Podcast EP 7 : Mundy Hepburn - Mad Scientist, Alchemist, and Luminous Glass Artist

​In Today's Podcast, we'll be talking with Mundy Hepburn a luminous glass artist who has been making lights since 1976 with over 30 years of experience working in Plasma. In his work, he embraces his inner mad scientist and alchemist with his studio containing several different tanks of noble gases, tubing, valves, gauges, and other dodads. His approach is especially unique in that he uses soft glass, such that seen in furnace glassblowing, to create life-sized plasma lamps and vessels, as well his use of neon torches for shaping hand pulled glass tubing, creating distinct forms and gestures.

Mundy has been a great source of wisdom, knowledge, encouragement, as well as having a personality of seemingly boundless energy. I appreciate all he's done as a friend and mentor, and very excited to have him as an instructor at Pittsburgh Glass Center this summer.
 
Without further ado, onto the podcast!

Show Notes

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud
www.joakimkarud.com
https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud
​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

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

• How Mundy began in Plasma
• Importance of standardizing plasma making process.
• How as MONA “This is Plasma” and the Plasma Art Alliance influence him.
• Tips
  • When making large vessels you want to have your pressures around half atmosphere (at least 200-300 torr).
  • Keep your arcs conductive
  • Keep your pressures up
  • The more gases, the more power you need.
• Learning to make your own electrodes, so you won’t be limited to neon electrodes. (tutorial later).
• Navigating the use of colored glass vs phosphor powders vs gas mixture
  • If you want it to be pretty during the day when the light is not visible, use colored glass.
  • Glass color will filter some of the light, so you’ve got play with it and experiment with mixing phosphors.
• How Mundy met Wayne?

​Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. I'd like to thank  Mundy for taking the time to be on the podcast, being very generous with his knowledge and continuous support! 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, and 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.
 
For more information on the 2- Night Neon and Plasma Globe workshop and Summer Intensive with Wayne Strattman and Mundy Hepburn, please check  it out on the web at www.pittsburghglasscenter.org or call our studio at 412-365-2145.

See you next time!

Percy Echols II
​Taming Lightning

More Information

Mundy's Lab

Mundy M Hepburn

My vacuum system

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!"