Taming Lightning

In Today's Podcast we'll be talking with Dylan Neuwirth an artist and sculptor working with light, space and interactive technologies which includes neon and virtual reality. his work is autobiographical,with light being embedded in his Personal Narrative, a custom-made neon sign with his mothers name in red cursive letter, Blade Runner, and David Bowie's "Space Oddity" are a part of his origin. Like many artists, light is a beacon, a place to return to, or something to reveal the darkness we can cannot bear look at. His work expands on themes that include early memories of alienation, subconscious violence, and systemic addiction through the use of digital culture motifs.

Dylan is the Creative Director at Western Neon, and the Western Neon School of Art, which just opened this year. Offering classes to the public to explore the process of neon for artists, hobbyist, and students. Dylan will talk about his role at Western Neon, Challenges that come with Neon, Classes and future of Western Neon School of Art.

Dylan and I were introduced through Dani Kaes, who is a Neon Apprentice at Western Neon. Though we officially connected through Instagram, we have briefly crossed paths while she was staff and I was a student during Summer workshop at Pilchuck Glass School, the origin of my interest in Plasma and Neon. So I'd like to thank Dani for connecting us, and perhaps we'll have her on a future podcast.

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

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

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. I'd like to thank Dani Kaes for connecting me with Dylan Neuwirth and Western Neon, and Dylan for taking the time to be on the podcast. While we did touch up on his work, I highly recommend going to his website and looking through his work and writings. I hope to have him on the podcast again to discuss a few things that I've been thinking about since the initial recording. 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. See you Next Time! Percy Echols II Taming Lightning ⚡

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.

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

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

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

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 ⚡

In today's podcast, I'd like to introduce a new segement called Speakable. Think of speakable as Audiobook for content be it articles or blog posts that relate to the Art, Science, or History of Neon and Plasma. This was largely inspired by my love for audio books, and the podcast Optimal Living Daily Podcast that is centered around narration of articles and blog posts, with given permissions. So I thought I'd give it a shot to help fill in the gaps when interviews and discussions are being scheduled. To be able to give life to content that I can bring to you. Let me know in the comments or by email your thoughts on continuing this, suggested material are welcome.

In our first Speakable I'll be reading "A Blaze of Crimson Light: The Story of Neon" by Jane E. Boyd and Joseph Rucker. An article relating to a brief history and science of neon in terms of it's discovery, uses, and it's associations with Sign making and advertising.

Before I begin I want to talk about the organization behind the source material, The Chemical Heritage Foundation, which is a library, a center for scholars, a museum, and archive. They focus on matter and materials and their effects on our modern world. They collect, preserve, and exhibit historical artifacts; engage communities of scientists and engineers; and tell the stories of the people behind breakthroughs and innovations.

Distillations is a blog, podcast, and magazine, centered around Science, Culture, and History, where you'll find a diverse range of subjects such as science, Business, Technology, and Pop Culture. Please check it out at chemheritage.org in the link listed in the blog post.

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

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

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast.

I hope you enjoyed the first segment of Speakable. If you find something interesting that you would like to have narrated, please send me an email or fb message at Taming Lightning.

I'd like to thank Michal Meyer, the Editor in Chief of Distillations at Chemical Heritage Foundation for permission to narrate their article from their Magazine.

Also I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me 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 to some amazing people.

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

If you like to support this, simply go to percyechols.com and look for the tab "Taming Lighting" or by typing in taminglightning.net, and click subscribe, later there will probably be other options in the future, but for now like, share, comment, and subscribe. See you next time

