Lynsi's Local Beat: Glowing again - Classic sign tools power modern neon art
By Lynsi Perry
The neon moon in Albany is not the only thing shining at night since artist, Michael Christopher Matson, moved to town in 2017. Matson is grandson of Alma Godfrey-Neese of the funeral home that once stood on Main Street, and came back to the small town to honor his family once Alma passed away. Matson has a BFA in Printmaking from Southern Methodist University but also uses other mediums to create art. He is an accomplished glass blower with a love for sculpture and metal work. His first big commission when he moved to this area was the SODA sign for South of Downtown Abilene on South 1st Street. Matson built the 18-foot metal and neon sign in conjunction with other Abilene artists.
About the time the SODA sign was being erected; legendary Abilene neon sign maker, Ray Hall, passed away. Hall is noted with many of Abilene’s familiar signs such as the Paramount, Coca-Cola, The Dixie Pig, and The Grace. He also created the neon signs for the Whitney and the drug store in Albany. Hall started his business in 1962 and made a unique system that allowed for gas in glass flasks and in metal tanks. Matson explains that he bought Hall’s manifold, gasses, gas fill gauge and some other items in March. “This has been a fun project, bringing his pumping system back to life paired with a new powerful high vacuum pump and diffusion pump combo,” said Matson.
Matson added that he had been looking for a manifold aka neon pumping system for those that are not familiar with what goes into creating a neon signs. He was inquiring about one to buy from Berkley in California and with other artists when he was led to Hall’s widow, Carol, still living in Abilene. “I was able to buy all his equipment, clean it, and redesign it to make smaller runs,” said Matson. The machine itself was extremely large to begin with, and the redesign stretches across a six-foot-long work bench. The manifold was hooked up on April 25th and has been helping Matson create some new pieces that are for fun and also for commissioned projects.
Specialized terms such as krypton, torr, and xenon ionize make the equipment and process sound like an intimidating science experiment but when Matson demonstrated the process in person and explained how he created a low atmospheric pressure to pump gas into the glass to create the color, it related it to a weather system, which most locals can understand. Matson added that it is very much a pressure system game.
Matson also blows the glass in his studio where is was working on a small Albany “A”, that he then took to his lab to pump gases into the glass to make the sign light up red. The manifold allows Matson to be able to control the process of creating and filing the glass tubes with gases. He is able to watch the gauges go up as the gas gets hotter and vaporizes. “It is interesting working with things you cannot see and just have to trust it is working,” said Matson.
The purchase and redesign of Hall’s manifold by Matson in Albany is distinct because many artists no longer create works using this medium, due to training and the labor extensive skills that Matson learned under an apprenticeship. Matson has already been making his mark in Albany with the Clear Fork Bank sign downtown and on the score board at Faith Field, as well as the Albany Live concert sign. He also created the neon lights and signs for Stephen F. Austin University’s new basketball center, lounge, and game tunnel.
Matson concluded that Hall’s widow is elated that he has brought her husband’s manifold back to life and working great and is fully operational. Hard to believe that behind the ashes of the old Godfrey-Neese funeral home that a lab using supersonic vacuum speed of 10 liters a unit is creating art that will be seen all over the state.
