2015-07-20 Daily Republic, "Creators, contraptions vie for Obtanium Cup"

http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/solanocounty/creators-contraptions-vie-for-obtanium-cup/

VALLEJO — A subtle dig at Donald Trump, a pedal-powered land shark, complete with camouflage, and a horseless carriage 2.0 were just some of the contraptions that surfaced at Sunday’s Obtainium Cup Contraptor’s Rally on Mare Island.

The fourth annual race, which was a four-mile route, is all about pedal power. Racers also encountered zombies, flying monkeys (stuffed animals) and a Mad Hatter tea party along the route.

2015-07-19 Vallejo Times-Herald, "Obtainium Cup: Contraptor’s rally cruises around Mare Island"

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20150719/obtainium-cup-contraptors-rally-cruises-around-mare-island

A flying monkey stood on a street corner as an over-sized white cat passed by, pursued by a giant purple octopus. It sounds like something straight out of a child’s nightmare, but it was actually the glorious start to the Obtainium Cup Contraptor’s Rally on Sunday in Vallejo.

2015-07-14 @Hollywood "Vintage Tomorrows "Steam Punk" Doc at Comic Con"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzfCSjaV4eg

A fun little interview with Byrd McDonald about the making of "Vintage Tomorrows." The Neverwas Haul is prominently featured.

2015-07-10 Forces of Geek, “VINTAGE TOMORROWS (review)"

http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2015/07/vintage-tomorrows-review.html
Tinkering is not only expected but it’s damn near a religion. You are expected to remake things in a historical fashion. You are to be a learned person who knows the intricacies of technological Victorian London or turn-of-the-century New York City and understand how to make devices to solve crimes, fly to the moon or create a mechanical carriage with a three-story home on it, complete with a library (and yes, this is an actual thing and it is called the Neverwas Haul built by Shannon O’Hare- it's in the documentary).

2015-07-09 Forces of Geek, "FOG! Chats With Byrd McDonald, Director of Steampunk Doc, VINTAGE TOMORROWS”

http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2015/07/fog-chats-with-byrd-mcdonald-director.html
So, steampunks don't want to throw innovation away. But they would like to touch the insides of their devices, even if it voids the warranty. Most of all, steampunk says customize technology, make it your own, and understand how it works.

Steampunk asks you to have an active, not passive, relationship with technology.

2015-07-08 Vallejo Times Herald, “Vallejo art community loses truck in fire”

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20150708/vallejo-art-community-loses-truck-in-fire
Monday began as an ordinary day in Shannon O’Hare’s life.

Little did he know things were quickly going to go up in smoke — literally.

2015-07-06 Fangirlish, “Exclusive: Director Byrd McDonald Talks ‘Vintage Tomorrows,’ His Definitive Steampunk Documentary Debuting at SDCC”

http://fangirlish.com/byrd-mcdonald-vintage-tomorrows-sdcc-interview/

"The Maker Movement is perhaps the most fascinating elements of steampunk, and you highlight a wide variety of inventions and contraptions in the movie. Do you have a favorite among the featured works?

Byrd: Yeah, for sure: the Neverwas Hall. It’s just insanely cool. It’s a house on wheels, and it’s – you, know, it’s a house! There’s a library on it. The guys who made that are just the coolest people. They live to make cool shit, and they do it by dumpster diving and finding things that they can reclaim and repurpose, and what they do is astounding to me. They make sculpture art cars, and I think that stuff is the coolest stuff. They are Burning Man people, and when they initially had built this object, they had no idea that steampunk was a thing. They were cool to become a part of the community, but they’re doing it just because they need to do something. They choose not to be passive; they want to make stuff all the time.”

