Yearly Archives: 2013

James Renwick Alliance Glass Fashion Show – Work It!

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The JRA Spring Craft Weekend 2013 started off in fine form – opening at the Washington Glass School and Flux Studios for an afternoon BBQ. The event was packed – great to see the artists and collectors mixing it up.

Later, the JRA had the Glass Fashion Show, MC’d by glass superstar Laura Donefer. Laura got the fashionistas whooping it up at the normally staid Women In Military Service For America Memorial.

Women In Military Service For America Memorial was the venue for the Glass Fashion Show

Inside the presentation hall, once Laura Donefer got started, the place went wild… for glass splendor!

Laura Donefer (L) got the sartorial set shaking.
From mild…
to WILD!
The Emperor’s new clothes – featuring Robert Minkoff!
Audrey Wilson was Fierce… Naomi Fierce!
And the crowd went wild!

Later, the models in their creations met with the JRA audience – for chatting and drinks and a pose or two.

JRA ‘Master of the Medium’ Paul Stankard is surrounded by models.
Glass lass Susan Taylor Glasgow was all smiles at first…but then the lash came out…
and our Michael Janis was put in his place!


Posted in audrey wilson, fund raising idea, glass fashion, james renwick alliance, JRA, laura donefer, Sartorial Splendor, susan taylor glasgow, women with whips

Sean Hennessey Lecture in Grand Salon of Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, Sat. April 6

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Smithsonian Renwick Gallery’s Grand Salon, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. (at 17th Street) Washington, DC. 20006

The James Renwick Alliance Spring Craft Weekend is Here! The theme of the show is The Stars of Today and Tomorrow – and to that end,  join our Rising Star, Sean Hennessey, this coming Saturday, April 6, at 10:30 am. Sean will be part of the museum’s panel discussion about the direction of contemporary craft. 

Click HERE to jump to Smithsonian website for more info.

When:                  Saturday, April 6, 2013, 10:30am

Categories:         Lectures & Discussions

Co-sponsor:        Support for this program from the James Renwick Alliance

Location:             Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery

Event Location:  Grand Salon

Cost:                    Free

From the Smithsonian website: 

Two masters of their media, artists Bruce Metcalf and Adrian Saxe, and two up-and-coming young “stars of tomorrow,” Hunt Clark and Sean Hennessey, join moderator Cindi Strauss, curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts and Design and assistant director of programming at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for a lively panel discussion about the direction of contemporary craft.

Posted in Grand salon, james renwick alliance, renwick gallery, sean hennessey, smithsonian, spring craft weekend

Rania Hassan "Threads" Opens at Montpelier Arts Center

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Mixed Media artist – Rania Hassan has a solo show of her work April 5 – May 27, 2013 at the Montpelier Arts Center (Main Gallery). 

Rania combines knitting and painting to weave sculptural stories of connections to friends, family, and the idea of home.  ‘Threads’ is an exploration of connecting knitting and painting with fiber and wood. Rania says of her compelling mixed media work: “I am fascinated by the connections we find in our everyday experiences. How do we think of our place in this world? How do we fit in it? My work is about levels of connectedness. I paint, draw, and knit to represent these moments. We are all connected somehow. This series started because of my fascination with knitting, love for painting, and intrigue in the community I’ve found online with knitters from around the world. I think about how it links me to my mother, her mother, and all the generations of women who came before them.”

Rania Hassan: Threads
April 5- May 27, 2013
Opening Reception Sunday, April 7th, from 2-4 pm
Montpelier Arts Center
9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708

Posted in knitting and paint, Montpelier Arts Center, Rania Hassan

DC’s Eastern Senior H.S. Does Glass

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This past week, students from Washington, DC’s Eastern Senior High School came to the Washington Glass School for a short course in glass fusing. In each World History unit taught at Eastern Senior High School, a section on art is implemented into the curriculum as a way to encourage students to live a part of history rather than solely read about it. The art class this year was taught by Audrey Wilson, and the class dove right into the thick of it, making beautiful glass. 

The students worked in creative collaboration on the art projects.
Under the watchful eye of Audrey Wilson, the class beavered away.
Sonic Hedgehog in glass. A modern classic.
The students loaded the kilns with their artwork.
Another beauty in glass comes from the kiln.

Their teacher, Ms. Olaiya said of the art trip: “As an educator I believe that experiential learning is imperative to forming well rounded students. Exposure to mind opening experiences, such as the Washington Glass School, I believe, will awaken possibilities for life goals and ignite a sense of adventure for our students.”  The students then returned to their school excited from a day of Glass Adventure! Said Ms. Olaiya: “The students said how much they enjoyed it and thought it was really cool to work with glass.”

