>The recent posting about 3D printer technology and the resulting roving robots amuck in the Sahara, leaving a trail of glassware had generated a lot of inquiries into the 3D technology (and interest in how does one get access to this). Recently, a high-tech fabrication/prototype workshop has opened in Washington, DC: Fab Lab DC
From their website:
Fab Labs provide access to prototype tools for personal
fabrication, like a personal computer that can output
functional objects instead of images on a screen.
The labs have spread from inner-city Boston to Africa and
Norway, with projects tackling applications in areas
including healthcare,agriculture, housing, and communications...
In the spirit of MIT’s Fab Lab community outreach project,
FAB LAB DC will create a high-tech,fabrication
laboratory/community workshop in the heart of the
Nation’s Capital to advance creativity, innovation, and
collaborative projects. FAB LAB DC will serve and foster
the creative community by providing access to digital
fabrication technology, rapid prototyping,and the global
Fab Lab network.
There are some other online sites that allow one to upload files that
they will fabricate and ship to you - like Shapeways - a
Netherlands based site that now has opened offices in NYC.
Shapeways also has glass prototype facilities - but they have a
list of of rules for this process.
Click HERE to jump to Fab Lab DC's website.
Click HERE to jump to Fab Lab blog.
ReadysetDC on Washington Glass School
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The hip and trendy culture blog – ReadysetDC just covered the Washington Glass School 10th anniversary exhibition at Long View Gallery with an in-depth review of the show with insights about the Washington Glass School directors and DC GlassWorks’ Dave D’Orio.
Writer Natalie Stemp has some thoughtful takes on the changing status of glass as a sculptural medium:
“Let’s play a game. If I say “canvas”, what do you picture? You probably imagine art – Vermeer, Seurat, Picasso, Mondrian, maybe even DC’s Chris Martin. What if I say “glass”? Do the words “sink, wine, stained” instantly light up like neon signs? If so, you are not alone, but the Washington Glass School (WGS) wishes you were.
The Studio Glass Movement was founded just 50 years ago, so it is not surprising that most of us still perceive glass art strictly as decorative. In fact, the WGS – the face of the Movement in DC along with DC GlassWorks – celebrated its 10 year anniversary last weekend with a reception at Longview Gallery that concluded a month-long retrospective exhibition. After touring the exhibition with Michael Janis, co-director of WGS, I find it difficult to understand why the art establishment struggles to include consistent representation of expressive glass art at preeminent shows and museums. Think about the museums you visited in the past year: did any of them include contemporary glass art in its curation?…”
Natalie’s article contains many photos taken from the exhibition and comments about the featured artist’s work.
ReadysetDC is an online zine dedicated to the creative revolution and movement that is happening in Washington, DC.
Click HERE to jump to ReadysetDC’s article.