Steampunk enthusiasts are like time travelers moving between this world and a fantasy world inspired by steam locomotion. The Steampunk genre influences fashion, music, film, and art as seen by Winterbourne’s steambots. Jake von Slatt, a designer in Boston, the proprietor of the Steampunk Workshop said, “to me, it’s essentially the intersection of technology and romance” (steampunkworkshop.com). Winterbourne said of the Steampunk, “I am a fan of the genre and for that reason, some of my work tends to lean toward it. I shouldn’t say the Steambots are the only things I do that have the Steampunk influence to them, but they may show it more than most.” For many, we are introduced to the genre but sometimes don’t realize it until later. For Winterboarne, he was introduced and fell in love with it after seeing the movie Metropolis. My first experience was from the movie Edward Scissor Hands. In fact, I imagine Winterbourne as the inventor, Vincent Price, in Edward Scissor Hands.
Like an inventor, Winterbourne meticulously builds his robots and when ready, sends them out into the world. Winterbourne doesn’t get any money for his creations; he just wants to make our lives and the landscape a little more interesting. “I believe people are more accepting of things that make the world more interesting and whimsical. It creates a sort of magic. You walk down the same street every day, and it’s always the same until one day something is different, there’s a mosaic tile of a space invader on the wall, or a tentacle growing out of a tree, or a stencil of a rat making a comment on society. It breaks up the monotony, and maybe it makes you smile”. Other than making cardboard robots, Winterbourne hopes to make “the leap from un-commissioned work to giant commissioned pieces. I find that most of the commissioned public art around Denver is completely banal. But then, sometimes I get surprised by something that I find amazing and on the right track, like the blue horse by the airport! Now there is a work of art! Something to look at! Something to talk about! I only hope that when I get my chance to make a thirty foot, three dimensional robot, he doesn’t decide to crush me!”
Winterbourne’s workshop is very busy and he has some great plans for this summer. His latest projects include a new Steambot called Raptron 3000. He is teaming up with another local artist, Devil Dan and will be touring the country with Tour de Fat. The robot will be part of the Rhymanese Twins act. He is also talking to a gallery and hopes to be showing his work there at the end of this summer. “The idea is to create an exhibition that is half installation, and half work for sale.” He plans to continue decorating the streets with his Steambots so, if you are lucky enough to see his art, then he hopes that it will bring you a little “MAGIC!! Shaking someone out of their routine long enough for them to notice that that sculpture was not there yesterday, and wonder where it came from, and maybe tell their friends what they saw.”
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