admin | Washington Glass Studio

HIP HIP Hooray! Housing Initiative Partnership Celebrates 30 Years

Posted on November 15, 2019 by admin |

Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP) celebrated its 30th Anniversary of Revitalizing Neighborhoods during a Networking Reception on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at the College Park Aviation Museum.

The event featured a presentation honoring a few of HIP’s “Affordable Housing Champions” who have helped in service to the community during the organization’s history. HIP is an innovative, green nonprofit developer and counseling agency based in Prince George’s County, Maryland dedicated to revitalizing neighborhoods. HIP creates housing and economic security for low- and moderate-income households and provides services that improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.

WGS Artist Teri Bailey at the HIP Celebration.

Posted in glass award, housing initiative partnership, teri Bailey

Chicago S.O.F.A. & Habatat Prime Art Fairs Opens Oct 31st!

Posted on October 26, 2019 by admin |

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. SOFA Expo returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier for its 26th Edition from Thursday, October 31st through Sunday, November 3rd.

SOFA Expo at Chicago’s Navy Pier

Habatat Prime location: 1023 S. Delano Court East, Chicago, IL 60605

For the 2019 event, something different and exciting will be happening, and all are invited! Michigan’s Habatat Galleries will have a presence at the Sofa Expo at Navy Pier (Habatat Sofa Booth: A34 & A32) and also will have a separate exhibit titles “Habatat Prime” – a pop-up gallery located nearby in Chicago’s Printer’s Row neighborhood in the South Loop. (About 3 miles from Navy Pier). The gallery will have 7500 square feet of display spacing offering incredible contemporary glass. Habatat will also have a live auction of masterworks at the space as well on Friday night! The popup space will be free & open to the public during the week – from 10am til 6pm Thursday, Oct 31, 2019 to Sunday, Nov 3, 2019. The auction

WGS artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis will have work at the art fairs – both as individual artists and as collaborative artists for works that blend the artistic oeuvres.

Tim Tate has been busy for the past few months!

Tim Tate’s narrative kiln-cast glass is always incredible.

Tim has a number of works at both Navy Pier SOFA and at Habatat Prime pop-up space in Printers Row. Besides his own work, Tim has created collaborative work with artist Lucy Lyon and with WGS’ Michael Janis.

Tim and Lucy created “Neo”- a sculpture that combines Lucy Lyon’s figurative work with Tim’s evocative endless mirror sculptures – resulting in sculpture that has an exquisite haunting quality – referencing the Magic Realism artwork by George Tooker and Paul Cadmus.

Tim Tate & Lucy Lyon collaborative sculpture work “Neo” calls to mind highly detailed, realistic settings invaded by something too strange to believe – the definition of “Magic Realism”.

Michael Janis has new works in his signature “sgrafftio” (frit powder drawing) technique. His works are much more expressive and colorful – and sure to command attention at Habatat Prime.

Michael Janis, “Inner Dimensions”, kilnformed glass powder imagery; at Habatat Prime popup exhibit. Photo by Anything Photographic

Michael and Tim collaborated on a commanding artwork installation titled “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” – a 9 foot wide by 6 foot high wall sculpture – consisting of 42 separate bas-relief plaster molds, 12 sgraffito glass powder drawings, 12 lost wax glass castings and 4 months to produce this spectacular and monumental work.

Michael Janis creates imagery from crushed glass powder in his signature “sgraffito” technique.

Tim Tate & Michael Janis, “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air”

Detail of “All That Is Solid…” showing the dimensional qualities of the narrative glass installation by Janis & Tate.

The pop-up show will also feature a special auction event –

HABATAT’s 24th MASTERWORKS AUCTION – An auction of 42 studio glass works

November 1st, 2019 7:15 pm

Auction Preview 11:00am Thursday October 31st and Friday November 1st from 6:30 – 7:15 pm at Habatat Prime.

Hope to see you there!

