And If you've been following the blog I’ve been updating or adding new editions from the Intro to Plasma Series, pulling out sections of the video podcast, expanding, and adding better visuals all repackaged into mini presentations for quick and easy access.
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American artist Paul Seide has developed a unique type of glass sculpture which utilizes scientific and electronic technology along with a highly developed artistic sense. His famous neon sculptures are activated by transmitted radio signals, which eliminates the need for messy and cumbersome electrodes. This allows him more freedom to investigate a greater range of illuminated shapes. Seide developed this technology after many years of experimentation. With his pioneering work in the field of neon he follows in the footsteps of his father, Charles, a pioneer in the development of acrylic paint.
Seide mastered his craft at the Egani Neon Glassblowing School in the Harlem section of Manhattan. The school was established in 1930. In its heyday it had been known as "the school for neon." By the time Seide enrolled the school was getting ready to close its doors. He was in fact, the last student in the facility, the only student in the class. Seide says "lt was me and 50 empty benches!" Show NotesMusic Credit
Original Newsletter from Glass Focus
Curtesy of Toledo Museum of Art Library
I hope you enjoyed the podcast. Most of the time when I find readings, articles, and papers, I’m often sharing and discussing them with my contemporaries. While we gain some insight, I often feel like everyone else could benefit from hearing what we have to say. One of the leads from this discussion has been to reach out to my network for insight on those early neon and blown glass works from Dale Chihuley and Jamie Carpenter, and have an expanded discussion about them.
Thank you Zach Layhew for the conversation and lending a voice to this reading, you’ll likely hear from him and others in future readings, reactions, and discussion on Taming Lightning. So if have any readings,news, papers, and or past topics you’d like to expand on please let me know.
I've got various projects in mind, but I'd like to hear from you which you like to hear or see first. There are 3 projects listed, where you select your level of interest, and an extra box to submit your own requests. Please fill out the survey at the link below.
Additionally I’d like to thank Beverly Copeland of Glass Focus for her time providing some insight on the newsletter and what she is upto today.
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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About
Welcome to the Neon Nonsense neighborhood? A PLACE WHERE THE CITY CODE ENFORCER CAN'T HEAR YOU SCREAM! Our goal with this podcast is to bring to light the trials and tribulations of building your own neon shop from scratch, making long-lasting units, and keeping the neon fires going for future generations. Won't you join us?
Meet your HostsAlleson Buchanan
Danielle James
With Flechtner’s background in sculpture(BFA, MFA) , as he began to learn how to bend neon tubes, it became clear to him through literally some “wrong turns” that he would be able to create 3 dimensional neon forms in what is primarily considered a 2 dimensional medium. He believes he has a “gift” that enables him to be able to visualize the finished work and then to create patterns, jigs, techniques and other devices in order to create these very “in the round” neon artworks. Michael would say “I knew that it was very important to develop sound bending skills and techniques so that my work would survive, handling, bombarding, and finally assembly and installation.” And thus over the years, he’s created a number of forms in various sizes that include sea life, aircrafts, radios, cameras, etc. The smallest 3D plane he’s made has a 6 inch wingspan and the largest 3D shark 7 long long. Flechtner says “It is surprising to me…as well as others how strong these fragile constructions really are”. Note for context this episode was recorded in early June of 2020, it seems so far away, with all that’s happened in between. Let’s get right to it! Show NotesMusic Credit
VideosFlektro.com
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 the staff at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, I cannot foresee any other timeline for which I’d be able to do what I do today. 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
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 NotesGalleryMusic Credits
Strattman Design
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
updated: 3/1/21 Added Online Communities & Collaborators
About | Rare Gas Market
Messsage from Jim Avolt:
"Things have changed a bit in the rare gas market. The source for crude rare gases are large Air Separation Units (ASU’s). These facilities use refrigeration and pressure to separate air into its various gas components. As the air is chilled, each component drops as a liquid when the temperature drops below its boiling point. 
"Crude rare gases are harvested from these separation plants, but the systems to capture these rare gases needs to be installed as the plants are being built. Because rare gases have such a low concentration in air, only the largest ASU’s are candidates for rare gas harvesting.
Because of the huge requirement for oxygen at steel plants, the largest ASU’s in the world were constructed at or near the largest steel plants in the world. Those plants are located in China, Russia and Ukraine. The virus has had a huge impact on the global demand for steel, causing steel plants to reduce production levels. As the production decreased, the operating hours of the3 ASU’s were reduced. This is causing a global shortage of rare gases. Krypton gas has seen the highest increase. Besides the shortage for crude gas from the ASU’s, several semiconductor manufacturers have significantly increased their requirement for the gas. As the krypton is only a small fraction of the cost profile of these semiconductor fabrication facilities, the cost of the gas is a small consideration to them. They need the gas, so they buy the gas. At this time, both Airgas / Air Liquide & Linde / Praxair are not quoting new customers on krypton gas and have placed most customers on allocation for the gas. Global Rare Gases| Price List (As of 2/23/21)
XENON:
Lecture bottle, CGA 580 brass valve; xenon, 99.999+%; 50 liters; $1,900.00. In stock. Shipping by FedEx Ground Haz Mat = $75.00 NEON: Disposable B cylinder, CGA 580 brass valve; neon, 99.999+%; 250 liters; $420.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ 75.00 Disposable C cylinder, CGA 580 brass valve; neon, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $ 650.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00 HELIUM & ARGON, both 99.999+%: SAME PRICE for these gases. Disposable B cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; helium OR argon, 99.999+% pure; 250 liters; $300.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00 Disposable C cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; helium OR argon, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $360.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00 KRYPTON: Disposable B cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; krypton, 99.999+% pure; 250 liters; $1,250.00 + shipping @ $75.00 Disposable C cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; krypton, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $2,000.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ 75.00 |
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Welcome to Taming Lightning, I'm Percy Echols II. I'm the creator and host of Taming Lightning, as well as the emerging plasma tech at Pittsburgh Glass Center, where I'm researching and developing a space to explore Plasma and Neon Light as an Artist Medium.
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