Hello Lightning Tamers! This is episode 49 and in today’s podcast I’ll be reading a review on an exhibition I curated called LIT: Light in Transmission that was shown in Hodge Gallery at the Pittsburgh Glass Center last year in 2021 from February 5 and extended until July 28. This is the second exhibition I’ve curated the first being in 2017 an ISU Alumni exhibition from Glass Progam, and so I find this to be valable to have documented thoughts and interpretations of what I’ve helped create. This goes double for the podcast and any of the videos guides, and content, I produce. Your feedback if valuable. The following review is by Pittsburgh-based independent curator and critic Vicky A. Clark who is an art historian and author specializing in contemporary art and was written for Issue 163 of the Glass Quarterly Magazine, as a heads up, in the next episode I have a conversation with Vicky learn about her background and share insights about the exhibition.

Hello Lightning Tamers! Hello Lightning Tamers! This is not an episode. So in today's podcast, I’m going to give a little announcement about Taming Lightning going on a hiatus. YES, you heard that right a hiatus. I’ve officially planned to start July and to end in October, 2022. The reason for this hiatus is well, I need to take time to stop adapt to my most recent life events and changes: NEW job at Swagelok Pittsburgh, Moving into a new place, and teaching and assisting in summer workshops. ​I need some time to adapt before putting out more episodes. That means cutting back on things to focus on what’s important. Whether that's restructuring my time for research and art making. Maybe it’s just an excuse to get ahead on things, I’m never really good at doing absolutely nothing, so we’ll see how I’ll improve on that. Before I go, I need to ask a favor. If you could, I’d like you leave a comment about what you’d like to hear about on the podcast, it could be something from a previous guest or something new. I’d love to hear it, so I can help share it. 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

Hello Lightning Tamers! This is episode 47, and I’m here with Thomas Zickuhr of Neon Lab and Neon instructor at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Thomas Zickuhr is a neon glass/mixed media artist based out of Madison Wisconsin and has been a neon glassblower for nearly 20 years, though has been an active artist his entire life. After finishing his degree in Fine Art/Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Tom moved to Boulder Colorado and took on an intensive 4 year apprenticeship in neon. After the foundation for neon had been laid, he, his wife Kristine, and their dogs moved to Madison, WI where Tom continued to learn and grow in the craft of neon. Thomas also studied and practiced design and animation, and continues to work and create in all three fields.

Hello Lightning Tamers! This is episode number 45. In today's podcast, I'll be joined by Amy Lemaire. The reason why I want to talk to Amy has been many fold. I see my journey in hers, the multiple disciples and curiosities, to her involvement with pioneering plasma at Urban Glass, and her current development of plasma education at the Salem Community College Glass Program where she is surrounded by skilled and educated students and faculty, in which she dives into plasma illumination from an emphasis on research within the Arts.