Al Blankschein
Albert “Neon Al” Blankschien (1940-2023) used thin tubes of colored glass that twist around each other “like candy for the eyes”.
Originally from Clintonville in northern Wisconsin, Al went to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Concordia College in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago. He taught art for four years at Milwaukee Lutheran high school. “Education,” said Blankschien, “if it’s not the most important occupation, it’s one of them.” He continued his education at UW-Milwaukee where he received an MS in art education. Along the way, he got interested in sculpture, particularly using colored neon light. After graduate school, he gave himself two years to try to make it as an artist. He bought the equipment to do neon sculpture from an artist who was getting ready to retire. He settled in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee and along with his artistic pieces he made commercial neon signs for local businesses.
The Waukesha Library was honored to accept the donation of this Blankschien piece from Cathy and Chuck Wickler in 2018. The Blankschien neon sculpture lights up the area above the Technology Conference Room on the first floor.