2015-05-17 MakerFaire Slideshow

Obtainium Works got a little love at Maker Faire by being put into the slideshow!

http://makerfaire.com/bay-area-2015/slideshow/slideshow-day-three/

2015-05-20 Daily Mail UK, "Retrofit for a king! The coolest customized RVs on the road revealed as sales of vehicles soar across the country"

Extremely customized: Demand for recreational vehicles is the strongest it's been in years, but some longtime RV lovers have been enjoying life on the road for years and some have made some incredible custom additions to the traditional motorhome. This steampunk-inspired Victorian RV is an extreme example. Dubbed Neverwas Haul by desingers Obtainium Works, it has appeared at the Burning Man festival each year since 2006

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3089882/Retrofit-king-coolest-customized-RVs-road-revealed-sales-vehicles-soar-country.html#ixzz3aid1pBe6 
 

2015-04-15 Vallejo Times Herald, "Steampunk Pinocchio a start for local theater group"

Another offshoot of Obtainium Works, Steampunk Pinocchio is musical rendition of the classic story.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150415/steampunk-pinocchio-a-start-for-local-theater-group

2013-04-12 io9, "Grand Steampunk Homes and Businesses Straight from the Alternate Past"

While we're at it, we found another reference on io9! This time with grand steampunk homes.

http://io9.com/grand-steampunk-homes-and-businesses-straight-from-the-476668111

2015-03-02 io9, "Cars From Another Universe: Bizarre Motor Vehicles That Never Caught On"

The Neverwas Haul gets featured in the wacky science fiction/fact blog io9! Too bad they choose a crappy photo of the Haul partially dismantled. http://io9.com/cars-from-another-universe-bizarre-motor-vehicles-that-1688868587

2015-04-09 Vallejo Times-Herald, "Barkitecture Preview Party at Team Superstores"

Obtainium Works built a three story Victorian home for cats and is donating it to Barkitecture, an annual fund raising event benefitting the Humane Society of the North Bay.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20150409/barkitecture-preview-party-at-team-superstores

2015-03-21 Vallejo Times-Herald, "Obtainium Works celebrates four years in Vallejo in style"

What happens when you combine tentacles, fire spinners, Pinocchio and steampunk all in one event?  A raucous good time at Obtainium Works, of course.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20150321/obtainium-works-celebrates-four-years-in-vallejo-in-style

2014-10-03 Vallejo Times-Herald, "Waterfront Fest's 'bucket list'"

Jon Riley's quest was simple.

"I wanted something low impact and high humiliation," said Riley, coordinator of Saturday and Sunday's Vallejo Waterfront Weekend.

Riley wanted an alternative to the standard dunk tank as one of the many fund-raising activities. What with insurance and possible injury, not to mention a modicum of ability required in hitting a target with a baseball.

Enter Shannon O'Hare, the man behind Obtainium Works who seemingly walks a tightrope between insane and genius...

2014-12-11 Mad Hatter Parade photos by Stephen Jacobson

Fantastic images from the 2014 Vallejo Mad Hatter Holiday Parade by our own Stephen  Jacobson!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129973543@N02/sets/72157649694008142/

2014-12-06 Vallejo’s Mad Hatter parade draws big crowds

With art cars, steampunk-inspired vehicles and, of course, Santa Claus himself, Vallejo’s quirky holiday parade drew hundreds of people downtown on Saturday.

The fifth annual Mad Hatter Holiday Parade and Festival featured 47 entries, from high school marching bands to dancing horses to crazy contraptions such as “The Mushroom Car” and the “Dragon Wagon.” There was even an appearance by Santa’s bad half, “Krampus,” the beast-like German folklore character who punishes naughty children at Christmas time.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20141206/vallejos-mad-hatter-parade-draws-big-crowds

2014-11-16 Obtainium Works goes to Japan (sort of)

The Japanese online blog mynavi.jp posted about the Neverwas Haul art car and our workshop, the Obtainium Works. Google translate is a bit cryptic and hilarious. http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2014/11/16/141/

Vallejo Times Herald Letter, "My Turn: A road map to a more vibrant Vallejo"

A well written post by Frank Malifrando, a longtime supporter of Obtainium Works, about the revitalization of Vallejo.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/letterstotheeditor/ci_26253857/my-turn-road-map-more-vibrant-vallejo