2016 Washington Glass School Year-In-Review

2016 Glass Year In Review
As 2016 winds down, The Washington Glass School remembers what brought us together in 2016, and look forward the connections we’ll make in 2017.

It was a year to be confounded, shocked, outraged, exuberant, and saddened. Whether you loved 2016 or hated it, one thing is clear: It was a year full of the unexpected.

January

Marvin Lipofsky, 1938-2016

Marvin Lipofsky, 1938-2016

Studio Glass great Marvin Lipofsky passed away January 15, 2016. Marvin Lipofsky was one of the six students that Studio Glass founder Harvey Littleton instructed in a program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in fall 1962 and spring 1963. Marvin’s work has been an integral component of modern sculpture in glass for some 50 years while his personality was a challenge for many.

WGS alum Cheryl P Derricotte had a great year! Cheryl was a finalist in the 2016 Society for Contemporary Craft (SCC) LEAP awards. Later in the year, Cheryl received rave reviews with her solo exhibit “Ghost/Ships” at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD).

February

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Protesters surround the BE factory in Portland after high hexavalent chromium levels were found.

It has been a tumultuous year for art glass makers. Researchers found elevated levels of toxic heavy metals near Uroboros and Bullseye Glass factories in Portland, OR, prompting ramped up regulation of the industry. Oregon’s EPA had focused its regulations that control emissions. The new regulations require costly industrial filters that prevent the release of glass production’s toxic byproducts. The EPA regulators later identified 14 factories that may make art glass using heavy metals.The cease and desist order threw art glass production in the US for a loop, with the glass companies struggling to comply. Bullseye Glass voluntarily stopped using the metals in its manufacturing process. Later it said it would never again use arsenic. It also suspended the use of chromium. The EPA story would play out all year long, closing a number of US art glass makers and shifting fabricators out of the country.

On a happier note, the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) announced the appointment of Susie J. Silbert as curator of modern and contemporary glass. 

CMOG's Curator of Mern Glass, Susie Silbert.

CMOG’s Curator of Modern & Contemporary Glass, Susie Silbert.

In February, members of the National Capital Area Glass Guild (NCAGG) visited at the Washington Glass School in February for a presentation on public art works. Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers and Michael Janis covered how possible site-specific projects are identified, how proposals were put together, and how a team is created to create the public art and installations – a real soup to nuts presentation.

The NCAGG at WGS.

The NCAGG at WGS.

Speaking of site-specific commissions, also in February, Washington Glass Studio completed two commissions for artwork in a refurbished downtown Bethesda building lobby. Working with art consultants, Directions in Art, Washington Glass Studio designed and fabricated artwork for two levels of an office building that was undergoing a major renovation. 

Site specific illuminated glass artwork by Washington Glass Studio.

Site specific illuminated glass artwork by Washington Glass Studio.

 

March

In March, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition selected Penland resident artist Dean Allisons cast glass sculpture as one of the 43 finalists selected from the competition’s more than 2,500 entries received in its celebrated competition, held every three years.   

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries exhibited at New York Art Fair SCOPE featuring works by Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey and Michael Janis. 

Art Fair Scope NYC 2016

Art Fair Scope NYC 2016

April

penland kilnformed glass technique

Sean Hennessey teaching at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina in April.

In April, Sean Hennessey taught his bas relief cast glass and color techniques at NC’s Penland School of Craft, with Audrey Wilson as his teaching assistant.

The Laurel Library public artwork community glass “quilting bee” workshops began in April – and making the sculpture would continue most of the summer. 

Laurel Library artwork sought involvement by the residents and the community.

Laurel Library artwork sought involvement by the residents and the community.

May

In a move that shocked many in the art glass world, Spectrum Glass company announced that they were going out of business. Spectrum, which made System 96 fusing glass and numerous varieties of stained glass stated that “due to several factors, it’s no longer financially feasible for Spectrum Glass to continue to operate.” These factors included the EPA regulations imposed as of February 2016. In September, Spectrum announced that they “…finalized the sale of Spectrum Glass and System 96 brands, equipment, and formulas to world-renowned glass manufacturer Oceanside Glasstile (OGT) in Carlsbad, CA.”

 

Sibylle Peretti at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery.

Sibylle Peretti at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery.

The James Renwick Alliance “Distinguished Artist” series – glass artist Sibylle Peretti was in Washington, DC for a workshop. On Sunday, May 22, Sibylle Peretti presented her works to the audience that gathered at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery. 

June 

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Craft/Material Studies student Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri did a stint of independent study at Washington Glass School.  Sandhya graduated VCU in just 2 and a half years after a career at a male-dominated computer job. 

Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri working in glass.

Sandhya Kiran Chiluvuri working in glass.

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2016 Americans for the Arts Annual Leadership Awards.

The Americans for the Arts annual convention  was June 17 – 19, 2016, held in Boston, MA.  The Washington Glass Studio is proud to have made the awards for the 2016 Annual Leadership Awards.

