation in the world of Amestris.
Steampunk in Anime
Panel A on SUNDAY, April 24th at 10:00 AM. (NEW LOCATION update)
Description – A media presentation about different steampunk animes and how each anime incorporates its steampunk elements. We will conduct a powerpoint presentation, show video clips, and encourage audience discussion about how steampunk manifests itself in anime. We will talk about several series and films including Fullmetal Alchemist, D.Gray Man, Last Exile, Steamboy, Samurai Seven, Steam Detectives and more! We’ll also discuss the history of the steampunk aesthetic in Japan and why it is so popular.
The Meiji Era: A Japanese Industrial Revolution
Panel 309 on SUNDAY, April 24th at 11:30 AM.
Description – A historical presentation talking about the technological developments during the Meiji Reconstruction Period, and how Japan’s Industrial Revolution has influenced its media and pop culture. Featuring various animes and films that address the Meiji Era, including Rorouni Kenshin, Moeyo Ken, When the Last Sword is Drawn and more.
And the following weekend after I’ll be in San Antonio, TX with awesome folks like the Emperor of The Red Fork Empire, steampunk author O.M. Grey, the band Marquis Vaudeville and bunches of others at Aetherfest!
In addition, Button Me Up will be there in full force selling buttons at AnimeNext on June 10th – 12th!
Hope to see some fellow readers at any of these events.
Beyond Victoriana 