Hello Lighting Tamers!

For those of you who couldn't make the lecture! Fear not, for I have recorded the entire talk, including the Q&A at the end. This lecture is not a replacement for watching the series and discussion with the plasma community, but if you want to hear my story and a quick overview on creating a vessel for plasma and testing the waters by working with collaborators then have at it. You might find yourself wanting to watch the Series!

You know I feel really good about this talk. I don't do them very often, and it's good to finally be able to get questions beyond the "How do you do plasma?". I believe the Intro to plasma series with GEEX has definitely helped me organize and share some fundamental thoughts on plasma, in which 4 years ago would have been impossible for me to imagine explaining or even talk about.

Thank you for watching,

Percy Echols II | Taming Lightning

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.

Hello Lightning Tamers!
​Plumbing the Gas Transfer System and installing acrylics and brackets.

Music Credits:
Happy Holidays - Jeff kaale

Embers - Kubbi 
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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

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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