Neon and Plasma

What is Plasma?

While Plasma often relies on the element of Neon to achieve the desired effects, other gases are also utilized to bring about desired effects, colors, and behavior of plasma. Sometimes referred to as "the fourth state of matter," plasma is group of charged particles that are good conductors of electricity and easily affected by a magnetic field. The types of gases frequently used to create plasma for art include helium, xenon, argon, krypton, and neon. These combinations of gases, along with voltage and size of the containment vessel, will influence the color and character of the plasma that audiences will see. 

Rakow Collection

Recommended Resources

Plasma Artists at Corning Museum of Glass

Wayne Strattman

In September 2017, Wayne Strattman collaborated with Mark Ditzler at The Studio for the Instructor Collaborative Residency. 

Strattman received his Ph.D. from the University of Sunderland (UK) for his many years of work researching, writing, and making sculpture with neon and other forms of lighted glass sculpture.

His background degree in engineering coupled with his work as a researcher, teacher, and artist combined over a career to produce more than 100 articles, the industry standard textbook Neon Techniques, and a large number of innovative lighting patents and products that featured techniques beyond conventional neon to make lighted sculpture as well as commercial products that have been sold internationally.

His Boston-based company, Strattman Design, has been a leader for decades in making custom sculpture, architectural installations, and lighting. Strattman Design been a leading firm in technical development of gas discharge automotive and commercial forms of lighting for Corning’s Advanced Lighting Products Division.