Taming Lightning

Shownotes on www.taminglightning.net

Hello, Lightning Tamers!

This is episode number 45! In today's podcast, I'll be joined by Amy Lemaire. The reason why I want to talk to Amy has been manyfold. I see my journey in hers, the multiple disciples and curiosities, to her involvement with pioneering plasma at Urban Glass, and her current development of plasma education at the Salem Community College Glass Program where she is surrounded by skilled and educated students and faculty, in which she dives into plasma illumination from an emphasis on research within the Arts.

Music Credits:

• Retro by ONE
• The opening theme -Taming Lightning by Trav B. Ryan
• Good2Go by ONE
• Walking by Ras-Hop

Episode Sponsored by Ventex Technology, Glass Art Society, and Fluxeon.

IG @sveneon

Show Notes on Taming Lightning Website

Hello lightning Tamers this is episode number 44. In today's podcast, recorded June 22, 2020, I'll be joined by David Svenson

David Svenson was born in 1953 in Upland, California. He graduated from Pitzer College in 1980, and has been incorporating neon in his work since the mid 80s. Often using glass and neon as his dominant medium, his works are known to express the subtle glow of colored light in combination with carved wood or other sculptural materials. Growing up in the rural citrus country of Southern California, just miles away from classic examples of State Route 66 neon signage, he was left with an early impression of multi-colored light easily seen in the darkness of the night. This childhood juxtaposition, combined with witnessing breathtaking displays of the Aurora Borealis in mid teens where he studied Alaskan Tlingit art and culture, set David on the path of light. Learning, teaching, sharing skills and knowledge about glass, neon, art and the Pacific rim cultures are important aspects of David's life today. Aside from working in his studio, David teaches at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and has taught classes at the Pilchuck Glass School, WA, Corning Museum of Glass,, Urban Glass, NY, and has given workshops internationally. He has served as Board President of MONA (The Museum of Neon Art) and works periodically with a team of Alaska Native totem carvers on large commissions.

EP 43 is OUT! In the form of Neon

Marta Beltowska

www.martabeltowska.com

IG @in.the.form.of.neon @mbeltowska

Shownotes on Taming Lightning Website

In today's podcast, recorded July 13, 2020, I'll be joined by Marta Beltowska "in the form of neon."

Marta Beltowska lives in Stockholm, Sweden, and works as a Video and STreaming Producer at a non-profit foundation called TRR. She graduated with a bachelor's in photography in 2014 at the University of Southampton in England and started her career as a photography assistant before moving to Sweden.

After a creative block post-university, Marta found that local neon signs had become her subject of curiosity. And what began as a hobby has now turned into an almost obsessive passion. Since 2018 she has made short documentaries called In the Form of Neon, about the artists who create neon signs.

I'm always curious about the different avenues that bring people to illuminated works of neon and plasma, and so I appreciate the work that Marta does to bring them to light. With the visual medium of neon and plasma, video is a very strong middle way to an in person experience. It was a pleasure to meet you back in 2019 at the Glass Factory in Boda, Sweden. It's very impressive how you can navigate the chaos of the workshop and organize them beautifully in audio and video! Thank Marta for your time on the podcast, and for your support through our passion project In the form of neon.

Please support in the form of neon by watching on Martabeltowska.com and Vimeo, she has videos of the following artists including myself: Ben Orozco, Ed Kirshner, Stephanie Lifshutz, and Clif Eddens.

www.taminglightning.net

ig:@taminglightning

Harriet Schwarzrock @harryschwarzrock

This is episode number 42. And in today's podcast, recorded June 5th, 2021, I'll be joined by Harriet Schwarzrock for Harry 2.0 - Lights, Glass, and Phosphors.

We'll be taking this time to reflect on the recent virtual conference for the 2021 Glass Art Society, recent exhibitions, and projects, and overall plasma journey.

