Go beyond neon. Learn the magic of sculpting with light and glass forms using gas plasma, and capture Lightning in a bottle!

In this class, you’ll explore stacking readymade glass and using kilnfired enamel as a solder to create your own plasma light sculpture.  New to glass? Create your sculpture with found glass vessels like vases, bottles, cups, and bowls. Have some experience in glass making? Bring your own handmade cups, vessels, and blown sculptures and light them up with a mesmerizing and dynamic plasma light.

This class will utilize the equipment in the Cold Shop to cut, drill, and grind your readymade glass. Harness the power of the kiln to fire your work together, and use the neon/plasma manifold to fill it with gas, where we will be lighting them up using specialized power supplies.

Kiln-fired Glass Solder in courtesy of the Wisdom, Knowledge, and Exploration by Ed Kirshner

What to Expect

Students are required to bring at least 3-4 sets of glasses or vessel to work with.

•  This can include blown glass work and sculptures with an opening made with a tungsten hole or as large as 12mm in diameter.

• Students are expected to be able to walk away with 1-2 filled sculptures, a transformer, and power supply.
• The class will be a mix of:
  •  Demonstration with coldworking equipment, how to apply the solder, and use of phosphor powders.
  • Lectures for knowledge and review,
  • Class time use for worktime and setting up kilns for firing.

Read more about how to prepare for class on our Registration Info page.

Additional information:

• Plasma Primer | Learning Resource for Students, Co-learners, and Educators
• 2022 Live Q&A with Ed Kirshner | Summer workshop: Plasma Vessels Using Glass Solder

Percy Echols II is a Pittsburgh-based glass artist, alchemist, and educator who pioneers the development of neon and plasma light art at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and is the creator and host of the podcast Taming Lightning. He considers his practice that of alchemy, creating plasma light sculptures, through the technical and artistic expressions of glassblowing with the alchemical and scientific application of electrified gases. His curiosity encourages the exploration of interactivity and subjects that benefit from plasma illumination.

Website: www.percyechols.com

Instagram: @glass.percy  

Instagram: @taminglightning