Remodeling and Upgrade for the Plasma Lab are funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment in the reception of the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and residency hosted by the Pittsburgh Glass Center.
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Hello Lightning Tamers! Plumbing the Gas Transfer System and installing acrylics and brackets. Music Credits: Happy Holidays - Jeff kaale Embers - Kubbi --- Documenting my updates on the Plasma Lab aka PGC Light Lab at the Pittsburgh Glass Center Remodeling and Upgrade for the Plasma Lab are funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments in the reception of the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and residency hosted by the Pittsburgh Glass Center. -Percy Echols II | Taming Lightning
Hello, lightning tamers!
In this new collaboration with GEEX, Ben Orozco and I are producing a 4-part series for people new to the plasma process, introducing elements of plasma in an easy-to-apply format and touching on my journey as a self-starter and alchemist. Podcast episodes will premiere every other monthly, on every third Thursday, with the next chapter released in December. Stay tuned, I'm inspired to make intermediate podcast to follow up questions or topics I feel need to expressed before moving to the next chapter! Stay curious, Percy Echols II | Taming Lightning
Hello Lightening Tamers!
I took a week off to visit home for my birthday this week, but even though I'm home and "taking a break", I put some of that time doing what I've always done, and that is learning. YouTube can be an awesome resource where you can find all type of videos with many as helpful as they are entertaining. Additionally, I've been working with Ben Orozco from GEEX to develop some primer episodes directed at beginners and educators who are interested in Plasma.
Plasma, as far what Light Art is concerned, isn't something that is yet to be found in single and comprehensive source, and what I've had to do as well as those whom have come before me is gather a variety of knowledge and skills, and synthesize. Which is the basis of learning. In circumstances where excitement and impatience enter this can be quite frustrating, but this journey in plasma has lead to many paths and curiosities. The same connections an artist makes to developed an artwork is done when learning, and has given me an ever expanding appreciation of the world around me.
Now this following video, is something I found quite intriguing. For an element to go into a plasma state, it is done through heating or subjecting it to an electromagnetic field, which is easiest to reach from a gaseous state. Granted this isn't something that leads you directly to the creations of plasma via vacuum and noble gases. I found it exciting to watch plasma created via other materials, and to watch creators or youtubers document their process. The discoveries and the problem-solving implemented allowed them to overcome barriers found in process, materials, and equipment. I hope you find this as entertaining as I have. Be safe, be healthy, and be strong, and I'll see you next time! -Percy Echols II | Taming Lightning
Hello Lightning Tamers!
Found this at the suggestion of youtube and though many of you who are interested in plasma would find it useful and insightful. While I acknowledge that I haven't been able to provide any significant introduction into the process of Plasma per interest of art as shown by my guests, this video does offer a well rounded explanation for equipment used to create vacuum, material properties, and well the functional use for plasmas as part of future energy source. I hope this helps give you a better insight into what it takes to makes something like this happen, and encourage you to research and read some of the sources I've listed in the RESOURCES tab to the right. I've also provide an updated below regarding my progress on the PGC Light Lab.
Essentially in this step I used an ultrasonic cleaner with Cleaning Detergent called Citranox, which was suggested by Tim Drier, then used scotch pad scrub, rinsed with water, and then final rinse with De-ionized water. Bruce Suba had noted that he uses another process for cleaning, so stay tuned for a post from him.
Thank you, Percy Echols II | Taming Lightning
"This globe (1000ml) was a complete surprise. After having great success with filling several green globes I decided that I wanted a large pure xenon globe. I run voltage on the plasma tubes when I am filling them but it only gives me an idea how things will look after I seal the globe and mount it. The fact that the globe is connected to a grounded metal vacuum system tends to distort the plasma effects.
After sealed and mounted this globe I was surprised to see a faint green spider that grew "legs" as the voltage went higher. It looks just like the spikes on ferrofluid with a magnetic field applied and I'd bet the physics is analogous. This globe has 50 torr of xenon."
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Image: Return to Hieroglyphics by James Akers
Disclaimer
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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