• Music credits to the following artists in order of appearance:
  • Retro by ONE
  • Taming Lightning by Trav B. Ryan
  • brainstorm by ONE
  • Next Time by Hayku
  • Credits - Walking by Ras-Hop

I hope you enjoyed the podcast. This is another favorite for me, to be able to reconnect to talk and see how much has changed since our previous recording. Harry has been very generous with showing her process, and sharing both her failures and successes, and she's not afraid to ask for help. And you can tell she loves what she does in spite of the added challenges and difficulties provided by working in plasma!

Just like myself she learns from those in our growing community of plasma and neon artists and enthusiasts. These overlaps and discussions are what helps us grow!

I recommend checking out the Facebook group, Neon and Plasma Art for Beginners, there are always a dozen hands to help, tons of books and video resources, and you may find some equipment for sale as well.

Recommendations for your eyes and ears are the Light on the Horizon Video exhibition, the Intro the Plasma Series in collaboration with GEEX, and EP 20: Plasma Light Art from Sweden to Boston, and Beyond!

Thank you again Harry for taking the time to record!

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.

Feel free to share, comment, and subscribe. As always Be Safe, Be Healthy, and Be Strong, and I'll See you next time!

www.taminglightning.net

ig: @taminglightning

Nikki Lau www.nikkilauart.com

ig: @lau.nikki

Hello Lightning Tamers! In today's podcast, I'll be joined by Ceramic Artist Nikki Lau to talk about her recent residency at the Pittsburgh Glass Center with Crash Course in Neon as a participant in the upcoming exhibition Full Spectrum: Visionaries Elevating Art Craft, and Design and will be opening February 4th, 2022. The exhibition showcases visionary makers of color from around the country who are producing extraordinary craft objects, while illustrating the vast number of pathways to a successful and meaningful career.

• Preview - Retro by ONE
• The opening theme - Taming Lightning by Trav B. Ryan
• Patreon - Next Time by Hayku
• PGC promo - Mixtape by Prod. Riddiman
• Credits - Walking by Ras-Hop

I hope you enjoyed the podcast. This was one of my first experiences facilitating part of the residency. Though when I look back at it, it really isn't so very different than being an artist assistant or TA. But what was really new was facilitating neon which, from my recent conversations since this recording has led to me believing their much work ahead of me for a full in-studio experience. I would say Frustrating and Fun are the best way to describe working with glass, especially such skillful processes like neon bending. While I fell in love with plasma first, I'm starting to find a very strong interest in neon thanks to Nikki Lau nudge for Neon in her proposal and the well-appreciated guidance and teaching of Tim Tackacs. Speaking of Tim, you can learn about him is his journey in neon on the podcast in episode 28: American Classic Neons with Tim Takacs. ( links in the show notes above) Thank you Nikki Lau for the conversation and respect to your jumping hands first into the fires! I hope this experience has helped nudge you into the possibilities of using neon in your future works, even if your hand isn't the one bending.

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. Feel free to share, comment, and subscribe. As always Be Safe, Be Healthy, and Be Strong, and I'll See you next time!

In today's podcast I'll be joined by Pittsburgh Based - Glass Artist, Zach Layhew to read and review a 1990 Glass Focus Interview of Paul Seide. We talk about what Glass Focus was, and hear about the founder and Glass Collector, Beverly Copeland.

"American artist Paul Seide has developed a unique type of glass sculpture which utilizes scientific and electronic technology along with a highly developed artistic sense. His famous neon sculptures are activated by transmitted radio signals, which eliminates the need for messy and cumbersome electrodes. This allows him more freedom to investigate a greater range of illuminated shapes. Seide developed this technology after many years of experimentation. With his pioneering work in the field of neon he follows in the footsteps of his father, Charles, a pioneer in the development of acrylic paint. "

Check blog post at www.taminglightning.net for more information!

Music:

• Retro by ONE
• Taming Lightning by Trav B. Ryan
• Next Time by Hayku
• Walking by Ras-Hop

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!

web: www.taminglightning.net

ig: @taminglightning

Hello Lightning Tamers! This episode number 38! In today's podcast, I have Wayne Strattman.

Strattman's work encompasses over 30 years of innovation in lighted glass plasma technology, as an artist, designer, researcher, teacher, advocate and author.

