Want to know what is entailed in the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare?)
Gateway CDC will host a workshop on Thursday, October 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Location: 39th Street Gallery at 3901 Rhode Island Ave. (Second Floor 39th Street entrance) Brentwood, MD 20722
|
 |
| Sean Hennessy “The Luxury of Dreams” |
The Luxury of Dreams is a series of artworks based on interpretations of dreams submitted to Sean by friends, colleagues, strangers, and social media connections. Using bas-relief cast glass, painting, drawing, and photography, Sean has created a strong and surreal body of works that takes his work to a new level. Based on the situation of the homelessness in DC, this exhibit of dreams will also serve as a fundraiser for charity organization Thrive DC, who perform services for those in need of our Nation’s Capitol.
 |
| Sean Hennessey |
Sean Hennessey’s “The Luxury of Dreams” came about after a personal experience with a neighborhood homeless man who, with help, was able to turn his life around. Using the crisis of homelessness in our cities came a desire to create an exhibition based on blankets, beds, and shelter. About this, Sean wrote: “I then wondered if the level of security of having a place to sleep affected how we dream. I was thinking about how we all enter the world of dreams, regardless of where we sleep. I thought that I would create a series of works based on the dreams of others. Through conversations … about art and social issues, my idea for The Luxury of Dreams series was born. I started soliciting dreams from friends, colleagues, collectors, other artists, and social media connections.”
 |
| Sean Hennessey |
Sean works in glass, concrete, steel, light and video, creating narrative content from philosophical, mythological, historical and personal experiences.
Said Sean: “As I was dealing with an uncomfortable issue in the inspiration of this series, and a new way of developing content within my work, I wanted to take a new approach to the creation of the work itself. I decided that I would utilize photography and drawings into glass. After receiving many dreams from friends and strangers I began conceptualizing how I would approach the pieces. At first I thought I would layer photos and drawings with castings of glass Beds and Blankets. I may still create a series in that direction, but I decided for this first series based on dreams that I would pick imagery from the dreams that I felt most connected and relate it to my way of storytelling. Atypical of how I approach a series, each piece will feel different and have different shapes and sizes. I usually like for my series to read like a book, often with each piece the same size and scale; another new way of making work for me.”
The Luxury of Dreams
Opening: Friday, October 4, 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: October 4-November 15
Washington, DC 20010
The gallery is located on the second floor. It is 0.3 miles from the Columbia Heights Metro, and there is ample parking in the DC USA building. Click HERE to jump to the event Facebook page.
 |
| © Erwin Eisch / CMOG |
Whats going on in the photo above?
Is it a new 8 member boy band created from TV show “X Factor”? No.
Still photo from the latest sequel to a Hollywood slasher/gore film? Nope.
Some Portland hipsters gathering at a coffee café that doubles as a low-carbon-footprint bike shop? Wrong Again.
European glass innovator Erwin Eisch made the 8 mold blown works as a tribute to Harvey Littleton in 1976. Eisch’s non-traditional approach to glassmaking had a profound impact during the formative years of the American Studio Glass movement, and his relationship with American glass pioneer Harvey K. Littleton forged an important link between European and American studio artists working in glass.
Want to know more about the history of Studio Glass? This Saturday, October, 5, from 1 pm, the Debra Ruzinsky of the Washington Glass School will talk and show images presenting a broad international survey rooted in the early days of studio work. Works by artists Sybren Valkema, Edris Eckhardt, Michael and Francis Higgins, Libensky and Brychtova, Ann Wolff, Erwin Eisch, Kyohei Fujita, Vera Liskova, to name a few early & influential artists — such as female glass artist Asa Brandt, who has been called the “Harvey Littleton of Sweden”.
This free talk is a great way to know who and where glass has come as we move boldly into a new future of the medium.
 |
| BLUE MADONNA by Ann Wolff |
What Came Before / A Slide History Of The Studio Glass Movement
Lecturer : Debra Ruzinsky
When : Saturday,October 5th
From:1 pm
Cost : Free of charge…RSVP to: washglassschool@aol.com
Where: Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Oh, and the titles of the Erwin Eisch heads:
(A) Littleton the Gentleman: mirrored inside, with glasses, with marble base. (B) Littleton the Poet: with glasses and beanie. (C) Littleton the Teacher: mirrored inside, glassblower painted on right side of head; set on square black base. (D) Littleton, Man of Frauenau: cold painted in facial area and around base with scene of town. (E) Littleton the Worker: applied band of colorless glass across nose and around head, square black base. (F) Littleton’s Headache: painted with bandages surrounding head and chin area, etched in other areas, square black base. (G) Littleton the Fragile. (H) Littleton’s Spirit: with collar and tie.