Eastern Senior High School

 Here’s to the young artists’ future!

 

Posted in art education, community entrepreneurial model, District of Columbia, eastern senior high, public school, student artwork

Architect of the Capitol Blogs On New Cast Glass Doors

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The AOC inspects the cast glass interpretation of the ‘Cadmus‘ sculpture maded from the original bronze doors of the Library of Congress.

Cadmus was credited by the ancient Greeks with introducing the original Alphabet or Phoenician alphabet.

The US Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is responsible to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of 17.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 460 acres of land throughout Capitol Hill. The AOC also provides professional expertise on the preservation of architectural and artistic elements entrusted to its care, and provides recommendations concerning design, construction and maintenance of the facilities and grounds.
The AOC blogs about the new cast glass doors for the Library of Congress, now being installed. 

The original doors, designed by noted American artist, Lee Lawrie in 1938, feature high-relief sculptures of (mythical and real) world figures that have contributed to the written word and communication.

Click HERE to jump to the US AOC blog post.

Posted in AOC, architect of the capitol, architectural application glass, cast glass, library of congress, LOC, ray ahlgren

Happy Birthday Mies!

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Famed Bauhaus Modern architect Mies van der Rohe was born 127 years ago today.  Along with other post-World War I architects, such as Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier, Mies‘ aesthetic came to define what “modern” looked like in the 20th century.

Seventy-five years ago, Mies van der Rohe arrived in the United States to lead the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago and profoundly influence the world’s taste and built environment.

As an architecture student at IIT, the Bauhaus-derived philosophy that was based on a deep understanding of materials before the design process could begin had a profound impact on my work. The rigorous discipline instilled a focus on craftsmanship, of which I still rely.

Often the design studies had students learning how to get the maximum from the minimum – above is a 1928 collage by Albrecht Heubner, that was titled Minimal Dwelling – I find that my appreciation of Dadaist imagery and humor must have come from this background. 

Have a slice of Mies –

Leandro Erlich’s “Chocolate Mies van der Rohe Barcelona couch” Cake

Posted in chicago, dada, iit, mies

2013 – An Art Odyssey! JRA Spring Craft Weekend

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James Renwick Alliance “Stars Of Tomorrow” Event at Washington Glass School & Flux Studio.

The studio…its full of STARS!

On Fri. April 5th from 10 to 2pm, the first event in a series of annual fund raisers by the James Renwick Alliance (JRA) will take place at the Washington Glass School and its next door neighbor Flux Studio. The event will feature a huge BBQ, entertainers, local food artisans and beer.

The event is titled ” 2013 – An Art Odyssey”. Besides artwork by area media-based artists, there will be a theramin player and space videos projected onto walls, also, fortune tellers and space jugglers will go throughout the crowd. Attending this event will be some of the major collectors from this region and from around the country.

The James Renwick Alliance is dedicated to promoting this region’s quality artwork, and have an amazing list of collectors and curators invited. This event is also open to the public, so invite everyone you know!

Event Details:

Date & Time : Friday April 5, from 10AM to 2 PM.
Location: Washington Glass School & Flux Studios
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD, 20712
Cost: $35

Please RSVP in advance to Cicie Sattarnilasskorn at the JRA : admin@jra.org

The JRA, a national nonprofit arts organization, is an alliance of prominent artists, collectors, galleries and supporters of the arts which promotes  public knowledge and appreciation of American craft.

Proceeds from the activities of the weekend provide operating funds for the James Renwick Alliance and the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in support of its educational programs, research fellowships, exhibitions, and acquisitions for the permanent collection.

 

Proceeds from the activities of the weekend provide operating funds for the James Renwick Alliance and the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in support of its educational programs, research fellowships, exhibitions, and acquisitions for the permanent collection.

Posted in flux studios, james renwick alliance, JRA, spring craft weekend

International Glass & Clay 2013 Catalog online

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The International Glass & Clay 2013 Catalog – what the well dressed glass library is sporting!

Kicking yourself for missing the International Glass & Clay show that just closed in Washington, DC? Don’t let us stop you!  
You can look at the catalog (or catalogue) online – click  HERE to jump to Google docs.

Posted in catalog, catalogue, glass and ceramic, international glass and clay, sunderland, uk, united kingdom, usa, washington

Gauguin Lecture at Montgomery College

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MONTGOMERY COLLEGE


“Gauguin, the Self, and  

   the Metaphysics of Identity”

A Lecture-Discussion with

Prof. Claudia Rousseau, Art History and Prof. Daniel Jenkins, Philosophy


The talk will feature explanations of some of Gauguin’s paintings. The talk is free and open to the public. 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

5:00 PM

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center

Auditorium – Room 101

Posted in claudia rousseau, gauguin, montgomery college