Posted in "washington glass studio", habatat galleries, s.o.f.a. chicago, sgrafitto

Sent to the Workhouse! – 5th Annual Glass National 2019

Posted on October 24, 2019 by admin |

5th Annual Glass National
On view October 26, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Vulcan Gallery, Building W-16
The Workhouse Arts Center
9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA 22079
Reception: Saturday, November 9, 6 – 8 p.m.

Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center (WAF) will have its 5^th Annual Workhouse Glass National Exhibition 2019. This annual Workhouse Glass National Exhibition is a juried exhibit of functional and/or sculptural glass artworks. The Workhouse Arts Center wants to promote and display the breadth of contemporary glass artwork being created throughout the USA and Canada. The juror, Wesley Fleming, selected over 110 images of glass art to select 44 pieces of art which incorporate a contemporary spirit as well as a technical mastery of the material. The show is a rare opportunity to see a variety of styles and techniques which encompass the field of contemporary glass arts.

Patricia De Poel Wilberg; “Envelop” The artist said of the work: “It deals with how we are part of Nature – in it and enveloped by it. How being part of the beauty of nature is nurturing and empowering”

Glass National Juror : Wesley Fleming
Wesley Fleming has received international recognition for his intricate glasswork which brings fantastic realism of the microcosmos to life. As an ambassador for smaller denizens of the earth, his passion for nature sparks awe and curiosity in others. He has taught in Japan, Germany, England and domestically at Penland and Corning, among others. In addition to numerous shows, he has work in the permanent collections of Corning Museum of Glass, Kobe Lampwork Museum and the Racine Art Museum.

Juror Statement

When viewing entries of competitions and group exhibits, I often wonder how the juror(s) possibly selected such work. The process of choosing accepted entries and particularly selecting the prize-winners was both interesting and educational!

I come from a craft-centric background with no art school experience, so this forms my foundational understanding and appreciation of glass objects. I sincerely appreciate idea and narrative behind the making of a piece, but a piece must be well-made and well-presented first and foremost. Otherwise it can be hard to look past issues to see the bigger picture, especially when a tiny photo (rarely with a second image or detail view) was all I could see when jurying. I wish I could view the actual exhibit to see how different the selected pieces are in-person – hence my reason for asking Best of Show award to be by audience choice.

It was a real honor to jury the 5th Annual Workhouse Glass National competition, and my congratulations to the makers of the selected entries! Many I viewed were very close to winning an award, but only four entries could be selected. Great work!!!

Diane Cooper Cabe

Workhouse Glass National 2019

Exhibition Dates: October 26, 2019-January 12, 2020
Opening Reception: November 9, 2019 from 6pm.

The Workhouse Arts Center
9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA 22079

Posted in diane cabe, glass national, lorton, patricia de poel wilberg, workhouse arts center

The Art of Self-Examination @ Montpelier Arts Center

Posted on October 18, 2019 by admin |

“All art,” Federico Fellini once said, “is autobiographical.” One might go a step further and say that all art is an act of self-portraiture.

Prince George’s County presents this year’s county-juried exhibition that highlights the variety of artistic thought processes and ideas that artists use to create solutions to their own struggles with self-reflection.

Reflections of Self
November 2–December 31, 2019
Public Reception: Saturday, November 9, 3-5 pm

This year’s work was selected by John Coppola, who served as Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Exhibits Central, providing design, production and installation services to the national museum complex. Selected works by over 40 artists, including:
Leon Allen, Patricia Autenrieth, Judith Bell, Diane Cooper Cabe, Sara Caporaletti, Aislinn Cohen, Barbara Joann Combs, Ellen Cornett, Christopher Corson, Alonzo Crawford, Sally Davies, Max DeMulder, Anne Whitfield Edgin, Annie Farrar, Vincent Ferrari, Ric Garcia, Jan Garland, Marliyn Gates-Davis, Nico Gozal, Winston Harris, Lorraine Harris, Leslie Holt, Michael Janis, Tom Kenyon, Liz Lescault, Allen Linder, Liza Linder, Debbi LoCicero, Shelley Lowenstein, Kimmary MacLean, Rashad Muhammad, Angie O’Neal, Mary Celestine Ranney-Howes, Patricia Steck, Niles Tatum, Kim Thorpe, Andrei Trach, Rosa Valladares, Juliana Vallejo, Dominique Vargo, Richard Weiblinger, Warren Wilson, Curtis Woody.

