The Mansion @ Strathmore Presents ‘Interiors’

Chris Shea: Scapularis Chairs and Stalk Table Forged steel, glass

Chris Shea: Scapularis Chairs and Stalk Table
Forged steel, glass

Now open at The Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland: “Interiors,” a design-centric show featuring modern works for the home – furniture, tapestries, objects, and more, in ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, and wood. The featured artists include Elizabeth Brim, Michael Janis, Sarah Nikitopoulos, Kenny Pieper, Chris Shea, and Rachael Warner. It runs through April 2, with an opening reception on March 2. 

Kenny Pieper: Amber Satin Goblet Study

Kenny Pieper: Amber Satin Goblet Study

 

It’s a whole new world for artists, as interior designers make the shift to a new perception of form and function. Part of the switch is the unprecedented availability of previously exotic materials; part of it is an omnipresent technology that spreads ideas, trends, and new techniques with ever-increasing rapidity. Inspired by this, today’s artists are increasingly adding furniture and object design to their portfolios.

With furniture, tapestries, objects, and more, Interiors celebrates modern works for the home and illustrates how art elevates the everyday to the sublime.

The following events are being presented in conjunction with the exhibition:

 

Sarah Nikitopoulous: Xenolith Jar

Sarah Nikitopoulous: Xenolith Jar

OPENING RECEPTION March 2
CHILDREN’S TALK & TOUR March 4
CURATOR’S TOUR March 4

Interiors
Sat, Feb 25–Sun, April 2
mansion-at-Strathmore

The Mansion at Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike, N. Bethesda, MD 20852

American Craft Council Baltimore Show 2017 Opens This Week!

acc.baltimore.show.2017.jpg

In just a few days, the American Craft Council (ACC) @ the Baltimore Convention Center opens their wholesale (February 22-23) and retail (February 24-26) American Craft Shows.

More than 650 top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture, and home décor artists from across the country will gather in Baltimore at the Convention Center. Touch, feel, and explore high-quality American craft and meet the makers behind the fabulous work. This is a HUGE show – a must-attend for craft lovers! Make sure you see incredible glass works by Kenny Pieper, ceramics by Joe Hicks and Ani Kasten, and wearable wood accessories by Drew Graham.

The ACC has also invited 20 makers from Craft Scotland to their flagship Baltimore show in 2017 – so the show will be extra ossum! Click HERE for more info. Click Here to jump to ACC event tickets.

Retail Show Dates:

February 24: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
February 25: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
February 26: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Artomatic Coming to Crystal City in 2017

artomatic-2017-mainArtomatic returns for its signature art event to be held this year in Crystal City, Virginia. Artomatic draws hundreds of artists and performers throughout the DC, Maryland and Virginia area to showcase their talents for a six week long free exhibition that routinely attracts thousands of visitors.

This year, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (CCBID) welcomes Artomatic back to Arlington County for the third time in a 100,000 square foot space, located at 1800 S Bell Street with a spring opening date on Friday March 24th.

Artomatic is well-known for transforming empty spaces into vibrant arts communities that create unique and exciting events for tens of thousands of visitors – all free to visit. Anyone can show art at Artomatic – it is non-juried and art is selected on a first-come, first serve basis – so it’s a great way to discover new art.

In addition to visual art Artomatic also features a range of performing art forms throughout the exhibition – live music, dance, spoken word, comedy as well as professional development series and special events showcases. Every night of the event, thousands of people visit Artomatic to discover new art, grab a drink, listen to music, go on dates, and mingle with the creative community. No matter what kind of creative events you like, you’ll find something to like at Artomatic.

“We are very excited to be working again with the Crystal City BID, a constant champion of the arts, to create a unique, invigorating and brand new artistic experience for all visitors to enjoy”, said Jennifer Williamson, current Artomatic Board President. “We will be conducting Artist tours starting from mid January to allow interested participants an advance glimpse of their artistic home for six weeks where they can start imagining the endless creative possibilities they can do with the space.”

Visitors have easy access to Artomatic with the Crystal City METRO Station, as well as plenty of parking and bus stops nearby.

For the latest information about the event, how to participate, and when to visit, please subscribe to Artomatic by email or Facebook, or visit their website at www.artomatic.org.

Glasstress Boca Raton Thru July 2

Adriano Berengo is back with another Glasstress exhibition, this time in partnership with an art museum in Boca Raton, Florida. Known for bringing artists who don’t usually utilize glass as a medium together with his team of glass maestros in Murano, Berengo has built Glasstress into an art-world brand since it debuted as a collateral exhibition at the 2009 Venice Bienalle.

GLASSTRESS BOCA RATON

JAN. 31-JUL. 2, 2017
BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART

Hans Op De Beeck, The Frozen Vanitas, 2015. Fondazione Berengo, Venice, Italy.

Hans Op De Beeck, The Frozen Vanitas, 2015. Fondazione Berengo, Venice, Italy.

Part of a new curatorial initiative to examine areas traditionally considered ‘craft,’ but which present alternative mediums of increasing interest to contemporary artists, Glasstress features 25-30 glass installations created by contemporary artists from around the world in collaboration with the international organization Glasstress, Venice and the master glass artisans of Berengo Studio, Murano. The results challenge our notion of glass as a ‘beautiful’ material and encourage us to explore the bold, political, and sometimes less than pristine aspects of the medium. Works included in the Glasstress Boca Raton exhibition incorporate performance, video, interactive media, design, and even video games, and delve into substantial content, from race, identity, and colonialism to themes of science and nature and issues of biological diversity, global hunger, and climate change.

BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART
In Mizner Park
501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: 561.392.2500

Mel George Awarded NIDA Fellowship

Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) has introduced an indigenous education scholarship courtesy of a $300,000 grant from a new foundation backed by philanthropist Simon Mordant.

Mel George teaching at Urban Glass in 2005

Mel George teaching at Urban Glass in 2005

Glass artist Mel George is the first recipient of the Luminis Foundation Indigenous Fellowship for Cultural Leadership, to be awarded annually over six years to a student undertaking the master of fine arts in cultural leadership at NIDA. George, who is of Aboriginal and Greek heritage, has worked in the glass industry in Australia and the US.

Currently the curator at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, she will also work as a cultural facilitator at Bula’bula Arts in Arnhem Land.

DMV glass aficionados might remember  Mel’s work being featured in the 2006 “Compelled By Content 2” exhibit at Fraser Gallery in Bethesda. Congratulations Mel!

"A Shade of Difference" Kiln-formed Glass, Cotton, Wire and Steel. 2.5 x 8 x 4 inches by Mel George

“A Shade of Difference”
Kiln-formed Glass, Cotton, Wire and Steel. 2.5 x 8 x 4 inches
by Mel George