Wayne has invented unique lighting technologies such as Luminglas- an interactive flat panel plasma light that Star Trek fans will recognize as the charging station for the Borg. While working on creating a plasma TV, he came up with a process of fusing window glass together in a kiln to make flat glass that lit up and was kinetic. Today, his work remains on the cutting edge of lighted glass engineering, with many recent developments of new effects never seen before.

www.taminglightning.net

ig @taminglightning

• Music credits to the following artists:
  • Preview - Retro by ONE
  • GEEX promo - Sunny Side by One (O-N-E)
  • The opening theme - Boost by Joakim Karud
  • Intermission - Serenity by prod. Riddiman
  • Credits - The Process by Lakey Inspired

April 2021 | In the final chapter of this collaborative series, Percy Echols II discusses his journey to become an independent plasma maker, strategies for assembling a gas-filling manifold, and thoughts on accessibility, education, and advancing the field of plasma and glass.

Created and hosted by Percy, the Taming Lightning podcast unpacks the alchemy of plasma and neon technology while interviewing glass artists, craftspeople, and scientists in the field.

Welcome back, lightning tamers!

In this collaboration with GEEX, Percy and Ben Orozco 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 Percy's journey as a self-starter and alchemist. Podcast episodes premiere monthly through April.

FOOTNOTES

Want the show notes? Click here:

https://www.geex.glass/resources/taminglightning-podcast/

READY FOR MORE?

Excited to learn more about plasma? Check out Taming Lightning:

http://www.percyechols.com/taminglightning

SUPPORT

We're hoping one hundred listeners can chip in $7/episode. Support Taming Lightning's production and compensate valued voices in the field of glass education! Fundraiser ends May 15th, 2021.

Venmo @geexglass your support with the word "PLASMA".

LINKS

Follow @GEEXglass!

Web: https://www.geex.glass/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/geexglass/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/geexglass/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/geexglass/

Follow Percy, AKA @TamingLighting!

Web: http://www.percyechols.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xhtRabhnRdEOhpZ1P39WV

IG: https://www.instagram.com/taminglightning/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TamingLightning/

____

MUSIC CREDITS

Preview: Retro by ONE

Fundraiser: Serenity, produced by Riddiman

Introduction: Boost by Joakim Karud

Global Rare Gases: Mixtape, produced by Riddiman

GEEX Intermission: Sunnyside by One

Information Unlimited: Reentry by Lapse

Swagelok: Lucky, produced by OBI

Credits: The Process by Lakey Inspired

Feb. 2021 | In the third chapter of this collaborative series, Percy Echols II and Ben Orozco discuss filling and illumination. Created and hosted by Percy, the Taming Lightning podcast unpacks the alchemy of plasma and neon technology while interviewing glass artists, craftspeople, and scientists in the field.

Welcome back, lightning tamers!

In this collaboration with GEEX, Percy and Ben Orozco 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 Percy's journey as a self-starter and alchemist. Podcast episodes premiere monthly through April.

FOOTNOTES

Want the show notes? Click here:

https://www.geex.glass/resources/taminglightning-podcast/

READY FOR MORE?

Excited to learn more about plasma? Check out Taming Lightning:

http://www.percyechols.com/taminglightning

SUPPORT

We're hoping one hundred listeners can chip in $7/episode. Support Taming Lightning's production and compensate valued voices in the field of glass education!

Venmo @geexglass your support with the word "PLASMA".

LINKS

Follow @GEEXglass!

Web: https://www.geex.glass/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/geexglass/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/geexglass/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/geexglass/

Follow Percy, AKA @TamingLighting!

Web: http://www.percyechols.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xhtRabhnRdEOhpZ1P39WV

IG: https://www.instagram.com/taminglightning/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TamingLightning/

____

MUSIC CREDITS

Preview: Retro by ONE

Fundraiser: Serenity, produced by Riddiman

Introduction: Boost by Joakim Karud

Global Rare Gases: Mixtape, produced by Riddiman

Intermission: Sunnyside by One

Information Unlimited: Reentry by Lapse

Credits: The Process by Lakey Inspired