In today's podcast we'll be talking with James Akers a Neon Sculptor and self-proclaimed Waver and Hacker Artist. ​ James is an artist, educator, and mad scientist who has a explosive approach to making. Graduating from Alfred University with a BFA in 2015, he is constantly thriving for change, and fascinated by waves of all kinds: sound, light, electricity, he is synthesizing a new mindset: The "Hacker Artist." James Akers has shown his work internationally, been the recipient of public art commissions and has received numerous awards and grants for his practice. Up until his recent move to Arlington, Texas with his lady Ali Feeney who is pursuing her MFA at UTA, he was teaching neon at the Chrysler Museum of Art, and head processor at Riehl Deal Neon. Currently, pursuing new work and new possibilities in Neon and Plasma. Known for packaging ideas on art and life by creating a series of highly exhibitable electric sculptures. We'll look into his transition from ceramics, to glass, and by extension Neon, his unique approach to using neon tube bending with found objects and video installations, and defining what a waver and hacker artist is.

Image: Emoticon Hieroglyphs by James Akers', who will be one of our future guest on the podcast.

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

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

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. We have many more guest to come, with future guests returning to expand on questions, practices, and a variety of subjects. I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project, and The Plasma Art Alliance, whom many of my guests are connected through. Keep an eye out for next summer's classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center as we work to provide a space for learning neon and plasma. Also, I'd like to thank James for taking the time to be a guest on the podcast, especially in the midst of his travels, and seltting in at Arlington, Texax. I wish him the best in his job search, and excited for what he makes next! Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, ​ Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡

In today's podcast, we'll be talking with Ashlin Williamson of Fourth State Glass. We'll hear about his journey in plasma, how he got into using neon gases, latest projects, and his involvement in The Plasma Art Alliance, an emerging organization of artist using plasma in their light sculptures. Ash and I met in 2014 when we took a plasma workshop with Pat Collentine at Pilchuck Glass School. Since then we've kept contact sharing and exchanging ideas and latest projects.

Image: Emoticon Hieroglyphs by James Akers', who will be one of our future guest on the podcast.

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

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

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast. We have many more guests to come, with future guests returning to expand on questions, practices, and a variety of subjects. I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project, and The Plasma Art Alliance, whom many of my guests are connected through.Keep an eye out for next summer's classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center as we work to provide a space for learning neon and plasma.Also, I'd like to thank Ash for being a big part of my first steps in my plasma journey. As it was his help that allowed me to apply plasma light to my graduating exhibition at Illinois State University. Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, ​ Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice ⚡

Finally, It's here, the first podcast episode of Taming Lightning! Thank You for your patience and your support. It was a lot of figuring out how I would like to the podcast to run, as well as recording, editing, and publishing! Image: Emoticon Hieroglyphs by James Akers' , who will be one of our future guest on the podcast.

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

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

​The intro is Boost by Jaokim Karud, selected by your votes and participation in the Intro music poll for Taming Lightning. Jaokim Swedish artist that love to produce chill and happy music, and does so for copyright free use. Be sure to support his music by crediting his use, subscribing, and or by donation. If you like what you hear, you can find him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify.

​In today's podcast, we'll be talking with Pat Collentine about the differences between traditional neon and plasma, as it relates to both art and lighting. Unfortunately, due to software issues we were not able to record the entire conversation, but today's topic will be covered in full. ​ Pat Collentine is a Glassblower and sign maker of Tesla Neon Studios in Chico, California, as well as an is an artist and educator experimenting in Plasma Neon. We met back in 2014 at Pilchuck Glass School, where I took his class called Interactive Light. It was my first introduction in what plasma is, and it spurned my interest in neon and doing it myself. In that process, he's been a great friend and mentor.

Check www.taminglightning.net for the full post!

Thank you for listening to the first episode of Taming Lightening Podcast, we have many more guest to come, and some returning to expand on questions and practices of variety of subjects. I like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for supporting me as well as encouraging me to pursue this project. We have just begun, but have already gathered interest in hosting instructors for the next summer classes. Also, I'd like to thank Pat Collentine for his time and his mentorship, as well as the Plasma Art Alliance whom many of my guests are connected through. Feel free to send your questions to this email, share, and comment! Thank you, Percy Echols II Sorcerer Apprentice​