Hello Lightning Tamers!

Thinking back on that last few years I thought I'd share with you some videos about Western Neon School of Art. I'm preparing for guests and questions for future episodes:

• Featuring Dylan Neuwirth  talking about when he was a project manager for Dale Chihuly and his Neon Forest work
• Feature WNSA Co-founder and Head Neon instructor, Kelsey Fernkopf.
• Talk about opportunities and adjustments for 2022.

If you have questions or topics you'd like use to address please comment on the post!

-Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

Notice the appealing glow of neon on more signs around town? Western Neon is one of the companies behind the medium's nostalgic flair. The sign builder's creations entice customers into places like Cupcake Royale, Mighty-O Donuts and Caffe Vita. A new wave of artists fascinated with the medium led Western Neon to offer classes on the history of neon and simple design techniques. The workshops are so popular, 450 people are on the waiting list. So, if you're into fire, electricity, argon and neon, sign up soon!

LIGHTEATER, a metaphysical exploration of light featuring neon bender Thomas Wendler and the thoughts of light artist James Turrell. This is a personal project born out of my mild obsession for neon - the 5th most abundant gas in the universe. An element created in stars. An inert gas that when electrified reveals itself in the form of seemingly physical light.
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All neon lamps are handmade. It's a special craft that involves heating and blowing glass into shape - the instrument, or vessel, is then filled with the appropriate noble gas (neon, xenon, argon, etc.). The trapped gas is then electrified -- With this film I wanted to get as close as possible to the process and show it in an abstracted way, building a bridge to James Turrell’s expressions on light- from the physics of it to the mystics of it.

Archive footage courtesy of NASA & Prelinger Archives.
Thanks to Thomas Wendler, Vara Kane, Sigi Gugger, Ute Michaelsen, Norma Archer, Chad Weuve.
This film is not for profit. I do not own the rights to the voice of James Turrell. The voice is an excerpt from the 2013 interview on the Charlie Rose show. Those interested, you can view the show here: charlierose.com/videos/17416

​Featuring art works by:

Hello Lightning Tamers!

You've probably heard it said "Vacuum don't suck" and continued on your day without a second thought.  I often come back to statements like this with questions like this, the video I'm sharing with you today "Does Vaccuum suck?" 

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.