The Neon Experience - neon workshops coming up at Krypton Neon in Long Island City

Image source: NYDN – some of the signs made at Krypton Neon in LIC

The NY Daily News turned us on to the upcoming workshops at Krypton Neon in LIC. These workshops are only held occasionally – like once a year – so if you are at all interested, even just a bit, it’s worth looking into. Called “The Neon Experience,” the workshops will be a space where attendees will learn how to make neon lights by bending, cutting, and shaping glass tubes for the lights. More about the classes – both beginning and advanced – from the Krypron Neon website:

The Neon Experience I (Intro)

The Neon Experience is an intro to and taste of all aspects of neon. It is the starting point for those who want to learn how to make neon and learn how neon can be used in their own projects. This is a hands on experience that covers basic glass cutting, bending, and sealing skills and provides supervised practice over the different burners.  There will be demonstrations of how neon is processed, filled, and electrified to complete a luminous tube. The intensive supervised glass bending experience is designed to help you start and in many cases complete your first neon project.

The Neon Experience II (Intermediate):

The Neon Experience  II builds on the intro course (or prior experience) to take your glassbending skills to the next level. Moderate to advanced techniques will be explored and practiced with an emphasis on understanding glass to gain greater control. The methods for processing neon will be explored in greater depth with the opportunity to learn how to  bombard a tube. This course encourages more complicated projects to advance your knowledge and abilities.

Now, in case you’re wondering how these guys know about all of this, they really do have a great reputation. Kenny Greenberg, who founded Krypton Neon in 1981, trained at the New York Experimental Glass Workshop and has created numerious signs for Broadway and the movies – “Big Daddy,” “Men in Black,” and “The Producers” are just a few. He also has had his work displayed in museums and galleries. Tom Unger started working at Krypton Neon in 2002, and  has been working with glass tubes for 18 years. He studied abroad and there he learned about neon glass bending and processing. His work has also been in museums and theaters.

The workshops are happening soon – Saturday and Sunday February 16 and 17, 2013; Saturday and Sunday March 16 and 17, 2013. More info, pricing, and other necessary details can be found here. About the classes, Greenberg says, “I want people to have a good time. I want those who come to the class to know what neon is all about and come out wanting to do more with it.” Perhaps that will be you!

Queens wizards of light share their craftsmanship [NYDN]
The Neon Experience classes [Krypton Neon]