“Creating with the Fourth State of Matter: Plasma Artists in the Studio” is a new film compilation project from the Plasma Art Alliance.
Presented by Cary Rapaport at the Detroit Film Theater on June 9th for Glass Art Society Conference’s 2023 film festival, the compilation is now available to view online:
Thank you to the Glass Art Society and Detroit Film Theater for hosting the film festival, and a big thank you to all participants in the video compilation!
Ed Kirshner, Percy Echols II, Wayne Strattman, Tate McAluney, Tom Hardiment & Catriona Baille, Angelina Almukhametova, Mundy Hepburn, Harriet Schwarzrock, Jeff Feigin, Cary Rapaport, Angela McHale, Amy Lemaire, students of Plasma Design at Salem Community College, Norman Moore, Adept Neon Mfg., Chris Burak, and Patrick Collentine.
In memory of Bob Iannini, pioneer of plasma and neon electronics.
Illuminated plasma sculpture — blown glass forms filled with electrified inert gases — is a medium that produces objects of curiosity and wonder, with kinetic light that moves throughout glowing vessels and interacts with touch. But there is much more to plasma sculpture than the finished artwork. The medium’s unique synthesis of art with science and technology sparks curiosity about how plasma sculptures are made. This film compilation from the Plasma Art Alliance features a diverse range of studio practices, providing insight into all aspects of the making process. An exclusive look at experiments with gas mixtures that create unlikely shapes, the construction of custom electronics to power plasma, demonstrations of glassworking techniques specific to the plasma process, gas filling, kiln processing, and more, illuminates the complexity of this medium.
See some images from the conference presentation at the Detroit Institute of Arts below:
