A single of the more abnormal, up-and-coming practices in glass artwork consists of noble gases which include neon, helium, argon and xenon. And 1 of the young artists fascinated with these gases and how they can interact with and renovate glass is 27-year-aged (28 on July 20) James Akers.
Akers, primarily based in Brooklyn, New York, graduated in 2015 from New York state’s Alfred College with, as he writes in his biography, “an addiction to glass, neon and energy.” All three are in use in his show “Media Comments Loop” at the Glass Axis studio just west of Downtown Columbus.
Akers’ glass sculptures are totally free-standing “tangles” of curving glass tubes filled with gases and fueled by electrical energy. Although “neon” is utilized as an overarching description of this sort of artwork, the gases concerned in Akers’ perform incorporate neon as well as numerous some others.
Two “Rainbow Xenon Tangles” are sculptures designed of primary-coloured Murano glass, offered in shapes that recall drawings of atoms, and crammed with xenon gasoline that operates in frenzied manner through the loops.
“Next Gen Benders Tangle,” created of American and Murano glass and filed with argon, is a vibrant collaboration of blue and lime environmentally friendly curving tubes.
“Calm ‘N Outrageous Xenon Tangle” is designed in a related shape of crystal clear glass with the gasoline flowing as a result of in skinny blue lines. Website visitors might touch the glass tubes carefully and look at the fuel respond to the factors of their fingers.
On the wall, Akers has set up “Alphabet Soup Neon,” two dozen multi-colored neon letters organized in helter-skelter manner.
His only non-glass and fuel design is the weird “Tin Foil Hat Media Sheep Cloud,” an set up designed of sheep’s wool, Lcd screens, amplifiers, speakers, circuitry and aluminum foil shaped into the hat that tops this jumble of resources. Emanating from the piece is a cacophony of sounds and music — all intended to comment on the overpowering interruptions of social media.
As his show was becoming mounted, Akers taught lessons at Glass Axis, just one of the few places in the state with the equipment and equipment necessary for neon glass do the job, according to Internet marketing and Gallery Supervisor Alex Fresch. The glass tubes, gasoline dispensers and numerous applications necessary for the intricate method to flip glass and gases into artwork are uncovered at the workbenches just exterior the gallery that is loaded with Akers’ get the job done.
“At Glass Axis, we really like glass art and science and with neon, we’ve hit the science tricky,” Fresch reported.
Akers has one particular a lot more piece on display at Glass Axis, but it is not in the gallery. Hanging in the facility’s window is his neon indication “Free Intellectual Home Hotline.” These who phone the range on the indicator will access a hotline giving “art concepts.”
Akers is an artist keen to share his time, creativity and views.
In his artist statement, he writes that he is fascinated in “the idea of ‘the wild one’ and in celebration.”
“I clearly show my do the job and do not erase the proof of its development. I find artists performing what they are not intended to do and pushing the limitations really remarkable.”
At a look
“James Akers: Media Feedback Loop” carries on by means of Aug. 6 at Glass Axis, 610 W. City St. Several hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays as a result of Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays. Contact 614-291-4250 or take a look at www.glassaxis.org.