Reflections of Self
November 2–December 31, 2019
Presented by: Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Venue: Montpelier Arts Center
Free!

Montpelier Arts Center
9652 Muirkirk Road
Laurel, MD 20708
Montpelier Arts Center is located on the grounds of historic Montpelier Mansion in northern Prince George’s County and is part of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Prince George’s County Juried exhibition is sponsored by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.

Posted in maryland, mncppc, Montpelier Arts Center, Prince George's County

Richard Whiteley Joins The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass

Posted on October 17, 2019 by admin |

Richard Whiteley: Senior Program Manager at The Studio

Celebrated Australian artist Richard Whiteley joins The Corning Museum of Glass Studio as the Senior Program Manager, responsible for developing and managing new glassmaking programming. Richard has spent his life working with glass, developing a fascination for the material when he began apprenticing in stained glass at the age of 16.

Most recently, Whiteley has been working as Associate Professor: Head of the Glass Workshop and Foundation Studies at his alma mater, the Australian National University’s School of Art & Design. He earned his Bachelor of Visual Arts degree from ANU and then went on to earn an MFA in sculpture from the University of Illinois-Urbana.

Whiteley works primarily in kiln-cast glass and has presented more than a dozen exhibitions in the last decade. His work is represented in the permanent collections of many public institutions worldwide.

“We have experts in nearly all aspects of glassmaking working at The Studio,” said Amy Schwartz, Director of The Studio. “Now Richard will bring to us his extensive knowledge of kiln casting. I look forward to working closely with him to develop exceptional programming that will excite artists from across the world and entice them to come further their work here at The Studio in Corning.”

“The Corning Museum of Glass represents the very best in glass scholarship and research experience,” said Whiteley. “Throughout my career, I’ve been impressed with the quality and impact of the Museum’s projects and programs. It’s a real privilege to be invited to join this exceptional team. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m looking forward to making a contribution and shaping the conversations around glass.”

Whiteley joined the Museum on October 14.

Posted in cmog, corning museum of glass

Tim Tate & Michael Janis Collaborate

Posted on October 11, 2019 by admin |

The Collaboration…..

“All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” Michael Janis & Tim Tate; 2019, fused glass, cast glass, sgraffito imagery, steel; 6′-0″ x 9′-0″; Photo credit: Pete Duvall.

Michael Janis and Tim Tate have worked together as Co-Directors of the Washington Glass School and Studio for more than 15 years, working on their own individual work, teaching and creating a functioning arts studio in the nation’s capital.

Michael Janis creates imagery with crushed glass powder his signature “sgraffito” technique.

This summer, the two artists decided to build on that rich and storied history by collaborating on an impressive piece that would both combine and challenge their individual, and strongly, narrative work.

Tim Tate works on the glass panels for the collaborative artwork.

“All Things Solid Melt Into Air” is the title of their 6’ x 9’ wall installation, comprised of 54 separate kiln cast glass insets. To create this work, the artists made 42 separate bas-relief plaster molds, 12 sgraffito glass powder drawings, 12 lost wax glass castings and 4 months to produce this spectacular and monumental work.

Detail of “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” Photo credit: Pete Duvall

Referencing mankind’s interaction with nature as the artwork main theme, Tim and Michael set about to produce an experience that people will want to engage with…on a tactile basis. One can explore each of the olive tinted glass tiles to feel sentiments and poetic visions of the artists, or step back and just enjoy the piece as one would enjoy a bird’s song. They are both immensely proud of this work, which will be shown at the Habatat Prime exhibit during SOFA Expo in Chicago, (October 31, 2019 – November 3, 2019).

