Penn Avenue Arts District will soon be aglow when Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) flips the switch on its first neon and plasma exhibition on Friday, Feb. 5 called, “Light in Transmission: A Neon and Plasma Light Exhibition.” 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. Funded by The Fisher Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, this exhibition features the work of 16 artists and will be on view to the public in person and online through May 9, 2021 at Pittsburgh Glass Center.
“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 an 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,” said Echols.
Virtual Opening Celebration,
Friday, Feb. 5 at 7pm ET
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, PGC will host a virtual opening celebration onFacebook Livefeaturing remarks by curator Percy Echols II and a neon demonstration by LIT artistMichael Flechtner of Southern California and vice president of the board of directors for the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA. He creates two- and three-dimensional neon art. Over the years, he has created a number of forms in various sizes that include sea life, aircraft, radios, cameras, etc. The smallest 3-D plane he made has a 6” wingspan and the largest 3-D shark 7’ long.
Participating artists include:
Shown Above: Danielle James