July

The permanent collection returned to the refurbished Smithsonian Museum’s Renwick Gallery with a dynamic new presentation of 80+ objects celebrating craft as a discipline and an approach to living differently in the modern world. The installation, titled “Connections” featured favorites alongside new acquisitions made during the museum’s renovation. Nora Atkinson, The Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft, selected the objects and conceived the innovative presentation.

Pokémon Go — the augmented-reality game that sent the classic Japanese franchise into a new age — took the world by storm in July. The Washington Glass School was listed as a Pokestop, with the nearby Mt Rainier Mini-Park was designated a Poke gym. Go Figure.

Pokemon Go DC Destination: Washington Glass School.

Pokemon Go DC Destination: Washington Glass School.

August

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Josh Hershman works on the Laurel Library artwork.

The Laurel Library public art sculpture continued in both the workshops and in assemblage. Glass artist Josh Hershman joined in on the process.

Curator Jennifer Lindsay brought together two sculptors, Laurel Lukaszewski (ceramics) and Joseph A. Corcoran (glass) to create site-­specific installations for the Brentwood Arts Exchange in the show “Other Worlds of Imagination and Wonder“. Using collaborative installations as a way to intensify the viewer’s immersion in a transformative or revelatory experience, Lindsay juxtaposed works by both artists, from miniature to monumental, illuminating each artist’s individual responses to materials, nature, culture, and the environment.

otherworlds.corcoran.lukaszewski.brentwood_arts_exchange

September

2016 DC Mayor's Arts Award

2016 DC Mayor’s Arts Award

Washington, D.C.’s 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony was held at the Historic Lincoln Theater and Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis was awarded the “Excellence in the Arts” honor! The DC Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city of Washington, D.C. on artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations and patrons of the arts and humanities. 

Artist Klaus Moje, who founded the Glass Workshop at the Australian National University School of Art, passed away in September at the age of 79. Klaus Moje had been recognized internationally as one of the most significant innovators in the medium of glass, and as a highly influential educator who has inspired several generations of young artists. Born in Hamburg, Germany, Moje established his first studio, in 1961. He relocated to Australia in 1982, where he founded the Glass Workshop of the Canberra School of Art and the modern art glass movement in Australia. 

Klaus Moje

Klaus Moje 1936-2016

Michael Janis’ solo exhibit at Maurine Littleton Gallery – “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows” opened to great reviews. Dr Claudia Rousseau – Professor of Art History at Montgomery College – reviewed the show in the East City Art “glass works that cross the line between sculpture (as in relief sculpture) and painting, and which stand out in brilliant color….From both a technical and subjective viewpoint this is a striking show.” Washington Post Arts Critic Mark Jenkins wrote that Janis’ work “combine the stateliness of stained-glass windows with the vivacity of pop art — half medieval cathedral, half 1960s Vogue”.

October

Uroboros Glass Company- also located in Portland- announced that they will be shutting down after almost 44 years in the business. In December, Uroboros announced that the company had been sold and will continue production in Mexico. Bullseye Glass had announced that, under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Bullseye has implemented an environmental protection capital investment program, installing baghouses on 12 of their furnaces. Permanent rules adopted by the Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission in September require the installation of additional technology, which were planned to be in place in December. Bullseye plans to resume full production of glass in early 2017. Until then, they are not be able to produce glasses containing chrome. BE continues to develop new chrome-free greens and have reformulated other styles. One of the styles BE reformulated is 0100 Black, which appears to be slightly more transparent than it was in the past. BE has advised that this will be the case until they can once again use chrome.

November

Opening of SOFA Chicago at Navy Pier.

Opening of SOFA Chicago at Navy Pier.

SOFA Chicago! Once again, a number of artists from Washington Glass School were featured at SOFA CHICAGO – one of the longest running art fairs in the world, and the oldest art fair in Chicago. 

Go CUBS! Audrey Wilson shows her support for the World Champs at Wrigley Field.

Go CUBS! Audrey Wilson shows her support for the World Champs at Wrigley Field.

After 108 years of waiting, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series with 8-7 victory in the final game over the Cleveland Indians. Awesome.

 

Vitrum's Judith Conway and Kevin O'Toole.

Vitrum’s Judith Conway and Kevin O’Toole.

Vitrum Studios announced that their glass resource center would close at the end of 2016. Vitrum Studio was started by Judith Conway and Kevin O’Toole in 2001. 

The Washington Glass Studio (WGScompleted installation of a community based site specific public art commission for Prince George’s County Laurel Library. On opening day the community members that participated in the creation of the over 100 glass panels eagerly sought out the location of their artworks.

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Glass and steel artwork, titled “Involve Me and I Learn” installed at the new Laurel Library, Laurel, MD. photo by Pete Duvall.

