Florida’s Imagine Museum has WGS’ Michael Janis’ glass artwork in its permanent collection, their “American Masters”, – and recently posted a video snippet of an interview with him on their Instagram page.
Click on image to jump to Imagine Museum Instagram
Imagine Museum is a new fine art institution in St. Petersburg, Florida. Its primary collection displays the explosive growth and diversification of the studio glass movement in America since the 1960’s, and extends to new directions in contemporary glass.
The COVID-19 epidemic has been an unprecedented challenge to the art world. WGS Contemporaryart gallery is working thru the issues that have stopped the gallery from being open bring artwork made by some of the hottest glass, mixed media sculptors, painters and ceramic artists to the world.
The WGS Contemporary gallery is excited to bring lots of fine art sculpture right to your living room! Be sure to check out CLICK IT! – a virtual gallery experience that will be made live – opening June 16th on ourwebsite!
Look for (very affordable!) by artists that include: Teri Bailey, J. Jordan Bruns, F. Lennox Campello, Jason Chakravarty & Jennifer Caldwell, Cheryl P. Derricotte, Sean Dolon, Sean Hennessey, Joesph Ivacic, Michael Janis, Carmen Lozar, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Jodi Walsh, Steve Wanna, and Jeff Zimmer!
WGS Contemporary’s mission is to contribute to thinking about art, new media, technology, and social issues through an open access forum which we hope will facilitate contemporary and innovative projects worldwide. In that process, WGSC will expose the cutting edge work of artists pushing the new media frontiers of art.
Want more than just visual …stimulation? click on link below and get the official “Click It” themesong – music by Donovan Lessard.
Recently it was announced that the next Artomatic will be completely virtual!
ARTOMATIC 2.0: A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE is a digital response! Since we can’t gather physically for now, the DMV artfair for all will move their 20th anniversary celebration online.
Artomatic debuted in 1999 as a non-juried, volunteer-run exhibition in the Manhattan Laundry building, which also lent the event its washer-inspired name. Over time, it has grown into a 501(c)(3) with a board of directors and tens of thousands of attendees at each iteration, but until now, the model has remained largely unchanged: Participants pay a modest entry fee and take volunteer shifts staffing the event, in exchange for ample space to exhibit or perform pretty much whatever they want for multiple weeks. Events have happened more sporadically in recent years, but organizers wanted to mark the 20th anniversary year in a meaningful way. However, 2019 came and went without finding a location to host a celebration, so anniversary plans were moved to 2020, only to be upended by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Here’s what’s happening: *Visual artist profiles to display/sell art thru their pay channels *Live opportunities for performing artists *Enriching workshops *By artists, for everyone *July 20 – August 20, 2020
On Memorial Day we remember and honor those who died while serving our country – wishing all a meaningful day. Artwork credits: Trish Kent – detail from her “Divided States of America” series; photo Pete Duvall.
The pandemic has changed many planned arts events across the world. Habatat Galleries has adapted their planned Glass48 International event to an online presentation so the exhibition can be viewed from anywhere. This monumental experience will allow all visitors to view presentation from anywhere in the world. This experience includes personalized videos of each artists work and will also feature studio tours.
WGS Artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis are featured in the International exhibit – and they each have video presentations of their individual work and of their collaborative work.
Artist/sculptor Carol Cohen, 81, passed away at her home in Cambridge, MA, on April 12, of lung cancer. In 1970, she began her career as an artist, working first with paint, then clay, paper, vinyl, and steel before developing innovative techniques in painting stacked glass, which led to her work being placed in many prestigious collections including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; Renwick Gallery, National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC; and Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC.
Carol described her signature layered imagery process:
Ordinary window glass is the best surface to take paint and allow the most light to go through. When I first figured out the technique (1982) I tried acrylic sheet/Plexiglas; but it sagged in the middle, scratched easily, was a dust magnet, and the edges had to be sawed and sanded.Glass was a practical choice: it costs less than plexi, is harder so that cleaning it doesn’t create scratches, is more rigid so it doesn’t sag when supported by its corners, is less electrostatic, and is easier to cut by simple scoring-and-breaking. It is also beautifully green when assembled in layers — that was an unexpected plus.
She retired from making art in 2008.
