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LIT

LIT: Light in Transmission

February 5 – July 18, 2021

This exhibition is a survey of the diverse range of light art within the shared medium of both neon and plasma sculpture curated by Percy Echols II, an artist, creator of the podcast “Taming Lighting” and PGC’s first recipient of the Ron Desmett Memorial Award for Imagination with Glass. The show features the work of 14 neon and plasma artists.

Featured Artists: Sarah Blood | Patrick Collentine | Percey Echols II | Michael Flechtner | Mundy Hepburn | Eve Hoyt | Danielle James | Ed Kirshner | Leticia Maldonado | Denzel Russel | Harriet Schwarzrock | Megan Stelljes | Wayne Strattman | Leo Tecosky

LIT exhibit flyer
LIT photos

Curatorial Statement

The exhibition is a survey of the diverse range of light art within the shared medium of both neon and plasma sculpture. As an artist, I chose those who had impacted my creative process, education, and expanded my world view on the nearly unlimited potential of neon and plasma light as artistic medium. As a curator, the people I invited present expressions of light, within a variety of shared and differing experiences, skills, and techniques.

Light In Transmission is a multilayered expression of my excitement in this growing community be it the undying light of neon, or the obscure nature of plasma. Past, present, or future, there will be light.

Percy Echols, II
Artist and Exhibition Curator

Funding for this exhibition was provided by The Pittsburgh Foundation and Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh, a joint program of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.

About the Curator

Percy Echols Percy Echols II is passionate about plasma or plasma neon, a process requiring the technical and artist expressions of glass with the alchemical and scientific application of excited gases and specialized equipment used in neon.

Echols’ interest in plasma began in 2014 at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA. He was introduced to the medium through furnace glassblowing in a class taught by Patrick Collentine. He continued working in plasma while pursuing his BFA at Illinois State University while also working with a local neon and sign making shop in Bloomington, IL.

After graduation in 2016, Echols worked at Pittsburgh Glass Center as a studio technician apprentice. During that time he designed and built his first mobile neon lab, a compact and mobile system for vacuuming and filling vessels for plasma or neon tubing. He performed his first public demonstrations, conducted workshops and continued to experiment with the medium. In addition, he used the lab to collaborate with artists such as Robert Mickelsen and Chris Ahalt to create new work.

Echols launched a blog and podcast called “Taming Lightning” in May 2017 to connect with a larger plasma and neon community, build a network, conduct research and share ideas among artists and makers that use the medium.

Percy Echols II was selected as the first recipient of the Ron Desmett Memorial Award for Imagination with Glass from Pittsburgh Glass Center in 2018. The award recognizes artists who think outside of the box, practice curiosity, and take risks to create unique, imaginative works in glass or incorporating glass, characteristics that PGC’s late co-founder Ron Desmett valued.

Echols participated in a neon, plasma, and light exhibition on Murano called “Vetro Illuminato” during the Glass Art Society (GAS) Conference in May 2018 in Murano, Italy. In 2019, he was a recipient of a $20,000 award through Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh, a joint program of The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments, to support his residency at Pittsburgh Glass Center.

Artist & Curator Percy Echols II | Website | Instagram

Taming Lighting Blog & Podcast | Website | Instgram

Exhibit Resources

Exhibition Guide

Click here for the exhibition guide LIT: Light In Transmission — Exhibition Guide (Pittsburgh Glass Center)

Video | PDF

Exhibition Photos
Interviews, Press, & Resources

Interviews & Press

Plasma Art Resources

Neon & Plasma Lesson Plans by Carnegie Science Center

Our partners at Carnegie Science Center have created two exciting lesson plans for educators, diving further into the science of neon and plasma for students grades 6–12.

 

Download Exploring Neon Lesson Plan | Download Playing with Plasma Lesson Plan