Exciting things afoot in Oamaru

Exciting things afoot in Oamaru

Last year 6000 people went to the first “Steampunk: tomorrow as it used to be” exhibition at the Forrester Gallery. Even greater numbers are expected this year. Weta Workshops are returning with new exhibits and a special guest. A number of recognised artists are contributing and what makes this exhibition so special is that it is for and by the local community..

The second “Steampunk: tomorrow as it used to be” exhibition runs from 23rd October - 5th December 2010 at the Forrester Gallery in Oamaru. Originally developed to add a new dimension to the annual Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations. The exhibition attracted about half the town's population and many from further afield. It inspired many who visited to go away and make Victorian styled creations of their own. “This year we are going to have a dedicated ray gun gallery as just about every bloke who has spoken to us has come with an idea about a ray gun.” Says Agent Darling aka Iain Clark leader of the organising committee, The League of Victorian Imagineers and initiator of the original exhibition.

Steampunk, or Victorian Science Fiction in the present day, has taken on a life of it's own in Oamaru. In order to accommodate some of the missing components in last year's exhibition, The League of Victorian Imagineers held New Zealand's first dedicated Steampunk Fashion Show and Gala Ball over Queen's Birthday Weekend in June. Entrants came from as far as Northland, Christchurch, Dunedin and of course the local people of Oamaru. Local businesses generously sponsored the cash prizes and Weta Workshops sent prizes and a guest judge, Kim Graham designer of the Weta legs. It was a huge success and contributed to the recognition of The League of Victorian Imagineers as Supreme Winners of the Trust Power Community Service Award in the Waitaki District.

“These events are already highly anticipated dates on the Oamaru social calendar,” League of Victorian Imagineers and Chair of the Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations, Sally Hope comments. “We are privilaged to have a very special relationship with Weta Workshop, who have recognised the quirky eccentricity of the people of Oamaru and love what we have to offer. So much so that this year we have a very special guest, Weta Workshops' designer Greg Broadmore. He will be here for the weekend of the Heritage Celebrations, 20th & 22nd November to make his pick of the ray guns, do book signings and generally enjoy what Oamaru has to offer.”

Greg Broadmore is an artist and one of Weta Workshops' top conceptual designers. Dr Grordort's line of ray guns and the portraits of his bizarre community of genetically manipulated characters were a highlight of last year's exhibition at the Forrester. He was the lead designer for District 9, creating the aliens, the spaceships and of course the guns and has worked on projects such as King Kong and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

The whole town is behind the Steampunk movement and wait with eager anticipation for what will unfold in October. “Last year we had some wonderful street art and this year it is going to be utterly breathtaking if the rumours I have heard are anything to go by. Watch the space on the main street!” remarks co-ordinator Helen Jansen.

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