No More I Love Yous...

On Valentines Day 2012, 12 MONTHS OF NEON LOVE will be switched off for the last time as the year long project between artists Victoria Lucas and Richard William Wheater draws to a close. They are marking this occassion with a day of events, starting with a live auction where you will be able to bid on the remaining unsold lyrics from the series. Then at 8pm please join them here at Neon Workshops for the final switch off, with live music and a DJ.

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Don't Worry...

Swedish glass artist Helena Kågebrand is exhibiting this beautful piece of neon artwork at The Glass Factory in Sweden. We had the pleasure of being commissioned to produce the neon, that was then expertly concealed in the borosilicate bottle by lamp worker and visiting neon workshop tutor Jochen Holz. The exhibition 'Hot Spot' will run until 26/02/2012. Good Luck with it Helena!

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2012 Neon Workshop Dates

If you haven't already had the chance to join us for a workshop, you might be able to in the new year. Here are the 2012 dates for our One Day Intensive course:

Friday 24th February
Friday 23rd March
Friday 20th April
Friday 11th May
Closed throughout August.
Friday 19th October
Friday 16th November
Friday 7th December

To mark Neons 100th year anniversay during 2012, we'll be facilitating a very special Mobile Neon Workshop in Paris entitled 'Cent Ans de Neon', taking place from Thursday 13th - Sunday 16th September.
More information will follow soon, but if you are interested in joining us in Paris then please get in touch now as places are limited!

If you're interested in joining us for a workshop get in touch via email: info@neonworkshops.com

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Neon Workshops Featured in SignLink Magazine

The November issue of SignLink magazine features an article about Neon, and the arguments between Neon vs. LED signage. You can read the article by clicking on the image above.

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Lucy Skaer: Film for an Abandoned Projector
Lyric House, Armley - 29th September – 15th December 2011

In the darkness of the derelict Lyric House in the Armley area of Leeds, the cinema’s old Kalee projector plays a new 35mm film. Specific to its place, Skaer's sculptural film work is the imagined subconscious of the projector itself ... Through repeated screenings, the film slowly bears witness to its own presentation through scratches and marks that visibly scar and efface the surface of the image. At the end of the project the cinema will once again be dormant. 

Neon Workshops are proud to be involved in restoring the neon letters adorning the front of Lyric House as part of Skaer's project.

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The Neon Universe arrives!

The workshop we had all been waiting for finally arrived, participants and teachers decended upon Wakefield's Neon Workshops from all over the world. Few knew what to expect by bringing together Such names in neon as Dilling, Wheater, Peterson and Bickerstaff, however we think one persons reflections on the four day ...and night neon extravaganza summerises it well; 'fully packed with experiences, of a personal, spiritual, artistic, physical, astronomical and intelectual nature'.
We're already working on how to build on such a 4 day neon course, hopefully to be based in Paris next year!

Tutor Matt Dilling (left) shares some pearls of wisdom with Ben Hamilton

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\The Neon Universe: Evening Presentations

The Neon Universe evening presentations are open to everyone and anyone interested in neon light, electricity and its use in the creative industry.


Event Speakers and Venues

Tutor Presentations
Thursday 8th September
7:30pm – 9pm

Matt Dilling (New York), Shawna Peterson (San Francisco), master Neon maker Julia Bickerstaff (UK) and artist Richard WIlliam Wheater each give a short presentation of their experiences woking with neon.
Where: Durkar Chapel Studio, 433 Denby Dale Rd East, Wakefield, WF4 3LT.
Fee: £3 per person (free to workshop participants)

Presentation: Neon in the Universe
Friday 9th September
7:30pm – 9pm

Astronomer Kevin Read gives a presentation exploring the mysteries surrounding neon light and electricity and offers an insight into its relationship with the Universe.
Where: Rosse Observatory, Carleton Community Centre, Carleton Rd, Pontefract, WF8 3RJ.
Fee: £3 per person (free to workshop participants)

Presentation: Artists working with Neon
Saturday 10th September
7:30pm – 9pm

Dr Madeleine Newman will explore the innovative ways in which artists have experimented with neon as a medium for art since the 1950's. She will investigate the use of neon within a range or artistic practices and its potential as a medium for creating text-based work, sculpture, installation, architectural interventions and performance art. Does neon art intersect between established categories of art making, such as painting, sculpture and installation art?
Where: Neon Workshops, 70b George Street, Wakefield, WF1 1DL.
Fee: £3 per person (free to workshop participants)

The Neon Universe
8th-12th September 2011
£560
The image above shows the beautiful limited edition silkscreen print posters that were commissioned to celebrate Septembers major neon sculpture course, created by the legendry comic book artist and wall muralist 'Phlegm'. Matt Dilling (New York) and Shawna Peterson (San Francisco) join Julia Bickerstaff (UK) and artist Richard William Wheater to teach their own styles of working with glass, flame and light at Neon Workshops. During the workshop, as well as the chance to design and produce your own piece of neon art, three evening seminars will take place. The mysteries surrounding neon and electricity's relationship with the Universe are themes to be presented at venues including Rosse Observatory and an art collectors converted church.

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I'm Electric, You're Electric is a body of gas filled hot glass sculpture by Wheater, commissioned by Manchester Craft & Design Centre. The solo exhibition will be showing from 12th February - 30th April 2011, with a preview 2-4pm on the 12th of February featuring live electronic music.

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Neon Lights- Richard William Wheater
Site Gallery, Sheffield. 1/12 - 18/12/2010
A mobile neon-making unit will accompany the artist to the space where, through intense practice, he will create light-filled text in the gallery. Over the two weeks, the text will change in quality and speed of production. At the end of each day completed work will be mounted on the gallery wall and illuminated, and by the end of the two weeks a neon installation will be displayed relevant in meaning to the project.

www.richardwheater.com
www.sitegallery.org
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New base
Neon Workshops finds permanent home at 70b George Street. An industrial unit 2 minutes walk from Wakefield Westgate Railway station is the subject of attention as refurbishment continues. Both teachers and Participants travel from all over to take these neon courses with high expectations so it's important to create the best facility here possible. This space and location gives us just that opportunity.
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The Neon World
Only a few weeks to go before the first neon course is due to be held at Neon Workshops new 1000sqft unit in Wakefield. Teachers are starting to prepare, the course is now fully booked and we're all excited here, looking forward to four days in September that promise to be the real highlight of Neon Workshops 2010 calendar.
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Wheater at: The Hepworth Wakefield
A neon performance/installation to take place for one night only in the new Hepworth Wakefield Gallery during July's Artwalk (28th) In conjunction with the project Swap, will see 5 artists responding to Barbara Hepworth's sculpture 'Mother And Child' (on show at Westgate Studios on the same evening). Wakefield Artist and founder of Neon Workshops Richard William Wheater will be performing  a new work entitled SIRENS, that will also double up as a temporary installation. Wheater's last dramatic Performance/Installation Disappearing Paths' (pic below from YSP performance 2009) which took place in September last year is still talked about. We hope this next neon work is just as successful ...good luck Rich!

Links: richardwheater.com, westgatestudios.net, hepworthwakefield.com

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'Scandinavian Light In Wakefield' was a project involving the introduction of neon to 6 Scandinavian glass artists through a one week course at Neon Workshops, resulting in an exhibition on the 26th of November 2008 at Westgate Studios, Wakefield.