Light Sentence 1971

Laddie John Dill made “Light Sentence” using neon and glass. The inherent qualities of neon and glass are central here. Notice how the colored segments of neon create a rhythm of light, interrupted by that intense burst of blue. Dill is a West Coast artist, and his work is often associated with the California Light and Space movement. He's exploring the potential of industrial materials to create effects of perception. The process of bending glass tubing and filling it with neon gas is highly skilled. It’s tied to the history of advertising and commercial signage. Dill takes this vernacular tradition and elevates it to the level of fine art. He's not hiding the labor involved, but celebrating it. Ultimately, Dill asks us to consider how materials, making, and context shape our understanding of art, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.