Report from Art Basel/Miami Art Fairs: Washington Glass School Crushes It!

The Art Basel/Miami Art Fairs presents artworks from across the globe.

The Art Basel/Miami Art Fairs presents artworks from across the globe.

Each December, Miami and Miami Beach becomes the epicenter of the art world with approximately 1200 art galleries from around the world showing thousands of artists in the Art Basel/Miami Art Week extravaganza.
Around 50,000 people visit the area for this incredible week, and they come from all parts of the world. It’s also a week of fashion with gala openings and celebrity studded events that fill the warm nights.
Perhaps due its inherent glitz and glamor, or the vibrancy, lux and drama of the medium, glass is SO much part of the fair. Maybe because its has a strong relationship to sand – in any case, Washington Glass School artists were showing at Art Miami this year in force! And there was a lot of glass to look at in the Miami Fairs. Said WGS Co-Director Tim Tate, ” It never ceases to amaze me how many blue-chip artists use glass in their artwork”. Tim Tate and William Warmus will together present a lecture on glass medium at the Miami Art fairs at the 2019 Glass Art Society conference to be held in St. Petersburg, FL in March.

Artists of Washington Glass School install at Art Miami/Context fair with Alida Anderson Art Projects Gallery.

Artists of Washington Glass School install at Art Miami/Context fair with Alida Anderson Art Projects Gallery.

Tim Tate's infinity mirror sculptures dominated Habatat Galleries space on the beach at Scope Miami.

Tim Tate’s infinity mirror sculptures dominated Habatat Galleries space on the beach at Scope Miami.

When it comes to Contemporary Art, the Art Miami is all about More, More, More. And that is what the Washington Glass School artists brought to the champagne-fueled cultural extravaganza.

Michael Janis was part of the Washington artists featured at Aldia Anderson Art Projects CONTEXT show.

Michael Janis was part of the stable of Washington, DC artists featured at Alida Anderson Art Projects CONTEXT show.

WGS Alum and Kent Stat MFA student Audrey Wilson dazzled the fair again this year with neon, plasma and cast glass sculptures.

WGS Alum and Kent Stat MFA student Audrey Wilson dazzled the fair again this year with neon, plasma and cast glass sculptures.

Laura Beth Konopinski's sculptures were at the center of the CONTEXT Miami fair.

Laura Beth Konopinski’s sculptures were at the center of the CONTEXT Miami fair.

Tim Tate's new endless mirror sculptures also were the draw at CONTEXT's Momentum Gallery space.

Tim Tate’s new endless mirror sculptures also were the draw at CONTEXT’s Momentum Gallery space.

The glass art drew aficionados of the medium - like Kari Rinn, Executice Director at North Carolina Glass Center and NYC's ubercollecter Susan Sanders.

The glass art drew aficionados of the medium – like Kari Rinn, Executice Director at North Carolina Glass Center and NYC’s ubercollecter Susan Sanders.

William Warmus, art critic, author and former curator of & Fellow of Corning Museum of Glass wrote about Michael Janis’ work “…Michael Janis showed stunning new work at Alida Anderson at Art Miami/Context. The large four part panel “Stasis in the Darkness” made an impact on two levels: from across the aisle, and close up in the quality of the details. Do not overlook the small kiln formed panels and the expert way he introduces and plays with subtle variations of thicknesses of the stacked layers of glass. They are “The Truth of Dreams.”

Michael Janis' new large scale glass sgraffito artwork debuted at Art Miami Context Art Fair.

Michael Janis’ new large scale glass sgraffito artwork debuted at Art Miami Context Art Fair.

DMV Artists by the Tracks: Holiday Open Studios This Saturday!

gateway.dc.artist.by.the.tracks.open.studioswashington.craft.center.sale.holidayThis Saturday, December 15th, from Noon til 5pm – The largest cluster of studios in the Gateway Arts District open their doors to the public for our Winter Open Studios.
Participating Artists:

WGS Contemporary : 3700 Otis Street, Mt Rainier
Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Laura Beth Konopinski, April Shelford, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Max DeMulder, Debbi LoCicero,
John Henderson, Trish Kent
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OTIS STREET ARTS PROJECT: 3706/ 3708 Otis Street, Mt Rainier
David Mordini, Lorenzo Cardim, Gloria Chapa, Chris Bohner, Art Drauglis, Kirsty Little, Melissa Allen, CeCi Cole McInturff, Elizabeth Curren, Eric Gordon, Nick Alberti, Shelley Lowenstein, Liz Lescault, Lisa Rosenstein, SPECIAL GUEST: East City Arts, Jenna North, Zofie King, Sean Hennessey, Gareth Branwyn.
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3700 WELLS & BLUE FIRE STUDIOS: Mt Rainier
Arlette Jassel, Roberto Devers, Margaret Flaherty, Patrecia de Poel Wilbert
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WHITE POINT STUDIO: 3708 Wells Avenue, Mt Rainier
Laurel Lukaszewski, Kate Kretz, Tamara Laird, Julia Walther, Jo Ellen Walker
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ORANGE DOOR STUDIOS: 3706 Wells Ave, Mt Rainier
Ellyn Weiss, Ellen Sinel, Sally Kauffman, Veronica Szalus
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3706 Otis (rear), Mt Rainier
Valerie Theberge, Shahin Talishkhan, Sharon Robinson
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BLUE DOOR STUDIOS: 3704 Otis St (Rear), Mt Rainier
Alonzo Davis, Alec Simpson
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TANGLEWOOD STUDIOS: 3613 Oak Lane, Mt Rainier
Tanglewood Sue, Peter McClintock
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JANIS GOODMAN: 3702 Otis (rear)
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Joe Hicks Ceramics
3709 37th Street
Mount Rainierartist.by.tracks.dmv.space.glass.school.gateway.district

Art Basel Miami Features Washington Glass School Artists!

