The People of Teslacon, Part II
Bruce Mai A mulit-media collection of images primarily from the last 6 Teslacons. Featuring a wide variety of photos and videos of personalities, events, and costumes. We also have a sizeable collection of pictures from earlier Teslacons, which we might share, if time allows. Presented as representatives of and in cooperation with the International Costumers…
Read MoreThe Mysteries of the Sphynx (Cat)
Green Envy Learn about the history of sphynx cats, and meet a real-live sphynx! Where did their hair go? Are they actually Egyptian? And why are they the perfect villain’s companion? We’ll cover the history of hairless cats, how sphynxes were bred, the portrayal of sphynxes in media, and how they became so popular. At…
Read MoreOur Corsets, Ourselves
Sarah Faltesek This popular lecture is back for it’s 6th year of corset tips, history, and practical advice. As always, the content is updated based on your most recent questions and interests, to make sure you rock that corset and FEEL as fabulous as you look! Are you uncomfortable in your corset? Are you unsure…
Read MoreEgyptomania: The Impacts of the Discovery of Ancient Egypt on Popular Culture
Leslie Johnston Following Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798, images of Egyptian archaeological sites and artifacts were widely distributed through the illustrated press and the wildly popular “Description de l’Égypte” series of publications. The mania for all things Egyptian led to interpretations of its culture and iconography appearing in art, fashion, music, and literature in…
Read MoreWhat are all those carved scarab beetles about?, or, Lapis Lazuli in Ancient Egypt: Religious, Funerary, Magical, Power, and Medicinal usage
Stephen Poe Lapis was one of the major gemstones traded along the Silk Road and has been used in Egypt since the 4th millennium BC. Come join us for a discussion of how the Egyptians obtained their Lapis and what a dark blue stone symbolized to a desert people. How did the ancient Egyptians use…
Read MoreTraps are Only The Beginning! Egyptian Ingenuity
Presented by Jonathan Davis Don’t become the next victim during an excavation! This panel will discuss the traps that are commonly associated with Egyptian tombs and separate fact from Hollywood fiction. How construction techniques changed and what counter-theft strategies were used to protect the pharaoh in the afterlife. Traps from other ancient tombs around the…
Read MoreStrange Happenings at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
Kelsey Josephson Alternate history is popular in steampunk storytelling, but what happens when reality is stranger than fiction? Come learn about the 1893 World’s Fair that almost wasn’t and the curious events surrounding the exposition. With fierce competition between cities to host the Fair and the War of the Currents, the Columbian Exposition had a…
Read MoreBeyond Krampus – the other Yule Monsters
Nora Mai An exploration of Holiday Horrors from European Folklore. Krampus has become a popular alternative Holiday character in recent decades but people are often less familiar with other equally terrifying and ancient characters and traditions from Europe. Will cover primarily Northern European and UK as well as the rest of the Old World; including…
Read MoreAncient Egyptian mathematics was from the math we use today
Ana Dias In 1865 The British Museum acquired a papyrus from Alexander Henry Rhind, a Scottish antiquarian, who in turn had purchased it in 1858 in Luxor, Egypt. The papyrus has fascinating mathematical problems, which allow us to see how different Ancient Egyptian mathematics was from the math we use today. In this presentation I…
Read MoreEVA Foam A Beginners Guide
Magnus Aether New to EVA foam? Not sure where to start? Please allow me to be your guide to the wonderful world of EVA foam crafting. With the beginner in mind we will discuss materials, tool, techniques, and finishing methods to bring your prop or cosplay to life. There will also be samples and props…
Read More