I got to visit my buddy Yale's (the other TA at Pilchuck for Galen) studio in Seattle. It is on a manmade port island in Seattle, right next to a sheet metal shop Yale used to work at. What a space!

Yale fixed it up a bunch and put a neon shop and metal shop in it. There used to be many artists here but Yale and another artist are the only two left. Weed grow operations are moving into industrial warehouses like these and offering more money to landlords- so all the artists get kicked out as grow lights, and watering equipment move in. Yes, the space smelled like weed.

It's perfect for him, and it seems like with favorable industrial gas and electric prices- it's not a bad place to be. Yale has some amazing metal working tools and his neon shop is expanding its plasma capabilities. Excited to see his work grow- he has a solo show in downtown Seattle later this fall.

Thrilled to visit Michael Flechtner's studio! Been a huge fan for years of his work and always wanted to see his studio. A #3D #neon pioneer- no one bends tight and #funny designs like he does. His work is #playful , #humourous , #luminous , and #kinetic and so is he! Linda Sue Price shares a #studio with Michael and she was lovely. Leticia was the next door over. I need more stuff on the walls at home.

I also need clear prison electronics.

Yesterday I visited Leticia Maldonado's studio in Van Nuys, (LA) California. We have been online #neon #friends for about a decade and shown art together but never met before. We chatted about life and #art and ideas and we kinda have similar goals and #dreams . Her work is SO COOL! 3D #tiny tubes and sculptural #bending and woah the colors! Every year her skills and ideas grow as she hops around #LA studios. I even got to #bend a little #California #doodle there!

Another SF/Oakland show/studio visit was with Adam Taylor. Adam graduated mid or just before pandemic from the same school as Ames and I. His bending skills have been rapidly growing as he works a full time commercial #neon job. What an eye for color!- His transitions between colors in neon are the smoothest I have ever seen!
He works at Neon Works Oakland and currently has a show up at NEON co-working space on Union Street in SF. Excited to see what he makes next!

Some photos from a studio visit in San Francisco with Ames Palms of Rebel Neon. After working for many of the other big companies in the area, Ames started their own #neon shop specializing in artistic and often unconventional neon projects that often push the limits of the material. They are a neat artist and person and are cultivating a community of makers and artists in their space!

#studiovisit #sanfrancisco #artist #glass #neonsign #lightart #drawing #handmade

Rebelneon.com

Been visiting neon makers and artists while I am here in the #SF bay area. This is from Kevin Chong's studio near San Jose aptly named "Silica Valley"

Not only is Kevin an excellent commerical neon bender, he is also a skilled furnace glassblower, proficient in melting his own batches of colored glass! The combo is rare!
Like many neon benders, Kevin does zero marketing and is all wholesale. He is very humble.