Habatat Prime
Location: Roosevelt Collection @ 1023 S. Delano Court East, Chicago, IL 60605
Habatat will have transportation to and from the space that is 3 miles from the Pier.

Posted in chicago, collaborative, contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, cool glass, dry plaster casting, fullbright scholar, glass and steel sculpture, glass art, habatat galleries, kiln-formed, sofa chicago, sofa expo

Peppermill Community Center Public Art

Posted on October 10, 2019 by admin |

Peppermill Community Center with the internally illuminated artwork “Telling Our Story…” by Washington Glass Studio.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) commissioned Washington Glass Studio (WGS) to create a public art sculpture for the new addition to the Peppermill Community Center in Landover, MD.

Shop drawing of sculpture by WGS.

Some communities see public art as a way of enhancing or personalizing otherwise impersonal spaces. Others view it as a means to activate civic dialogue or provide a vehicle for the community to express its identity.

These landmarks and special events enhance our experience of a place and our quality of life. They engender a sense of pride and community identity. They reach audiences outside museums, galleries, and theaters, and they add to the beauty of everyday life. They declare the worth of a place and a time in our shared culture.

Erwin Timmers leads a community glass making workshop at the Washington Glass School.

As such, the design of the site-specific sculpture by WGS was centered on finding ways to get the community excited and engaged with the convergence of art, history and community. The proposal for the art was based on a 15’H tower of glass and steel that would be internally illuminated with over 100 glass inset panels. The artwork of the insets were to be created by involving the community via a series of glass-making workshops held at the Washington Glass School.

A great cross section of community came out to be part of the creation of the new public art for Peppermill Community Center.

The residents and stakeholders were tasked with showing what they felt important to them and what inspired them were made. Images of family, nature, the environment, their neighborhoods, their sports teams were rendered in glass.

All sorts of imagery and glass techniques were employed to great effect.

Cast glass images of the social groups – the sewing groups, the cheer squads, the state flag – even a Maryland blue crab were crafted. Historical references to the nearby horse farms and the old roller rink were included in the mix of glass panels. Part of the fun of the artwork is seeing how this mix of images and references all somehow work together.

The tower, titled :"Telling Our Story..." adds a powerfull and dramitic artistic element at the new entry at the community center.

The tower, titled :”Telling Our Story…” adds a powerful and dramatic artistic element at the new entry at the community center.

Shaping places—with landmarks and landscapes, events and ideologies—sets the stage for a critical part of our existence: our connection with our environment; with our past, present, and future; and with other human beings.

The mix of images and stories told create a compelling and inclusive mixture – each distinctive and unique – yet cohesive as a whole.

“Telling Our Story…”
Artist: Washington Glass Studio
Project Team: Teri Bailey, Michael Janis, Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate and Lee Kind.
Media: Cast and fused glass, steel, LED lighting, concrete.
Location: Peppermill Community Center, 610 Hill Rd, Landover, MD 20785
Client: The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Posted in erwin timmers, fused glass sculpture, glass sculpture, glass structure, kiln-formed glass, maryland, md, michael janis, mike janis, mncppc, peppermill, Prince George's County, Public Art, sculpture, teri Bailey, Tim Tate, twenty first century sculpture, warm glass, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass

Museum of Glass Exec Director Visits WGS

Posted on September 28, 2019 by admin |

MOG @ WGS!

Deborah Lenk, Executive Director of the Museum of Glass (MOG) in Tacoma, Washington visited Washington Glass School last week. Ms Lenk is in the area as the MOG is looking to expand their education and programs to a national level and were meeting with some East Coast studios to see if creative networks can be formed.
After meeting with the WGS Directors, Ms Lenk toured WGS and met with the artists.

MOG Executive Director Deborah Lenk talks with WGS Co-Director Erwin Timmers about his environmental themes that are the basis for his cast glass sculptures.