 

December

The international contemporary art world descended on Miami, Florida for the infamous Art Basel Miami Beach exposition, and its numerous satellite events. The exhibits were as outrageous as ever, and Washington Glass School artists Tim Tate and Audrey Wilson’s work were featured at the shows. Tim Tate had a solo booth at SCOPE Miami, and Audrey Wilson at CONTEXT, showing at Alida Anderson Art Projects. 

Tim Tate (and his artwork) was a babe magnet.

Tim Tate (and his artwork) = babe magnet.

 

PBS’ Maryland Public Television (MPT) tapped our Michael Janis to be Co-Host on the fifth season of the series ‘Artworks’ with host Rhea Feikin.The show features intriguing profiles of established, emerging and experimental artists from across the country working in all creative categories: musicians, performers, visual artists, writers, designers, and artisans. 

Michael Janis and Rhea Feiken on Artworks episode  514

Michael Janis and Rhea Feiken on Artworks episode 514

So much to absorb. Yet if 2016 was a world turned upside down, just wait until next year!

The instructors and artists at the Washington Glass School and Studio wish All a Happy New Year! 

I Want My M* TV! (*= Michael Janis)

WGS' Michael Janis gets mic'd up for a taping of Maryland Public Television (MPT)  "Artworks" taping.

WGS’ Michael Janis gets mic’d up by Jim Bigwood, MPT audio engineer for a taping of Maryland Public Television (MPT) “Artworks” episode while host Rhea Feikin reviews the script.

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will launch the fifth season of Artworks, MPT’s weekly arts series. The lively series is hosted by Rhea Feikin, a cultural icon in her own right. The show features intriguing profiles of established, emerging and experimental artists from across the country working in all creative categories: musicians, performers, visual artists, writers, designers, and artisans.

Michael Janis will be the guest Co-Host on two action-packed episodes – the first airing December 29, 2016 and the second airing January 5th, 2017.

Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde's monumental rainbow prism  featured on Artworks Episode 513.

Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde’s monumental rainbow prism featured on MPT’s Artworks: Episode 513.

Artworks: Episode 513

Premiere date: Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 8:30pm on MPT-HD (repeats Sundays at 12:30pm, MPT-2 Sundays at 12pm)

Description: Co-Host Michael Janis, Co-Director, Washington Glass School. Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde’s monumental rainbow prism; Houston Grand Opera’s lush costumes; Fawzia Khan, surgeon turned sculptor; and pageantry of the Rose Parade meets Downton Abbey on New Year’s Day.

Click HERE to jump to watch online!

 

EMULSION 2017 | Call for Artists

emulsion4EMULSION – The Fourth Annual East City Art Regional Juried Show has released their call for artists to submit work. The exhibition is open to anyone 18 years and over who resides or creates art within 50 miles of East City Art’s headquarters located at 922 G Street SE in Washington, DC. This includes the greater DC and Baltimore region.

EMULSION 2017 HIGHLIGHTS
New Location—To accommodate the increase in the number of applicants for EMULSION, the 5,000 square foot PEPCO Edison Gallery. ECA hopes to show a minimum of 40 artists.
Prize Money—The first prize purse from $1,500 to $2,000. There will also be two additional cashes prizes of $250 in the new honorable mention category.
Extended Viewing and Extended Programming—EMULSION 2017 opens on Fri., March 3 and runs through Thu., March 16. That’s two full weeks of viewing plus weeknight programming.

Television Coverage—WETA (DC PBS Affiliate) will be filming the drop-off, installation and opening reception.

Entry Deadline: January 9, 2017
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PRIZES

$2000 First Place Prize
$1,000 Second Place Prize
$500 Third Place Prize
Two (2) $250 Honorable Mentions

Entry Fee
An entry fee of $42.50 paid to East City Art via Submittable. You may submit up to five (5) works including images, video and audio.

Location
Pepco Edison Place Gallery located at 702 8th Street NW in the heart of Downtown Washington DC

Juror
Deirdre Ehlen MacWilliams, Public Art Project Manager for Arlington County’s public art program. Read more about the juror HERE

To apply online – click HERE.

Washington Glass School Holiday Open Studio This Weekend!

holiday.open.studio.art.gateway.district.dmv.usa.glass.washington.schoolSaturday December 10, 2016 – from Noon-5pm Washington Glass School artists scheduled to exhibit: (L-R) Jennifer Lindstrom, Chris Shea, Audrey Wilson, Trish Kent, Erwin Timmers. Not shown: Tim Tate, Syl Mathis, Veta Carney, Laurie Brown, Michael Janis, George Anderton, Diane Cabe, Deb Ruzinsky.

Gateway Arts Open Studio Winter Washington Glass SchoolHere it comes again….the annual Washington Glass School Open Studios, one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday arts events in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia.)!

From the small child to the serious art collector, the Holiday Open House fits everyone’s taste. The event features fun gift ideas and snacks, with the artists of the Gateway Arts District opening their studios to the public. We invite the community to visit the Gateway Arts District and experience a unique DMV art event! Gateway Arts District Maryland District of Columbia Washington Glass School