Interview with Maker, Ave Rose, part 3

Welcome back for the conclusion in our chat with with Ave Rose, who was one of the ten contestants on Steampunk’d, from GSN, the Game Show Network. Steampunk’d is the first steampunk reality show to be broadcast on cable television.

Read part one here.

Read part two here.

 

Airship Ambassador: What were some challenges for you personally during the filming?

Ave Rose: Of course it’s hard being away from your loved ones but to be honest I didn’t allow myself to think about it. I really didn’t have time to anyway. Each night I came home I would recap everything I went through in a journal and then brainstormed about the challenged until I fell asleep on my notes. I barely got a few hours of sleep a night because when I work on something I obsess over it until it’s finished. That’s how I’ve always been. Then on our one day off (Sunday) I would literally sleep the entire day to catch up.

AA: When people watch Steampunk’d, what would you like for them to take away from the show and what was created that they could apply to their own work?

AR: Well, so far they aren’t showing much of the stuff I made; how I made it, or even the fact that we all helped each other out even if we were on different teams. So far they haven’t shown that.

So I guess, if there’s one thing I want people to take away from the show it’s just the fact that no matter what, I tried to be a good person, give people a chance, and stick up for what I thought was right.

They showed more of this in the first few episodes but I went out of my way to show that you didn’t have to be over dramatic and competitive in a negative way to show off your skills. Hopefully in the episodes to come they will show more of that. Because that was very important to me.

AA: How was it coming home and getting back to your regular schedule and life?

AR: I was dealing with post traumatic stress heavy. Very heavy. I had nightmares every night for a month. It’s tough when in your head you think you made something super crazy but then the people in charge of judging you either don’t agree or don’t notice and at the same time things that seemed totally thrown together without skill or good taste would be praised. I felt like I was in bizarro land.

AA: What suggestions do you have for people who are thinking of applying for a possible season 2?

AR: Just to realize it’s half reality show. Meaning, just try your best to make the art you are proud of and to be true to yourself as a person. Not to expect the outcome to be based on your skills as an artist but that it’s still worth trying your best.

AA: Now that the show has aired, what comes next for you?

AR: I make a living off art so I’ll just continue to make jewelry, fashion pieces, and sculptures to help pay the bills.

 

AA: Looking beyond steampunk, what other interests fill your time?

AR: I am also a singer and a publisher. So I’d love to put more songs out, make more music videos. Promote the books I’ve published. My publishing company is Ink Pen Mutations Press.

AA: There’s only so much time in a day – what interests don’t you have time for?

AR: Dancing. I love to dance and it’s important for me to go out dancing when I can. But I use to breakdance. And I doubt I’ll ever have time to come up with a routine again.

 

AA: Any final thoughts to share with our readers

AR: Just for everyone to know that in life my most important goal is to be a good person. To love myself and to make the things that inspire magic that I feel proud to share with the world.

 

Thanks, Ave, for joining us in this interview and for sharing all of your thoughts. We look forward to hearing about your next projects!

Keep up to date with Ave’s latest news on her website.

Also, check out her exhibit page at The Steampunk Museum.