Opening Reception
Friday, February 9, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
The opening reception will feature neon performances in the Main Galleries by Lily Reeves and James Akers, as well as Treachery of Material: The Surrealist Impulse in Craft in the Artist Hall. The evening will also feature open studios by the current resident artists. Beer generously provided by Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.Light Charmer Interactive Tour
Saturday, February 10, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
NEON NEON: Lighting Up the Screen
Wednesday, April 18, 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to present Light Charmer: Neon and Plasma in Action, a group show featuring artists who create a spectacle of light, color, and movement through neon and plasma sculpture and performance. Viewers will be enchanted by the variety of glowing artworks on display.
While the advertising world has largely abandoned neon signage in favor of LEDs and fluorescent lighting, many contemporary artists have embraced the dynamic mediums of neon and plasma, challenging common misconceptions that these materials are only suitable for two-dimensional art. “In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the aesthetic of neon art and signage. However, few people realize the level of hand skill and scientific knowledge that it requires,” says HCCC Curator Kathryn Hall. “Through experimentation with blown-glass forms, unique gas compositions, and the interplay of light and sound, these artists demonstrate new and exciting potential for a material that has been in a state of commercial decline.”
As a throwback to the neon of a bygone era, Brooklyn artist Kate Hush puts a new spin on animated signs by addressing feminist issues through the flashy aesthetic of the material. Her femme fatales reference the dangerous and tragic women that once dazzled the silver screens of film noir. Her recent body of work responds to the absurd female stereotype of the crazy, unstable woman and plays into the fantasy of the dangerous vixen. For instance, in I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair (2015), the artist straddles the line between the mundane and psychotic, leaving it ambiguous as to whether the large red drops originating from the young woman’s head are hair dye or blood. The blinking lights generated by the animation of the piece only increase its dramatic effect.
Other artists in the show are enthralled by the science of these luminous materials. In their purest form, noble gases produce different colors and, when combined, create a wide spectrum of possible light effects, as exemplified by the works on view. Plasma is a perfect medium for artists who want to incorporate performance into their works, as the electrons in the material collide into one another, creating a series of explosive effects. The plasma works of Eric Franklin, Mundy Hepburn, and Aaron Ristau, for instance, come alive when the gases respond to human touch through glass. Demonstrating a highly specialized knowledge of the medium, these artists engineer custom gas mixtures to create vibrantly colored filaments of light inside blown- and found-glass forms.
Artists James Akers and Lily Reeves work with neon gas, the namesake of the art form, which produces a red glow when combined with high-voltage electricity in an airtight chamber. The two artists activate their sculptures, which they make by bending commercial tubes, in live performances. In Neon Sword Fight (2015), Akers and Reeves wield “Star Wars”-like light sabers in a battle between opposing forces of good (cool-blue argon) and evil (orange-red neon). Like many of the works in the exhibition, Akers’ and Reeve’s sculptures are not just meant to be seen, they are meant to be experienced.
Light Charmer: Neon and Plasma in Action is curated by HCCC Curator Kathryn Hall. The exhibition is supported in part by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass and Barbara and Mark Paull.
Featured Artists
James Akers (Arlington, TX)
Sarah Blood (Alfred, NY)
Michael Flechtner (Los Angeles, CA)
Eric Franklin (Portland, OR)
Mundy Hepburn (Old Saybrook, CT)
Kate Hush (Brooklyn, NY)
Hannah Kirkpatrick (Norfolk, VA)
Lily Reeves (Phoenix, AZ)
Aaron Ristau (Loveland, CO)
Ashlin Williamson (Austin, TX)
Please Note
This exhibition contains low light levels, flashing light, and sounds that may be disruptive to some visitors. Some of the plasma sculptures produce electromagnetic radiation that may interfere with medical devices, such as pacemakers and hearing devices. It is recommended that individuals with medical devices keep a safe distance away from the artwork.
Image credits: (1) Michael Flechtner, “Sea Goat,” 1991. Neon, radio, audio controller. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (2) Sarah Blood, “Untitled (Enough),” 2018. Phosphor-coated glass, argon, mercury vapor, sequins, fabric, blackout, power supply. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (3) Exhibition view of “Light Charmer: Neon and Plasma in Action.” Photo by Scott Cartwright. (4) James Akers and Lily Reeves, “Neon Swords,” 2018. Neon, 3D-printed plastic, power supply. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (5) From left to right: Michael Flechtner, “Flash Cameras (Red and Blue),” 1988. Neon, plexiglass, strap. Michael Flechtner, “Clifford the Little Neon Dog,” 2015. Neon, MDO, D-rings. 9 x 16 x 20 inches. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (6 – 7) Kate Hush, “A Bad Man Is Hard to Blind,” 2016. 8mm and 12mm glass tubing, argon, neon, 120v animated power supplies. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (8) James Akers, “The Wild One (B),” 2018. Circuit bent toys, wires, custom circuitry, neon. Photo by Scott Cartwright. (9) The exhibition is supported in part by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass and Barbara and Mark Paull. (10) James Akers and Lily Reeves, “Neon Sword Fight,” 2015. Neon, argon, wood. Photo by Charlie Golonkiewicz. (11) Eric Franklin, “Skull 1,” 2013. Borosilicate glass, neon, mercury, acrylic, electronics. 12 x 12 x 12 inches. Photo by artist. (12) Kate Hush, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair,” 2015. 8mm Italian glass tubing filled with argon and neon gas, animated 120v power supplies. 50 x 40 x 2.5 inches. Photo by Shahryar Kashani. (13) Hannah Kirkpatrick, “Camera Obscura Crate,” 2015. Wood, surveying tripod, glass, metal, surrounding light. 5 x 2 x 2 feet. Photo by artist. (14) Hannah Kirkpatrick, “Camera Obscura Crate,” 2015. Wood, surveying tripod, glass, metal, surrounding light. 5 x 2 x 2 feet. Photo by artist.
