EP 5: Kiki Jewell - High Voltage Plasma Artist and Bang! Studio

In today’s Podcast we’ll be talking with Kiki Jewell. Kiki is a software engineer who has been captivated by light since she was a young girl and yet found herself creating as a metal sculptor and 3D graphic artist while making light sculptures through the use of EL wire, fire, and of course Neon and Plasma. Introduced to Neon in 1992, she’s educated herself through classes she’s taken at Crucible in Oakland, California, Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, as well as learning from prominent artists such as Bruce Suba and Ed Kirshner.

She is one of the founding members of BANG! Studio the Bay Area Neon Group which a small studio for those interested in learning and working in neon. After starting a family, Kiki is just getting back into making her plasma work, and will be sharing with us about what she does, and how she found herself working in Neon.
 
I’ve enjoyed talking with her as she is rich with energy and knowledge, and I’m excited to talk with her again about her future projects and ideas.

Show Notes

Intro Music: Boost by Jakim Karud
www.joakimkarud.com
https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud

Outro Music: Re-Entry by Lapse
https://soundcloud.com/lapse​

• NEW! Neon and Plasma Globes - 2 Night Workshop 
• Light up your World with PLASMA! Wayne Strattman and Mundy Hepburn
• Early influnces
• Sofware Engineer
• Burning Man
• worked at Pixar
• Penland School of Craft - introduction to Glass
• The Crucible - www.thecrucible.org
• BANG! - The Bay Area Neon Group

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. I’d like to thank Kiki Jewell for taking the time to talk with us after a long day, scheduling these podcast can be challenging, especially when we are several time zones away, and I’m excited to continue talking about her ideas and new projects. Also, I’d like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as a place of research and inspiration, as well as encouraging me to pursue this project, as well as the Plasma Art Alliance where I have access to the well of knowledge and connects me to some amazing people.

Keep an eye out for more classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center as we work to provide a space for learning neon and plasma. 

See you Next Time!

Percy Echols II
Taming Lightning  ⚡​

More Information

This Spring starting in march, I’ll be teaching a 2 Night Hands-on workshop for creating plasma globes. On the first night you’ll be working with me to create your globe, adding color, pushing and pulling the glass. On the Second night, you’ll see your piece filled with neon gases, and light up before your eyes. This class does not require any glass experience, and mostly geared towards those local to Pittsburgh.

NEW! Neon and Plasma Globes | Pittsburgh Glass Center

This is a brief introduction to a process of neon that has been fading in and out of interest since the early 70s. In two nights, you will make your own plasma globe, and unlike a neon sign you'll be creating your own unique neon light that responds to your touch!

Light Up Your World with PLASMA! | Calendar | Pittsburgh Glass Center

Let's have some fun exploring PLASMA!! Wayne Strattman and Mundy Hepburn will be bringing their plasma experience and incredible enthusiasm to teach the art of plasma for those of you who are interested in "lighting up your worlds!"

For those with more glass experience, you may want to consider taking this summers 5 day intensive “Light Up Your World with PLASMA!” taught by Wayne Strattman and Mundy Hepburn.
This Class is running Aug 6th through August 10th, where these two scientists, alchemists, engineers teach you about Plasma, give you hands-on experience, and help you reach your goals for a finished product.

This Class will be located in the Flame Studio and will focused on use of various torches and Flameworking Techniques, where Wayne focus lies in the use of borosilicate glass, which is very strong, easy working, and enables fine details, while Mundy’s practice uses soft glass from furnace, which melts easily and flows smoothly as he manipulates them  with gas air torches. You’ll be able to explore and experiment with both of these methods.The first thing we will do is to create a form/vessel that will be able to be vacuum sealed. The next step will be to pump the light with noble gases. Different mixtures of these gases will produce the most amazing effects and colors. Then proper use of power supplies will be discussed, demonstrated and studied and safety considerations are a priority.
For more inspiration check out Wayne and Mundy on the Web.

Pittsburgh Glass Center

Pittsburgh Glass Center is one of the top glass facilities in the U.S. Rent the studio today!