Label
MICHAEL FLECHTNER
Touch and Go, 1986-1987
Michael Flechtner’s fascination with space shuttles began at a very early age. Space shuttles kept appearing in his art when he was an undergraduate at Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving his MFA in 1984, he began studying neon fabrication in Kansas with Freddy Elliott. By the time he started working on “Touch and Go,” he only had about 6 months to a year’s worth of experience in neon art.
In total, there are 14 shuttles that consist of 4-5 different components; the windshield, wings, cargo hold, and the tail end. Every shuttle is unique and angled differently to properly mimic shuttle test flights. When observed from
different angles, you may notice the engine circles going from blue to red, the wheels dropping and picking back up, the different colors, and the green tint uranium glass windows. Flechtner was halfway through bending the shuttles when the Challenger exploded.
Flechtner’s work reflects a fascination with the symbols of language, technology, and their influence on popular culture. Although he posts his own interpretation of his enigmatic artworks, he always welcomes viewer’s interpretation and ideas about his works.
One of his most notable artworks is the neon “Celebrate!” forever stamp commissioned by the USPS and reissued in 2015.