Show Notes
The Intro is boost by Jaokim Karud. Jaokim is a swedish artist who loves to produce chill and happy music, and does so for copyright free use. Be sure to support his music by giving credit when used, subscribing, and or by donation. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Soundcloud, and Spotify.
Images are linked to @jamesakers2 instagram
Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. We have many more guest to come, with future guests returning to expand on questions, practices, and a variety of subjects. I’d like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project, and The Plasma Art Alliance, whom many of my guests are connected through. Keep an eye out for next summer’s classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center as we work to provide a space for learning neon and plasma. Also, I’d like to thank James for taking the time to be a guest on the podcast, especially in the midst of his travels, and seltting in at Arlington, Texax. I wish him the best in his job search, and excited for what he makes next!
Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡
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Hello Lightning Tamers!
Podcast episode are long in between, to fill that time between each release, I've started to approach a list of question I've been asked, or have for myself to help us learn aobut Plasma/Neon. So one of the basic things we will look at in today's post are the colors produced by individual gases used in both Neon and Plasma. There are three ways to augment color in Neon and plasma: 1. The colors prodcued by the gas and it it's mixtures 2. The color of the glass used 3. The use of phosphorescent pigments, that illuminate by UV produced by the ionized gases. Neon and Plasma Tubes and Sculptres are essentially gas filled vessels that are excited into an ionized state through high voltage electricity. Traditional neon, that is light work typical in neon signs will often use Neon, Argon, and mercury. Plasma Neon or Plasma Light, which can be tubing or free form blown glass, will often use krypton and xenon as part of it's mixture to give you the plasma globe visuals, with a comibination of other gases including Neon, Argon, Nitrogen, and Helium. Noble Gases
These Gases make up less than 1% of the air in our atmosphere with Nitrogen making up 78% and Oxygen 21% .
Refere to my post FAQS: Where do these gases come from? which includes a link on the idea that Xenon gases come from coments, and video on how these gases are seperated from the air we breathe.
Almost forgot the include some videos from my friend Carl Willis. Carl is a Nuclear Engineer, and Health Physist, who is someone who applies the physics of radiation protection for health and and health care purposes, but also a dabbler and maker of plasma tubes. Be on the look out for Carl Willis as guest on a future podcast!
Carl has a few videos on his youtube channel, they are very informational, and explains the content in his video clearly and in a way to easily digest what he's talking about. Enjoy!
In this video he talks about using Neon gas in a discharge tube, with other gas mixtures.
This video he talks about Kypton and gas mixtures using a iodine as a dopant, and how it is different than Xenon. I hope to cover more on that later, most addative can be dangerous to your health or damaging to your equipment if not handled with the utmost safety and care.
Feel free to send your questions to this email, as well as share and comment!
Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡
Hello Lightning Tamers!
I totally forgot to make a post a few weeks ago about my visit with Mrs. Lori Neu, the Scientific Glassblower at University of Pittsburgh. Lori has been a great host to many of my quesitions regarding scientific glass blowing and creating a secure vacuum, and her consulation when it comes to maintaining the manifold I use to vacuum and fill plasma and neon vessels. As it's been a while since we last chat, with my new job and her travels to recent Amercian Scientific Glass Symposium, and vacations, We got togetherto catch up on things over coffee and donuts. She introduced me to her friend and coworker, Josh Jones, Director of Chemisty Stockrooms at University of Pittsburgh, who showed me some of the discharge tubes while briefly explaining about spectra emission. I took some video, and although the audio was crap, It made a nice little music video of the experience. When testing the chlorine tube, one of which was damaged, the Tesla coil Lori used produced enough High Frequency electric to mess with my phone, though no damage it made my flash turn on in the video and messed with on screen functions. Kind a cool, huh? Oh and lastly, I got to take with me the broken discharge tube, which had a leak and is already empty and at atmosphere. I wonder what I should do, salvage it for it's electrodes, or fill it with neon?
You can follow me on instagram, it contains bits of everything I do, including in progress works and projects!
Show Notes
The Intro is boost by Jaokim Karud. Jaokim is a swedish artist who loves to produce chill and happy music, and does so for copyright free use. Be sure to support his music by giving credit when used, subscribing, and or by donation. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Soundcloud, and Spotify.
Images are linked to @fourthstateglass instagram, images
Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. We have many more guest to come, with future guests returning to expand on questions, practices, and a variety of subjects. I’d like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project, and The Plasma Art Alliance, whom many of my guests are connected through.Keep an eye out for next summer’s classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center as we work to provide a space for learning neon and plasma.Also, I’d like to thank Ash for being a big part of my first steps in my plasma journey. As it was his help that allowed me apply plasma light to my graduating exhibition at Illinois State University.
Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡ Plasma Moose
In these two images, the first is the effect we are looking for and the second is when Chris' hands are place near the points on the antlers.
