Steampunk event gives Aztec new look for a day

AZTEC – A colorful array of costumes filled the Aztec Senior-Community Center on Saturday during the first ever Steamers & Dreamers convention.

"It's been a success, I think," said convention organizer Cindy Iacovetto.

The convention focused on steampunk — a movement that focuses on Victorian era science fiction. It includes literature and fashion.

Iacovetto said the convention drew a crowd made up of people from out of town as well as locals.

Hundreds of people showed up for the convention, which included musical performances, vendor booths and a costume contest. Iacovetto also wore a costume to the convention. Her costume featured gears and lights, and she could make it blow bubbles as she walked.

The interest in the convention sparked the creation of a new club, and many people signed up at Steamers & Dreamers to join the club. Iacovetto said she came up with the idea of the club, which doesn't have a name yet, a few days ago.

"If there's this many people interested in it, we should have a club," she said.

Harper Willis, a Farmington resident, heard about the convention while attending the Aztec Sparkles parade in December.

"Since I was little, I've been working on steampunk costumes," she said.

She attended the convention with Aztec resident Matt Bates and her three-legged dog, Kane.

Bates said he has always had a slight interest in steampunk, but Willis really sparked his curiosity about the subject.

When she handed him a pair of goggles and asked him to transform them into steampunk goggles, he accepted the challenge, and she sported the goggles along with a top hat on Saturday.

Bates said the biggest challenge making the goggles was getting the right glue.

"We just tore apart a couple of computers," he said.

Hannah Grover covers Aztec and Bloomfield, as well as general news, for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652.