Blog Archives

Teaser | First plasma fills of 2021: Plasma Coffee Mug and Learning to experiment and explore Plasma fills!

5/22/2021

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Hello Lightning Tamers!

First plasma fills of 2021 with the Manifold rebuild and Cart Remodeling at The Pittsburgh Glass Center!

ðŸŽ¥ Filming and chatting with Ralph Crewe of Isn't that Some Thing and âš¡Plasma Coffee Mug â˜•

Coached by Mundy Hepburn on developing a understanding for exploring and experimenting with plasma fills.

More to come soon, much to learn and unlearn!

-Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

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Podcast | EP 38: Wayne Strattman - Standing on the Shoulders of our Predecessors

5/20/2021

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Hello Lightning Tamers!

This episode number 38! In today's podcast, I have Wayne Strattman.

Strattman’s work encompasses over 30 years of innovation in lighted glass plasma technology, as an artist, designer, researcher, teacher, advocate and author.

Since 1983, Wayne’s Boston-based company Strattman Design has grown to become a global leader in crafting lighted glass plasma displays for science museums worldwide, and creative kinetic plasma sculpture– a fusion of glass, gas and electricity.

Combining his background training in engineering with his love of sculpture and interest in the history of electricity—specifically those technologies using glass—Wayne not only taught himself the field without any formal glass training but also proceeded to pioneer many new techniques now intrinsic to his medium.

Wayne has invented unique lighting technologies such as Luminglas- an interactive flat panel plasma light that Star Trek fans will recognize as the charging station for the Borg. While working on creating a plasma TV, he came up with a process of fusing window glass together in a kiln to make flat glass that lit up and was kinetic. Today, his work remains on the cutting edge of lighted glass engineering, with many recent developments of new effects never seen before.

Show Notes

Gallery

Music Credits

Preview - Retro by ONE
Promo | GEEX - Sunny Side by ONE
Opening Music - Boost by Joakim Karud
Promo | Intro to Plasma - Serenity by prod. Riddiman
Credits - The Process by Lakey Inspired

Strattman Design

I have just finished the 4 chapter series with GEEX called Intro to Plasma. Here Ben Orozco and I give an overview on plasma sculpture, packing as many considerations into the process as we can.

Through this series, I give a formal introduction to my beginnings in plasma, breakdown the anatomy of a plasma sculpture and providing Structural Guidelines for creating a plasma vessel, Overview of the basic steps in checking and filling your plasma vessel, discuss the difference between fabrication and collaboration when it comes to plasma, and where to begin with a growing list of resources and supportive communities and groups.

TAming lihgtning x Geex | Intro to plasma

While the series is over, this overview will allow us to unpack questions and dive deeper in to specifics needed for progress and success in this medium. All questions are welcome, so please leave a comment on the youtube on topics or questions you want me to dive into!

I hope you enjoyed the podcast. I appreciate Wayne for sharing more about his background, you can’t help but feel his excitement when he talks about new discoveries and research. Our many discussions and talks off the mic has made me realize how young the internet truly is. There are loads of people whom we do not know anything about, especially their early beginnings, who are doing amazing work. This is only an introduction, be ready for more conversations with Wayne in the future. So if you have any questions or topics you’d like us to go over, submit your questions in the comments of this blog.

I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as a place of research and inspiration. Plasma Art Alliance where I have access to the well of knowledge and connects me to some amazing and supportive people. Additionally, I’d like to extend thanks to Chris Clarke the Director of Operation at the Pittsburgh Glass Center for recommending Wayne for our first plasma class in 2018, as this and subsequent connections have been most valuable thus far in my career.

Feel free to share, comment, and subscribe.

As always Be Safe, Be Healthy, and Be Strong, and I’ll See you next time.

-Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

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Neon & Plasma, Fabricator & Collaborator | Would you like to me talk about this more?

5/14/2021

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Hello Lightning Tamers!

â€‹Neon and Plasma are similar, and their differences become more noticeable in reference to fabrication and collaboration in Art.

It's quite the topic, it's been on my mind lately since completing the Intro to Plasma Series. So in reference to Chapter 3: Chemistry of Collaboration.

Are these terms distinct enough?

Fabricator & Neon - direct translation and predictable expectations.
Collaborator & Plasma - Experimental and difficult to predicate expectations

Does this term become confusing when we think of collaboration on art?

Fusion of two artists in a single work or series.
Those that help with formation of the project or art work; think conversation with artist friend that influence the steps or direction of your work.

When do you credit your collaborator (in plasma)?

Is it based on mutual intent and significant contribution?

Should I continue to polish this topic with more research?

Let me know what you think,

Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

GEEX x Taming Lightning Intro to Plasma Series - An entry level overview of Plasma Sculpture

In this collaboration between Percy Echols II of Taming Lightning and Ben Orozco of GEEX, the two respective plasma and neon artists/technicians are producing a 4-chapter series for glass educators and co-learners new to the plasma process, introducing elements of plasma in an easy-to-apply format, while touching on Percyâ€™s journey as a self-starter and alchemist.

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Intro to Plasma Series | Send questions to continue!

5/11/2021

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Hello Lightning Tamers!

While the Intro to Plasma Series is over, this overview will allow us to unpack questions and dive deeper in to specifics needed for progress and success in this medium. All questions are welcome, so please leave a comment here and or youtube on topics or questions you want me to dive into!

Thank you,
Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

GEEX x Taming Lightning Intro to Plasma Series - An entry level overview of Plasma Sculpture
In this collaboration between Percy Echols II of Taming Lightning and Ben Orozco of GEEX, the two respective plasma and neon artists/technicians are producing a 4-chapter series for glass educators and co-learners new to the plasma process, introducing elements of plasma in an easy-to-apply format, while touching on Percy’s journey as a self-starter and alchemist.

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Resource | Understanding Vacuum, Systems, and Parts by Mark McCollum

5/3/2021

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Hello Lightning Tamers!

If you followed the the Intro to Plasma Series, especially with Chapter 4, and maybe you're not be big reader (though you should absolutely read "basic vacuum practice" book.) This covers a brief history of vacuum science, what vacuum is, and great overview on various vacuum pump systems and gauges.

GEEX x Taming Lightning Intro to Plasma Series - An entry level overview of Plasma Sculpture

In this collaboration between Percy Echols II of Taming Lightning and Ben Orozco of GEEX, the two respective plasma and neon artists/technicians are producing a 4-chapter series for glass educators and co-learners new to the plasma process, introducing elements of plasma in an easy-to-apply format, while touching on Percy’s journey as a self-starter and alchemist.

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Show Notes

Gallery

Music Credits

Strattman Design

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