“Though the mystery contained in these non-boxes is easily explained, it continues to intrigue the eye. You can view the work from any angle but one: if your eye parallels the edges of the glass sheets the internal image vanishes, and all you see is a stack of green-edged glass sheets. Now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t. Prestidigitation with glass.”
–Paul Hollister, “Exploration of Inner Space”, Neues Glas magazine, 4/88.
We are social creatures. Every relationship has been built and held together by complicated nonverbal language, beginning with parent and child. It’s part of our social fabric. Individual, family, and interpersonal relationships have all changed as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. What is the characteristic of a pandemic? Emptiness. The unusual quiet in what was normally noisy, bustling neighborhood. Silence – where the silence isn’t merely the absence of noise. It’s judgement, longing and paranoia.The fear the we may be ourselves a transmitter of the virus as we seek the comfort of others.
How people are psychologically affected by and coping with the COVID-19 emergency is the basis of the installation of kiln cast glass by WGS artist Michael Janis. Over 20 individual glass panels make up the large wall-mounted work.
Janis’ signature “sgraffito” imagery – where he manipulates fine crushed glass powder into highly detailed imagery and portraiture, fires the images into layers of colored glass is used to strong effect in this new work. Images of that convey the sense of how we are connected and yet are contained into separate worlds is the essence of the work. Working in the isolation of the lock downed studio, Janis says he will continue to add to the installation as the virus continues to work thru the world. “Working on artwork keeps me sane” says the artist.
Partial view of Michael Janis’ “How We Take Care Of Each Other” glass art installation. Kilnformed glass; glass powder imagery; varying dimensions; 2020.
Partial view of Michael Janis’ “How We Take Care Of Each Other” glass art installation. Larger panels approx. 18″ (45cm) dia.
Detail of one of the fused glass panels in Michael Janis’ installation. Imagery made from glass powder in Janis’ signature sgraffito technique.
Detail of Michael Janis’ glass art installation “How We Take Care Of Each Other”
Detail of works by Michael Janis. The translucent glass panels are mounted off the wall in varying dimensions, with light and shadow highlighting each panel edge.
Detail of one of Michael Janis’ kilnformed works. COVID-19 cases are heavily concentrated in the African American population.
The fabric of society is held together by even the smallest physical contact. Touch is as important a social condition as anything. It reduces stress. It makes people trust one another. It allows for cooperation. When you look at people in solitary confinement suffering from touch deprivation, you see that people lose a sense that someone’s got their back, that they’re part of a community and connected to others.
Washington DC’s University has been tasked with 3D printing personal protective equipment (PPE) for the city hospitals and UDC’s largest printer had gone down with a cracked print plate. UDC contacted Washington Glass School looking to replace it – stat!
Erwin Timmers works with Essential Glass!
WGS Director Erwin Timmers set about getting the UDC PPE up and running! As a good neighbor – WGS is there!
We want to take this opportunity to update you on what’s happening at Washington Glass School. WGS has made the difficult decision to temporarily close our educational facility.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered all nonessential companies to close. And though we view glass as essential, we have been closely following the advice of public health authorities, and the time has come for us to take this step.
Gov. Hogan said the closure of additional businesses was necessary to “slow the spread” of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
We are committed to the well-being and learning of our arts community. We truly hope we will be able to return our operations as soon as possible. We will keep you informed about any updates we might have.
We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy during this global health crisis.
We are watching the evolving news and recommendations regarding COVID-19 carefully. At this time, we are not canceling any scheduled programs. However, to help keep our glass community healthy, we are implementing the following procedures and policies immediately:
Increased cleaning of common areas and tools.
All artists are to wash hands upon entry to the studio. Soap and water are our new best friends. Washing your hands to 2 renditions of “Happy Birthday” is a good time pacer for washing (& everyone loves a birthday party!)
Eye contact, smiles, nods and words will be used instead of our usual high fives and big hugs.
If you are feeling “under the weather” or cough-y or sneeze-y …stay at home. Do not come into the studio.
Please use your best judgment on whether or not to attend a workshop, event, etc. at Washington Glass School. We urge you to err on the side of caution!
Below is an infographic about ways to prevent COVID-19, and a few links to other resources from people who have expertise in the areas of public health (we’ll stick to our expertise in art).
We are sending out lots of love to you, all our community, and the whole world for good health.