WGS Studio Coordinator Teri Bailey talks about her glass artwork installation with Deborah.

Tim Tate and Michael Janis describe the way the two artists collaborated on the new sculpture “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” that will debut next month at Habatat Prime exhibit in Chicago.

Posted in MOG, museum of glass | Tagged Deborah Lenk

DC GlassWorks Announces Closing

Posted on September 25, 2019 by admin |

DC GlassWorks – one of the glass studios integral to Washington DC’s contemporary art scene – has announced its closing.

DC GlassWorks studio held many important events. UK artists Phil Vickery and Roger Tye demonstrated at DC GlassWorks as part of an international exhibition of glass and clay artists in 2013.

David D’Orio, the artist-entrepreneur who founded the hotshop with four other artists (Graham Caldwell, Jesse Caldwell, Alger Dole, Wyndell Williams, David DOrio) in 2001 said that the changes in the studio’s surrounding area made it impossible to continue.

Washington Glass School considered DC GlassWorks a “sister school” and held many crossover classes and events with them. We knew what an important part DC GlassWorks was to our art community. Its closing will leave a space in our hearts and our cultural melting pot.

From DC GlassWorks:

The past few years have been challenging for the studio. Our neighboring businesses have changed and, unfortunately, the business models of these new neighbors have forced us to reduce our events and offerings. In the end, location matters. Good neighbors’ matter. It is in this context that we find we can no longer continue offering glassblowing and will be closing the studio over the next month.

It has been a great run and we would like to thank all the studio artists, visiting artists, students, bands, patrons, and everyone else who have supported DC GlassWorks over the last fifteen plus years. We have had the pleasure to teach many hundreds of students of all ages and backgrounds, have hosted movie nights and countless open houses, had the pleasure to host many national and international artists, and tried to pass on our knowledge of glassblowing and sculpture to all who came to the studio. We have had great times, made great art, and hopefully enriched the lives of all persons who we interacted with.

DC GlassWorks was founded on the idea that glassblowing should be accessible to all persons and became a place where a person could start off with no glass experience and, through training, hard work, and perseverance, could make the work they wanted to make and could give back to the greater glass community. Our goal was to foster self-sufficiency so that students were prepared to work in whatever studio they ended up at. We’ve always taught that it was important for all glass artists to make sure they are involved with assisting and teaching. It is heartwarming to see so many former students still working in glass and giving back to the community.

Our parting wish is that students find a place to learn glass that fosters their creativity and self-sufficiency; where people are taught how to blow glass without having to take perpetual ‘private lessons’ before gaining access to equipment; and a place that guides student to a level where they are free to blow glass without having to pay someone to assist/supervise them. We also hope our renters find places they can work that allows them the ability to work without having to befriend the owner, work like indentured servants, or have a specific pedigree or education just to get access to glassblowing facilities. DC GlassWorks was founded to fight against these worn-out models of glass studios. Expect more and aim high.

It has been an amazing ride and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of this experience.

-DC GlassWorks

Posted in " glass studio", changes, dave d'orio, dc glass works, dc glassworks, hot glass

Class In Glass @ Goucher College

Posted on September 24, 2019 by admin |

Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

Howard Cohen – an Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) Board member- presented a lecture series at Goucher College in Townson MD. The students in the class focused on the works of artist Dale Chihuly in the first lecture of the series.

Howard Cohen presents the history and works of artist Dale Chihuly at Goucher College.

The secont part of the Glass Class series focused on the works and history of artist Michael Janis.

Artist Michael Janis talks about his work and how the art world is changing.

Michael Janis’ background as a glass artist proved to be fascinating to the audience.

The class ended with the students seeking more information about glass and glass exhiitions. Many wanted to schedule a tour of the Washington Glass School and Studio in the fall – will post if theis comes to pass!

Posted in aacg, art alliance for contemporary glass, howard cohen, michael janis, mike janis

The Washington Glass School

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