“Public Art Concepts: An Exhibit of Proposals” Opening and Panel Discussion @ Joe’s Movement Emporium
Joes Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mt Rainier, MD 20712
Artist Featured:
Alan Binstock
Joanna Blake
Margaret Boozer
Howard Michael Connelly
Alonzo Davis
Melissa Anne Glasser
Martha Jackson Jarvis
Luis Peralta
Ann Stoddard
Valerie Theberge
&
Washington Glass Studio
Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers
RSVP via Facebook link HERE
The beginning of the fall exhibition season opens Saturday, September 28, 2013, 5:30-8:30pm at Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, 5833 Ellsworth Ave in Pittsburgh, PA.
Common Discourse features the work of Jen Blazina, Ron Desmett, Susan Longini, Carmen Lozar, Heather Joy Puskarich, Demetra Theofanous, Randy Walker and WGS co-director Michael Janis.
“A non-themed show is always difficult to describe,” notes gallery owner and director Amy Morgan, “Yet, the common bond here is the intelligent and distinctive use of the glass medium – both decoratively and narratively – which defines this exhibition.”
Common Discourse
September 28, 2013 – January 18, 2014
morgan contemporary glass gallery
5833 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
Hours are Tues. – Fri. 11 – 5 and Sat. 12 – 5, or by appt.
Recognizing the best from the Midwest, 28 glass artworks from 21 glass artists have been selected for this year’s Indiana Glass Arts Alliance (IGAA) annual exhibition. Titled “GATHERING: Contemporary Glass from the Heartland,” the exhibition will open Oct. 19 at the Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery and continue through Dec. 7. The exhibition is open to the public.
 |
| Audrey Wilson |
This is the first time the IGAA has opened the exhibition to glass artists outside Indiana.
Nearly 150 applications, from 48 glass artists in six states, were reviewed by a two-member jury panel. Tom Riley, who for 30 years has owned Riley Galleries, in Cleveland, Ohio along with glass artist and director of the glass program at Kent State University, Sean Mercer, collaborated on selecting artwork for the exhibition. The IGAA offers $2500 in total cash awards, and the Best in Show Award recipient will additionally receive the opportunity to be exhibited at Riley Galleries.
Indiana has one of the longest and most storied histories of glassmaking in the U.S., and it is appropriate that this year’s exhibition is in Kokomo, where Hoosier glassmaking began in 1888.
The Indiana University Kokomo Art Gallery is located at 2300 South Washington Street, in Kokomo, Indiana. Gallery hours are Tue. and Thu., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; and Sat., noon – 4 p.m.
 |
| Audrey Wilson |
WGS’ Audrey Wilson (a native of Ohio) has two works selected to be included in what promises to be a great show.
ARTISTS WHOSE WORK WILL BE EXHIBITED
Tom Armbruster, Hudson, OH; Cortney Boyd, Carbondale, IL; Mathilde Brown Swanson, Des Moines; IA; Domenico Cavallaro, Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Steven Ciezki, Calumet City, IL; Cecile Derel, Chicago, IL; Davin Ebanks, Anderson, IN; Robert Geyer, Portage, OH; Francine Gourguechon, Chicago, IL; Jennifer Halvorson, Muncie, IN; Justin Kern, Muncie, IN; Sungsoo Kim, Kent, OH; Melissa Kistler, Indianapolis, IN; Joanna Manousis, Columbus, OH; Emily McBride, Louisville, KY; Matthew Paskiet, Holland, OH; Charlyn Reynolds, Elgin, IL; Kenny Sprinkle, Camby, IN; Timothy Stover, Kent, OH; Zac Weinberg, Columbus, OH; Audrey Wilson, Mt. Rainier, MD.
Congratulations Audrey!
The Washington Glass School Presents a free lecture titled ” What Came Before / A Slide History Of The Studio Glass Movement.” The talk will be a broad international survey focusing on the early days of studio glass work.
Who was there, what they did, and why; in the US and abroad; male and female artists; people you may never have heard about!
