Neon has come a long way since the days when its typical use was for signs with succinct messages such as “EAT.” The 2018 Neon Light Show, held in the UW Stock Pavilion on April 21, included glass sculptures and artwork created by more than 45 artists from UW–Madison, Alfred University (New York), Brooklyn Glass (New York), the Art Institute of Chicago, and many artists from Wisconsin.
“For many people, neon is advertising, but in the hands of a creative, it becomes so much more,” organizer Tom Zickuhr told Isthmus. “When you combine glass, rare gas and electricity, it’s easy to see the beauty in neon — the artist is literally catching lightning in a bottle.”