Taming Lightning

In today's podcast, I have Rusty Russo, who has been working and developing his skills in the area of Illuminated Glass Tubing for over 30 years in which he's acquired an expert level proficiency in glass fabrication, vacuum tube processing, system design, and construction, leak detection, technical support, packaging design, and technical writing.

He's also a Senior R+D Glass Blower for a Boston-based start-up specializing in energy-efficient inductively coupled soda-lime light bulbs.

From his beginning as a neon bender, he's worked as a technical consultant for The EGL Co., a columnist for Signs of the Times Magazine, demonstrating artist and technical assistant for The Glass Art Society, and assistant instructor/visiting artist for various education facilities such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Penland School of Craft and Urban Glass.

Additionally A recognized industry authority on all phases of neon vacuum tube production. Having served as Co-Chairman of the ISA Research and Standards Committee on Neon Processing, where he co-created an internationally recognized standard for the processing of neon tubing. This provided a practical, teachable, repeatable solution to what had been a historically random intuitive process.

He currently works as a freelance technical consultant, and glass artist, conceptualizing and creating 3-dimensional sculpture using glass, light, and mixed media.

I met Mr. Russo in the summer of 2018 during the Pittsburgh Glass Center's first Plasma Workshop taught by Wayne Strattman and Mundy Hepburn where he assisted alongside Ander Mikkelsen. In the chaos of that class, Rusty was a grounding tether to the complexities of plasma and neon, someone who was very comfortable with meeting you at your level. He's been such a great source of information and support in regards to troubleshooting and identifying components in the manifold, and helped provided confidence and guidance in my career development in technical consultation on several jobs.

Like many of the guests on this podcast, Rusty has a rich history and knowledge, and we barely scratch the surface of who Rusty is. Treat this as it is, an introduction, he'll talk about the origins of his interest in neon, the influence of music and martial art on his practice and teaching philosophy, and his drive toward excellence through repetition, self-examination, and refinement.

Episode Show Notes

Music:

Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Intermission: Sunnyside by ONE

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

www.Taminglightning.net

Hello Lightning Tamers! This episode number 34!

In today's podcast, we have a recording from 2019 during the plasma with blown glass workshop taught at the Glass Factory in Boda, Sweden. I was invited to teach alongside Ed Kirshner and Jamie Guerrero, which was only made possible by the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant.

I wasn't sure if I was going to release this episode, but seeing that we are halfway through the collaboration with Geex for the Intro to Plasma series, today's guest would be an opportunity to emphasize the need to have a growing respect and understanding of components, knowledge, and skills introduced in chapter 2, besides showing another perspective on learning plasma from an engineering and technical background.

Now the person I'm introducing is Tristen August, he works for Konstrucktiv in Berlin. Konstrucktiv is a product manufacturing and rapid prototyping solution, with Tristan as their expert in creative solutions, electronics, manufacturing, and hardware hacks. Perhaps he and Dalibor Farny are kindred spirits. Among the participants in the workshop, Tristen was the most familiar with plasma, yet did not have any glassblowing experience. This wasn't a problem since he was able to pick up on glassblowing jargon, and worked with other participants to have vessels made, much like Ed himself. With his technical understanding, he brought him a plasma transformer he designed and a few experiments he made with glass tubing.

In any case, I hope you enjoy the last podcast of 2020, so let's jump right in!

Episode Show Notes

Music:

Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Intermission: Sunnyside by ONE

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

www.Taminglightning.net

Hello Lightning Tamers,

In today's podcast, I'll be joined by Ben Orozco for Chapter 2 of the Intro to Plasma series in collaboration with GEEX, the Glass Education Exchange.

The series is an introduction for Glass Educators and Makers who are new to the process of Plasma, as well as an introduction to Percy and his thoughts and experiences on learning about Plasma.

So in Chapter 2, Taking Shape, we'll be talking about the fundamental guidelines for creating your forms, aesthetic considerations, and preparing plasma vessels for filling and illumination.

Donate to Support Taming Lighting x GEEX series

Show Notes

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

Music:

Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Intermission: Sunnyside by ONE

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

www.Taminglightning.net

Hello Lightning Tamers and Welcome to Chapter X notes, These are bonus episodes to supplement the Taming lightning X Geeks collaborative series: intro to plasma, where I was inspired to expand on questions or topics from each episode.

In this podcast I will address three topics from Chapter 1, the first being the inspiration behind my drive to learn about plasma, the story, and concept behind The Tell-Tale truth, and to expand on the elements of plasma to better transition into chapter 2: Taking Shape, which will involve the functional and aesthetic consideration for making a vessel in glass.