First time working out of the kiln, and working with Chris Ahalt, who came to Pittsburgh Glass Center to teach a summer intensive course in flameworking called “Shaping Reality: Hollow Sculpting in the Flame”.
Oven pumping in the process of Plasma replaces the process known as Bombarding in Neon (aka Traditional Neon or Sign making), where the high voltage electricity is passed through the glass to head both the tube and process the electrodes, releasing impurities and water inside the glass, as well as aiding in evacuating the tubing that would have two electrodes. In plasma, we may also have two, but it’s more common to have one electrode or none. Bombarding is a serious process required many safety measures, respect, and knowledge, therefore it will not be implemented at Pittsburgh Glass Center for safety, which explains the use of the kiln or oven method to heat the glass for the same purpose.
There's so much more to learn, as I grow we’ll be able to see more possibilities available to use in both Neon and Plasma.
Thank you for the opportunity, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡
Hello Lightining Tamers!
Sorry of the long wait, things got ahead of me for a while, so here's an update for those that are connected with me on facebook:
Illuminated Lady
You can follow Robert Mickelsen and check out his latest projects on the links below
Thank you for your Support, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice⚡
Finally, It's here, the first podcast episode of Taming Lightning! Thank You for your patience and your support. It was a lot of figuring out how I would like to the podcast to run, as well as recording, editing, and publishing!
You can now reach this page by using the address www.taminglightning.net! Note the image at the top of the page, submitted by James Akers' work Emoticon Hieroglyphs, who will be one of our future guest on the podcast. The timing for this episode is something special, it's the birthday of Nikola Tesla, who is integral to the process of neon and plasma as the inventor or the Tesla Coil, the original Lightning Tamer. Who is one of the many inspirations to our guest for today's podcast . Show Notes
The intro is Boost by Jaokim Karud, selected by your votes and participation in the Intro music poll for Taming Lightning. Jaokim Swedish artist that love to produce chill and happy music, and does so for copyright free use. Be sure to support his music by crediting his use, subscribing, and or by donation. If you like what you hear, you can find him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
In today’s podcast, we’ll be talking with Pat Collentine about the differences between traditional neon and plasma, as it relates to both art and lighting. Unfortunately, due to software issues we were not able to record the entire conversation, but today’s topic will be covered in full.
Pat Collentine is a Glassblower and sign maker of Tesla Neon Studios in Chico, California, as well as an is an artist and educator experimenting in Plasma Neon. We met back in 2014 at Pilchuck Glass School, where I took his class called Interactive Light. It was my first introduction in what plasma is, and it spurned my interest in neon and doing it myself. In that process, he’s been a great friend and mentor.
Thank you for listening to the first episode of Taming Lightening Podcast, we have many more guest to come, and some returning to expand on questions and practices of variety of subjects. I like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project. We have just begun, but have already gathered interest in hosting instructors for the next summer classes. Also, I’d like to thank Pat Collentine for his time and his mentorship, as well as the Plasma Art Alliance whom many of my guests are connected through.
Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡
Thank you for supporting Taming Lightning! I'm writing everyone to let you know that I appreciate your support. Having the opportunity to meet most you, I've keep that in mind as I make progress in the podcast, and knowledge.
There's been a delay on the release on the first Podcast, I've had to reschedule my talk with our guest several times. The topic we will cover is the difference between Traditional Neon, and Plasma. It's good topic to start us out on, to get everyone on the same page. Today I would like to also share with you an article about the Noble Gas Xenon below:
One of the frequently asked questions I get is “where do these gases come from?”
A simple answer would be from the air in Earth’s Atmosphere. For a more indebt answer I’ll consult Neon Techniques 4th Edition by Wayne Strattman. The air that we breath contains many different gases in various amounts. Pure air, that is, without water, carbon dioxide, and dust contains primarily seven gases: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.9% Argon, 0.001% Neon, with the following being in quantities less than 0.001% Helium, Krypton, and Xenon. The final five gases are what we are mostly concerned with, and they are often called Noble, rare, or inert gases.[1] If you reference back to your High School chemistry class you will be familiar with Noble Gases on the far right of the Periodic Table of Elements. The term Noble Gas refers to gases that are colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-flammable. They are Noble in the sense that they are very stable (chemistry: stability is due to having the maximum number of valence electrons in their outer shell can hold), meaning they do not react with other elements. Therefore, the term “Inert Gases” isn’t such an accurate term as it states that they cannot react. While they do not react naturally, they can under intervention by scientists and researchers. You may also hear them called Rare Gases, which is also misleading. While they are in much smaller quantities compared to nitrogen and oxygen, they are quite abundant. It would be like the comparison of finding water in cacti or small oasis in the desert, then rarity in terms of finality. Initially It was expensive and impossible to be economical and commercially available for use , until 1907 when French Scientist George Claude perfected a process for obtaining these gases cheaply which he developed with the German scientist, Carl Paul Gottfried Linde, through the process of making liquid air.[2] Liquefaction of Air is the processes of air becoming a liquid by cooling, similar to condensation on cool glass. Liquid Air at a temperature of -196℃ (-371℉) contains primarily liquid nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. These three liquids have different boiling points (points at which go from liquid to gas). When the oxygen is allowed to boil, argon and nitrogen remain. Then the nitrogen is removed by chemical means, leaving pure argon. This same process is applied for separation of the other gases. Gases like Helium are obtained much more cheaply from natural gas deposits, where the mix is much greater in concentration.[3] [1] Wayne Strattman, Neon techniques: handbook of neon sign and cold cathode lighting, 4th ed. (Cincinnati, OH: ST Media Group, 2003), 18. [2] Ibid 19 [3] Ibid 20 Check out the youtube video below for further visual explanation of the process:
Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment!
Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice
Podcasting and interviews are very new skillsets to me, but luckily I’ve been able progress with the time and funding available to me. I’m plan on releasing a podcast episode monthly with the first being release on the last week of May or first week of June. Stay tuned for informational posts in between.
For the podcast, I have a growing list of guests, so I don’t see it running out soon. In this group we’ll have Artists, Makers, and Researchers offering their own unique knowledge and experience in use of Rare Gases. Each episode will feature an interview segment followed by a discussion in plasma, neon, or research unique to them, while future episodes may contain reoccurring guests with a focus on the discussion, with a quick introduction. Now, the podcast is backbone for the project. In Future blog content, I will include video, images, and studio visits that would eventually be compiled into a Handbook or practical guide for Plasma Light Sculpture. The focus on plasma was due very little published information on it. I hope with the first podcast to talk about the differences between plasma and traditional neon.
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Interactives are moments where your choices help shape Taming Lightning. It may seem arbitrary but a good podcast begins with some tasty tunes as the intro. Below are few songs that are free for use. Please use the form below to cast your vote.
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Taming Lightning is a reserach project following my Journey as an Emerging Artist, to learn and share knowledge about the phenomenon of ionized Gases in Plasma and Neon Light through interviews and discussions with Artists, Makers, and Researchers.
Updates will also include documentation on in progress works and idea, Sharing of Classes I find taught by Artists and Makers, as well as future plasma classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center where I'm researching and developing opportunities. My Neon Experience:
Student work from Interactive Light, Pilchuck Glass School 2014
My history in Neon and Plasma began when I took a class at Pilchuck Glass School in 2014, called Interactive Light with Patrick Collentine. In this workshop we explored creating air tight vessels using Furnace glassblowing and Torch work using borosilicate. The course was a laboratry for creating shapes and surfaces to explore in plasma neon.
From that course I was striken by the plasma bug, and searched for a way continued to work in it for my BFA exhibtion at Illinios State Universty. I ended up working with a local Neon and Sign making studio Super Signs in Bloomington, IL, where we investigated plasma. Unfortunatey neither of us had any experience to make any dazzaling light work, but we did produce some interesting glowing pieces. Eventually our schedules no long lined up as their Neon Technician had various installations and repairs to fulfill.
Flash forward to 2016, I had applied to Pittsburgh Glass Center Studio Technician Apprentiscehsip Program. Within the first two months of my apprenticeship, we received at 2 seperate donations from retired neon sign workers. This include a working vacuum pump, manifold (plumbing for filling tubes and vessels), diffusion pump, hand torches, bombardier (trad neon) and more. Which I later discovered that behind the scenes a big hand in receiving the donation was Brian Engel, Studio Coordinator, and Chris Clarke, Operations Manager. Both were interested in having a neon and plasma sometime in the future.
It's an art and knowledge that isn't widely known, but I felt that I could definetly get things running with a little guidance. My first steps were to take pictures of all the equipment, and send them to my mentor Pat Collentine. Sorting through the equipment, and talking with Operations Manager, I was given permission to build a mobile Plasma Lab, a cart for vacuuming and filling vessels for plasma. I say plasma, due the dangers of using a bombardier in traditional neon, which is used to send high voltage through the tube for processing.
Now while I'm waiting for our gas order to come in, I'll be recording interivews and discussions in with Artists, Makers, and Research, and writing posts about the process, and some techniques and tricks I've learned so far. Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter so that you can get email updates for blogs, and subscriber only content! Stay tuned, and thank you for visiting. |
Image: Emoticon Hieroglyphs by James Akers
Taming Lightning is an educational blog and podcast about the art, Science, and History of Plasma and Neon Light through interviews, discussions, and collaborations with Artists, Makers, and Researchers.
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