Special thanks to the Sharpie Art Gallery for making this video promoting Neon Dreams , a neon based art exhibition in 2017.
Meet the Owner…
Eric Roeske, craftsman of many trades, started out as a mechanic. By age 11 he was already elbow deep in engines and fixing household appliances. A few welding certifications and tons of car restorations later… Roeske’s mechanical instinct and inquisitive nature has led to decades of repairing and restoring anything and everything, especially “junk” left on the side of the road.
His first glimpse of neon being made was at a sign shop, where he worked as a welder. After being kicked out of the neon shop numerous times and hanging around the Old-time tube benders, Roeske bought his first neon plant. Flash forward forty years and he still runs a premier neon plant providing high quality neon to the trade.
Meet the Part Owner…
Kira Oglesby, a lifetime local to St Petersburg, FL. She studied under Charlie Parker, a local potter, before attending the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. While learning ceramics Kira also took a neon class and the rest was history. Graduated, moved back home, called up the first neon shop in the book, Adept Neon, and started a 3 year neon apprenticeship.
Now she is part owner of the wholesale neon manufacturer, Adept Neon. Most of her time is spent in the neon shop or next door in their maker’s space for ceramics, welding, car mechanics, 3d printing, creative fabrication.
