Podcast | Ep 34: Tristan August – Plasma & Konstruktiv

Support Taming Lightning! Please donate to the Taming Lightning x GEEX Intro to Plasma Series.

Hello Lightning Tamers!

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!

Show Notes

Music Credits

Preview – Retro by ONE
The introduction – Boost by Joakim Karud
Intermission – Sunny Side by ONE
Credits – The Process by Lakey Inspired

Intro to Plasma Series

Recommended Episodes

EP 20 – Show Notes

Ep 19 – Show Notes

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast!

I hope you enjoyed the last episode of 2020. To close out, I wanted to bring up that in the recent committee meeting for the Plasma Art Alliance, Tristan’s name has come up a few times. since meeting him in Sweden, Ed Kirshner has connected him with another Committee member, Ander Mikkelsen, whose technical expertise and apprenticeship under Mundy Hepburn have been developing both plasma transformers or inverters, alongside honing his glassblowing ability. No matter what the next year brings, I want to be able to show more of the plasma process; but before that happens, I have to get my manifold in running condition, get a few extra hands, and learn few new tricks.

I’d like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for hosting the Residency for the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and 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. I’d like to mention a few: Ed Kirshner for providing the opportunity to learn and teach with him in Sweden, and Ben Orozco for his help in making that possible as our vanguard, and for his help as the co-host for the Intro to Plasma Series. Lastly, all of this would not have been possible without the support of the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz endowments.

If you like to support Taming Lightning, please donate to the Taming Lightning x GEEX Intro to plasma series. If money is a bit tight, please check out the “Intro to Plasma” Series on YouTube and leave a comment about what you find useful, and questions about what you like to hear for current and future chapters, I’ll have links provided in the show notes.

Please share, comment, and subscribe. And as always be safe, be healthy, and be strong, and I’ll See you next year!

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