Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Flechtner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always been fascinated with colored light…especially neon. While attending art school Stephen Antonakos came to give a slide lecture. His primary medium was neon. I had thought neon was only for advertising but here was his amazing work…colorful large geometric shapes on the sides of building, on large panels and other constructions. I designed a simple neon piece soon after the lecture and handed it off to a neon fabricator to make it for me. I drew a full size pattern and that was the guide for the neon work. In a few weeks…I got the completed neon back. I brought it back to school and hung it up in the studio for a critic. Everybody praised me for doing such an amazing artwork. I was a little confused…I hadn’t actually made the piece…only designed and wired it up…so I really couldn’t claim it as my art.
Same thing happened in graduate school so I put neon on the shelf until after I got my MFA in Sculpture and painting. Finally, I went to visit a friend living in Hollywood. She worked for a neon company. She suggested I visit the Museum of Neon Art in downtown Los Angeles. I did and when I walked through the front door…and saw all the neon pieces on the walls there…I was sure I had “found my people”. My friend suggested that I learn how to fabricate neon, move to Los Angeles where I could bend neon signs during the day and neon art at night. Well, I went back to Kansas…found someone to teach me how to bend. I spent six weeks learning the basics. Then I loaded up my van and moved to Southern California. I got a job after a few weeks in a neon shop. The rest is history!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It takes years of practice to get good at making neon. I work with high temperatures, high voltage, high vacuum and various chemicals…so there are risks. Neon is fragile and with any technology there are inherent problems. From time to time, I’ve thought about returning to painting but after almost 40 years in the field, I’ve stayed the course.
Please tell us about Flechtroneonics.
I am an artist working in neon. I’m pretty good at it. I make and exhibit my own artwork, I make neon for other artists who use neon in their work. I do commercial signage as well. In 2009, I was asked by the USPS to come up with designs for a Forever Stamp. In 2011, one of my designs was approved and went on sale at the neon Celebrate Forever stamp. My stamp was re-issued in 2015. As a sculptor…I’ve been able to create 3 Dimensional neon artworks. Most neon is done in the two-dimensional realm. I’ve been invited to teach neon animation and 3 Dimensional neon techniques in England, Sweden, several glass schools in the United States and this summer, I’ve been invited to teach at the Pilchuck Glass facility in Washington state.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Good sense of humor and with every project, I try to do my very best! With four decades of experience…I’m pretty good at a number of things.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Flektro.com
- Phone: 8187808566
- Email: Flektro@aol.com
- Instagram: #flektro22
- Facebook: Michael Flechtner
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