Donate to Support Taming Lighting x GEEX Intro to Plasma series

Show Notes

Music:

Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

www.Taminglightning.net

Hello Lightning Tamers, this is episode number 31, and in today's podcast, I'll be joined by Ben Orozco in collaboration with GEEX, where our respective experience as plasma and neon artists, technicians come together to produce a 4 chapter series for glass educators and co-learners new to the plasma process introducing elements of plasma in an easy-to-apply format, while touching on my journey as a self-starter and alchemist.

Donate to Support Taming Lighting x GEEX series

Show Notes

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

Music:

Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Intermission: Sunnyside by ONE

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

www.Taminglightning.net

This episode is sponsored by The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment in reception of the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and residency is hosted by the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud

www.joakimkarud.com https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud ​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

​Outro Music: The Process by LAKEY INSPIRED WWW.LAKEYINSPIRED.COM https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired www.patreon.com/lakeyinspired

Hello Lightning Tamers, this is episode number 30, and in today's podcast, I'll be reading the article "A Noble Quest: History of noble gases" by Mike Sutton, the story of William Ramsay's Hunt for the noble gases!

During the early 2 months of the covid-19 pandemic with the stay-at-home order here in Pittsburgh, I took advantage of that time to research. Among many things, I wanted to answer several questions I had for the noble gases: when were they discovered, who discovered them, and the naming convention behind the gases. (the last one being my slight obsession with word and meanings/definitions of). I ended up on the Chemistry World website where I found this article. Now it took a little more time than previous permission but Taming Lightning has been granted permission to read the following article from the Chemistry World Magazine by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud

www.joakimkarud.com https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud ​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

​Outro Music: The Process by LAKEY INSPIRED WWW.LAKEYINSPIRED.COM https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired www.patreon.com/lakeyinspired

Hello, Lightning Tamers this is episode number 29. In today's podcast, we have Dalibor Farny! For those who don't know he's a small manufacturer of the world's largest nixie tube & Clocks in the Czech Republic. The reason I wanted to have him on the podcast is for several reasons, one which I believe has parallelled the struggles of those pursuing the seeming untamable nature of plasma or anyone in pursuit of self-learning is that his engineer background was all he had before becoming enamored by nixie tubes. not unlike myself, he pursued as much info as he could be it text or what little existed on the internet before needing the help of those willing to share their knowledge. He searched, gathered, and learned about the equipment needed, taught himself how to work glass and used lathe, and to process, clean, and use a vacuum system. He's very open with sharing his process, his success, his failures, Questions, and solutions. After the podcast, please check out his youtube channel for his latest projects and designs.

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud

www.joakimkarud.com https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud ​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

​Outro Music: The Process by LAKEY INSPIRED WWW.LAKEYINSPIRED.COM https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired www.patreon.com/lakeyinspired

Hello Lightning Tamers, this is episode number 28! In today's podcast, we have American Classic Neons with Tim Takacs!

Just in case there may be any concern, this podcast was recorded in early March 2020, prior to COVID-19 Pandemic. Thank you.R

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. I'd like to thank Tim Takacs for letting me visit his Neon Studio and for the conversation. Hugh Elliot was also there working on some Neon for local bars and restaurants. I hope to work with him soon to have some new neon made and talk about future projects. I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as a place of research and inspiration, also Plasma Art Alliance where I have access to the well of knowledge and connects me to some amazing and supportive people.

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud

www.joakimkarud.com https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud ​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

​Outro Music: The Process by LAKEY INSPIRED WWW.LAKEYINSPIRED.COM https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired www.patreon.com/lakeyinspired

Hello Lightning Tamers, this is episode number 27. In today's podcast we have Enlightened Arts with Candice Watkins, who had formerly worked with Neon & Illuminated Art, Sculpture & Site-Specific Projects, and currently works with organizing and promoting events in Columbus, Ohio.

Just in case there may be any concern, this podcast was recorded in early March 2020, prior to COVID-19 Pandemic. Thank you.

Intro Music: Boost by Joakim Karud

www.joakimkarud.com https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud ​www.patreon.com/joakimkarud

​Outro Music: The Process by LAKEY INSPIRED WWW.LAKEYINSPIRED.COM https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired www.patreon.com/lakeyinspired

This is episode 26 Monday with Mundy featuring a conversation about Mundy's experimentation with making his own electrodes, and a recent iteration he's been exploring using dumet wire and silicon aluminum welding wire.