FEBRUARY 9, 2018 — MAY 13, 2018

Known for its vibrant and steady glow, neon has illuminated cities across America since 1923, when a Los Angeles Packard car dealership introduced neon advertising in the United States. The then cutting-edge technology soon became a symbol of progress, and local neon shops quickly popped up across the country to meet the high demand. Nearly a century later, this electrified medium continues to captivate our imagination as new strides are made through experimentation with blown-glass forms; unique gas compositions; and the interplay of light, sound, and technology. The featured artists in Light Charmer: Neon and Plasma in Action represent some of the best contemporary neon and plasma art, with a particular emphasis on kinetic sculpture.

Working with neon and plasma requires skilled handwork and a highly specialized knowledge of the science behind the medium. Plasma, in particular, requires artists to engineer custom gas mixtures to produce colored filaments of light inside glass forms. In their purest state, inert gases produce colors from red to blue. When combined with other gases, they unleash a wide spectrum of possible light effects, creating a magical and immersive experience.

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)

Programming

Opening Reception with performances by Lily Reeves and James Akers: February 9, 5:30-8:00 PM

Interactive Tour with Artists: Saturday, February 10, 3:00-5:00 PM

NEON NEON: Lighting Up the Screen (A Collaboration with Aurora Picture Show): Wednesday, April 18, 7:00-10:00 PM

Selected Press

Arts InSight with Ernie Manouse, Friday, May 4th, 2018 on Channel 8/Houston Public Media

Michael McFadden, “Art Aglow: Light Charmer Electrifies Houston Center for Contemporary Craft,” Arts + Culture Texas (on the cover)

Paul Middendorf, “New Neon Exhibition Challenges the Boundaries of a Storied Medium,”Free Press Houston

Photography by Scott Cartwright

Video by Stephen Bradford