Monthly Archives: March 2019

James Renwick Alliance Spring Craft Weekend Honors Therman Statom!

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You are cordially invited to The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) Spring Craft Weekend on April 26-28, 2019 in Washington, DC.jra.renwick.alliance.spring.craft.weekend.master.glass.therman.statom.dc.washington.art

This year, the JRA honors Michael Sherrill (ceramic), Nancy Crow (fiber), Myra Mimlitsch-Gray (metal), Michael Hurwitz (wood), and Therman Statom (glass), as the 2019 Masters of the Medium @ Spring Craft Weekend. 

Therman Statom leading a JRA workshop at the Washington Glass School in 2006.

Therman Statom leading a JRA workshop at the Washington Glass School in 2006.

Therman Statom is a sculptor, glass artist, and painter. Born in Florida, Thermon grew up in Washington, D.C. His interest in the arts grew from a fondness of painting and he began to investigate ceramics at RISD. However, after an experimental glass blowing session with Dale Chihuly, he was soon hooked on the spontaneity of glass and its limitless possibilities. He is most notably known as a pioneer of the contemporary glass movement for his life-size glass ladders, chairs, tables, constructed box-like paintings, and small-scale houses; all created through the technique of gluing glass plate together.

Therman Statom creates one of his glass houses at the Washington Glass School in 2006.

Therman Statom creates one of his signature glass houses at the Washington Glass School in 2006.

Therman includes among his honors an Outstanding Achievement Award presented in 2008 by UrbanGlass, and a Distinguished Artist Award presented in 2006 by the James Renwick Alliance. Therman was awarded fellowship grants by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988 and 1982 and he was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Artists Grant in 1997. Therman was made a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 1999. In November, 2015, he was named a United States Artists Fellow.

The JRA has named Therman to be one of this year’s “Master of the Medium” and will be one of the artists honored at the Spring Craft Weekend (April 26-28, 2019) – with a weekend filled with fun and adventure! Join the Masters in the Saturday Symposium as they share illustrative images of their work and discuss their notable craft journeys that frame their careers in the field. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails with the Masters just blocks away from the Renwick Gallery and bid on one of the ten auction items offered by the JRA at the Evening Soirée & Auction. Enjoy brunch and a celebration of American craft as the Masters of the Medium are honored at the historic and elegant Cosmos Club.

Click HERE for more info on the JRA Spring Craft Weekend.

The JRA is made from collectors, artists, educators, gallery and museum professionals and others who share a passion for contemporary American craft.

Posted in JRA, spring craft weekend, thermon statom

In Memoriam: Stephen Rolfe Powell

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Stephen Rolfe Powell (1951-2019) was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1951. He studied painting and ceramics at Centre College and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1974. Before attending graduate school at Louisiana State University, Powell spent several years as an art instructor, first at the Draper State Prison and later at the Indian Springs School in Alabama. Between 1980 and 1983, he attended LSU and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, where he first began working in glass. 

Stephen Rolf Powell, "Poochy Serpentine Striker"

Stephen Rolf Powell, “Poochy Serpentine Striker”

Since 1983, Stephen had been a professor at Centre College in Danville, KY where he founded a glass program. In 1991, a window shattered as he was attempting to free a bird from his Danville studio space atop the Norton Center for the Arts, severing a tendon, a nerve, and an artery in his right hand. After a complicated surgery and months of physical therapy, Powell returned to the fire and his work reached new heights.

Stephen Rolfe Powell, "Lurid Salacious Viper" Detail - photo from Habatat Galleries 2018 International Invitational.

Stephen Rolfe Powell, “Lurid Salacious Viper” Detail – photo from Habatat Galleries 2018 International Invitational.

In 2004, he broke his left wrist and tore an Achilles tendon, and briefly worked on a smaller “Whacko” series while he recovered. Recently, in 2012, Powell was presented with the Distinguished Educator award from the James Renwick Alliance.

Stephen’s work both as an artist and as an educator provides a powerful and enduring legacy.Stephen.Powell.glass.art

Posted in in memorium | Tagged

A Visit With Mel & Nancy

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Nancy Callan and Mel Douglas talk about collaboration in their newest glass artwork.

Nancy Callan and Mel Douglas talk about collaboration in their newest glass artwork.

Superstar glass artists Mel Douglas and Nancy Callan were recently in Norfolk, working on a residency at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio. The James Renwick Alliance  and American University/Katzen Center invited the artists up to DC for a presentation and visit.
It was wonderful to have the chance to spend time with both of them while they were here. Some photos of the recent visit by these incredible artists!:

Mel &Nancy working at the Chrysler Museum Glass Center.

Mel &Nancy working at the Chrysler Museum Glass Center.

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Collaborative work by Nancy Callan and Mel Douglas on exhibit at American University Museum.

American University Museum was host for the JRA artist talk by Mel Douglas and Nancy Callan.

American University Museum was host for the JRA artist talk by Mel Douglas and Nancy Callan.

Nancy Callan & Mel Douglas with WGS Co-Director, Michael Janis.

Nancy Callan & Mel Douglas with WGS Co-Director, Michael Janis.

Posted in chrysler museum, james renwick alliance, JRA, mel douglas, nancy callan

Washington Post Reviews “The Wall” – Featuring Work By Erwin Timmers

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Washington Post critic Mark Jenkins reviews OSAP "Wall"

Washington Post critic Mark Jenkins reviews OSAP “Wall”

Otis Street Arts Project has a new exhibit – titled “The Wall”, curated by Molly Ruppert. The show’s premise is to examine concepts invoked by President Trumps desire for a “great big beaurtiful wall” to be installed at the United States southern border. The curator asked the invited artists (Claudia Vess, Ellyn Weiss, Erwin Timmers, Gregg Hannan, Glenn Richardson, Jacqui Crocetta, Scott Brooks, Wayson Jones,Yar Koporulin, Paul Hrusa and Hebron Chism) for their take on the subject.
Washington Post Arts Critic, Mark Jenkins has a review in the weekend’s Arts Section, with an ebullient review of Erwin Timmers’ featured work “Changing the Conversation”.

This Saturday, March 9th, there will be an event tied to the exhibit – Come view the show, hear the curator speak, and have some therapeutic wall smashing of “wall” created by artist Glenn Richardson. Doors open at 7pm; Curator talk by Molly Rupert 8:00 PM; Wall Smashing 8:30 PM. Otis Street Arts Project, 3706 Otis Street, Mt Rainier.

Click HERE to learn more.

Posted in erwin timmers, mark jenkins, molly ruppert, otis street arts project

Glass in Conversation: Mel Douglas and Nancy Callan

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Glass artists Mel Douglas (Australia) and Nancy Callan (U.S.)

Glass artists Mel Douglas (Australia) and Nancy Callan (U.S.)

The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) presents a lecture by glass artists Mel Douglas (Australia) and Nancy Callan (U.S.) at 6:30 p.m. on March 14 at the American University Museum at the Katzen Center.  The two artists are coming to Washington directly from a stint as visiting artists at the Chrysler Museum of Art’s studio in Norfolk, VA and will be talking about their work and their recent collaboration.

For more information – click here to jump to JRA page.

Click HERE to register online.

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