Before even your mom knew about steampunk, Deborah had the idea to start a Neo-Victorian convention called SalonCon.
SalonCon was imaged by Deborah when watching a period movie with her best friend. She realized she would likely never attend a cotillion, a masked ball, a Salon, a Seance or a formal tea as she didn’t come from a privledged background. Even in this modern time, these activities are generally reserved for the upper class.
Coming from a feminist background, Deborah immediately became interested in recreating the Victorian time period in a modern convention context where everyone would have a place at the table regardless of race, class or gender.
SalonCon ran for three very successful years with a focus on charity work, salons and giving access to culture to masses through dance lessons, recitials, formal teas, etiquette lessons, panels on what culture means in a modern setting and the fancy dress masked ball.
Guests of Honor included: Abney Park, Catherynne M. Valente, Holly Black, Ekaterina Sedia, Voltaire, G.D. Falksen, Evelyn Kriete, Abney Park and The White Elephant Burlesque Society.
6/10/10 – Deborah will be heading the Steampunk/Neo-Victoria Track for Arisia 2011. Please see here for more information.
SalonCon Press Clippings
NY Times: Steampunk Moves Between Two Worlds
MTV News: Steampunk Infiltrates the Mainstream
Wikipedia: Steampunk
Torr.com: The Amazing Fantastic Steampunk Timeline of Music and Things
Arisia 2011: Deborah Castellano, Steampunk Track Head