Perfect for Glass Seccessionistas who want to learn a bit of glass history that isn’t just about the biggest names – this is a great chance to get the overview of the medium and provide new insights!
Lecturer : Debra Ruzinsky
When : Saturday,October 5th
From:1 pm
Cost : Free of charge…RSVP to: washglassschool@aol.com
Where: Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Debra Ruzinsky received her BA in Design from the University of California at Los Angeles, and her MFA in Glass Sculpture from RIT. She has been working in glass since 1982. She serves on the publications committee of the Glass Art Society, and was Visiting Asst. Professor of Glass at RIT for the 2008-2009 academic calendar year. Her work is part of the collection of the Seto City Museum in Seto, Japan, and the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft in Denmark, as well as the RIT Wallace Library Collection.
Habatat Galleries sends some photos of their gallery space at Houston Fine Art Fair – now open thru Sept 22.
 |
| View of Habatat Galleries Space 504. Tim Tate’s new cast glass and video works are on the right. |
 |
| Tim Tate’s “Moving Paintings” are quite the hit of the show! |
 |
| Tim described his “Moving Paintings” as akin to Victorian paintings that move – a la Hogwarts. |
Houston Fine Art
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, TX 77010
Sept 19 – 22, 2013
The UK delegation again stopped into the Washington Glass School to plot plan what could be done next to further interaction between Sister Cities Washington, DC and Sunderland, England.
 |
| Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis outlines bold plans to the Sunderland representatives. Clockwise from left: Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Oliver “Skip” Dulle, Tom Hurst, Catherine Auld. |
Some of the topics included artwork exhibitions – including Artomatic- of US/UK glass and ceramics in London, residencies in Washington, DC and in Sunderland, and some new ways to get the work of the media-based artists seen.
The delegation also visited Flux Studios, where UK ceramic artist Philippa Whiteside is currently working on her artist residency – and was featured in the British Council USA blog today.
 |
| UK artist Philippa Whiteside working at Flux Studio. |
Click HERE to jump to the British Council post. We will advise on US/UK art interactions when they develop!
Earlier, the blog had posted about the commission of artwork from Washington Glass Studio to be installed in the chapel in Shady Grove Hospital’s new Aqualino Cancer Care center. The artwork was recently installed – here is a look at the process:
 |
| Original design sketch |
After the concept design, dimensions and glass techniques proposed was approved, the Washington Glass Studio team worked at getting the glass underway.
First, glass of the right size was needed. The glass triptych panels were 5′-0″ long, much larger than the glass we had in the studio. Getting large shipments of glass and then (successfully) cutting the glass would be a project into themselves!
 |
| Erwin Timmers and Tim Tate receiving the large pane of sheet glass. |
The process of cutting such a large sheet of glass involved many from the studio – just to keep the score line straight.
 |
| The glass is larger than the pair of work tables. |
 |
| Erwin Timmers preps the glass for cutting. |
 |
| The cutting crew: L-R Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis, Audrey Wilson. |
After the glass is cut and cleaned, work inside the kilns proceeds. Audrey Wilson set beds of dry sifted plaster within the large kilns, and began creating the molds the glass would be melted into.
 |
| Audrey working on the glass mold that is set up in the kiln. |
After firing, annealing and cooling the glass panels, the edges needed to be ground and polished smooth – a noisy messy job.
 |
| Audrey takes to working outdoors to do the wet grinding. |
Now the glass is ready for the site. Tim and Erwin traveled to the new cancer facility to install the glass panels into the steel slots that were previously set into a concrete plinth. The surrounding area to the glass panels will incorporate a rock garden.
 |
| Erwin Timmers and Tim Tate being installing the panels into the steel framework. |
 |
| Artists Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers stop for a chat about the glass artwork. |
 |
| The finished work from inside the Aqualino Cancer Center chapel. |
Adventist Healthcare’s executive director of Cancer Care Services sent a note about the just installed artwork – she wrote to the Shady Grove Art Consultant Lillian Fitzgerald: “… I was in the ACC today and the whole stone and glass took my breath. The glass is the most beautiful work I have ever seen. Thank you for your vision...“
A great note to end the story of the process of the artwork!
Please join the Gateway CDC’s 39th Street Gallery and the Montgomery County Health Department for a workshop for artists and other underinsured in Prince George’s County.
