Podcast | EP 39: Michael Flechtner - Drawing with Light

Hello Lightning Tamers!

This is episode number 39, and on today’s podcast  we have Michael Flechtner! 
As a child Michael Flechtner was fascinated with electricity, fire and colored light of all kinds.  It could be the stained glass windows at church, his father testing the Christmas lights on Christmas Eve and the neon signage in his home town…adorning shop windows and local drive-ins and movie theatres.​

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!

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Show Notes

Music Credit

• Preview - Retro by ONE​
• Opening Music - Boost by Joakim Karud
• Promo | Intro to Plasma  - Serenity by prod. Riddiman
• Credits - The Process by Lakey Inspired

Instagram

Videos

Flektro.com

I hope you enjoyed the podcast. This recording was made in June 2020, and so much has changed, and at the same time not at all. Like many of our guests there’s a lot more we can talk about, so if you have any questions or things you’d like to be covered in a follow up podcast, please leave a comment on the taming lightning blog for episode 39! Also If you want to hear more from Michael Flechtner please check him out on the Mondo Neon Podcast, Max does a great job covering all things neon from photography, CGI and movies, restoration and conservation, so show him some love and check out all the great conversations.  And if you are close to Pittsburgh, his work currently shown in the LIT: Light in Transmission Exhibition at the Pittsburgh Glass Center which had been extended to July 18th, but in case you cannot make the trip you can have a virtual look on the Pittsburgh Glass Center website at www.pittsburghglasscenter.org

Extended to July 18th, 2021

LIT: Virtual Resources

 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