In December - Art Basel Miami will be the center the the art universe.

In December – Art Basel Miami will be the center the the art universe.

Some of the world’s top galleries and art museums will be showing at the annual contemporary art bonanza, Art Basel Miami Beach 2018. Art Basel and the satellite fairs host visitors from all over the globe each Miami Art Week, so expect amazing contemporary paintings, films and videos, sculptures, drawings, photography, digital art and installations – including works from artists of the Washington Glass School.

Art Miami and Context Art Fair on the Downtown side of Miami.

Art Miami and Context Art Fair on the Downtown side of Miami.

Habatat Galleries Michigan will have a booth at SCOPE Art Fair (booth F39) on Miami Beach will again feature works by Tim Tate. This year his new works will be teamed with works by Chicago artist Joseph Ivacic.

Tim Tate, "Vortex" at Habatat Gallery booth F39.

Tim Tate, “Vortex” at Habatat Gallery booth F39.

Washington, DC’s Alida Anderson Art Project (AAAP) will fbe at CONTEXT Art Miami, featuring works by WGS artists Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis and Laura Beth Konopinski. WGS alum Audrey Wilson will also be exhibiting her newest works with AAAP (booths C321 & C322).

Laura Beth Konopinski with Alida Anderson Art Projects Booth C322

Laura Beth Konopinski with Alida Anderson Art Projects Booth C322

Erwin Timmers, "Spoils", cast recycled glass, with Alida Anderson Art Projects @ CONTEXT Art Miami

Erwin Timmers, “Spoils”, cast recycled glass, with Alida Anderson Art Projects @ CONTEXT Art Miami

Michael Janis, "Stasis in the Darkness", kiln formed glass sgraffito imagery powder frit

Michael Janis, “Stasis in the Darkness”, Alida Anderson Art Projects, booth C322.

Asheville’s new Momentum Gallery will be at CONTEXT Art Miami. They will also feature our Tim Tate’s new work (booth C130). 

Tim Tate, "Hashtag / Identity in the 21st Century" at Momentum Gallery

Tim Tate, “Hashtag / Identity in the 21st Century” at Momentum Gallery

 

JRA Day, the Renwick Alliance’s annual craft show, is tomorrow – Saturday, Dec 1st!

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JRA Day is a one-day showcase for artists who are members of the James Renwick Alliance. This event gives the public an opportunity to see and purchase work by nearly 40 artists in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, wood and other media.  It’s great for holiday
shopping, and admission is free. Organized by J.G. Harrington and Jere Gibber.

Saturday, December 1, 2018
11am – 5pm
The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase
7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Sean Hennessy & John Henderson “Inspire” Public Art Sculpture

“Inspire” public art sculpture by Sean Hennessey and John Henderson for Baltimore's Lots Alive Outdoor Community Art Program.

“Inspire” public art sculpture by Sean Hennessey and John Henderson for Baltimore’s Lots Alive Outdoor Community Art Program.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and the Baltimore Office of Sustainability’s Baltimore Green Network outdoor community art program, “Lots Alive” sought the creation of temporary outdoor artworks sited on vacant lots along Baltimore’s Park Heights Ave. Designed in partnership with Mayor Catherine E. Pugh’s Baltimore Green Network, the “Lots Alive” project aims to breathe life into underutilized vacant spaces through creative interventions. Six artists were selected and Sean Hennessey and John Henderson collaborated (as H&H Collective) on a cast glass and steel sculpture titled ‘Inspire’. 

Artist Sean Hennessey installs the sculpture on site.

Artist Sean Hennessey installs the sculpture “Inspire” on site.

The work created is an internally illuminated, four-sided obelisk with panels mounted into the framework. Using cast glass, Sean and John have created a strong sculpture for Baltimore. John created dimensional imagery using Adinkra symbols. For Sean – the work is a bit of a farewell love letter to Baltimore as he moves to Seattle. This is one of the only pieces Sean had shown in Baltimore City since his first solo show in 2006. His narrative concept for the artwork story was to have the bottom panels on the sculpture represent a wanting or dream, with the upper panels represent fulfillment.

Detail of cast glass inset panel in H&H Collective sculpture "Inspire".

Detail of cast glass inset panel in H&H Collective sculpture “Inspire”.

The sculpture has solar powered LED lighting to make the artwork command attention at night. The artwork is located at 4215 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD.

View of sculpture "Inspire" located at 4215 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD.

View of sculpture “Inspire” located at 4215 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD.

WGS Contemporary Exhibit Opens Dec 15th!

Soon its that time of year….the annual WGS Contemporary Invitational, one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday arts events in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia)!

WGS Contemporary artists Tim Tate, Laura Beth Konopinski, Michael Janis, April Shelford, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Max DeMulder, Debbi LoCicero and others will be exhibiting their artwork, along with Montgomery County’s “Outstanding Artist” – Erwin Timmers!  

Santa plans the open house logistics on his last visit to the Glass School.

Santa plans the open house logistics on his last visit to the Glass School.

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 Washington Glass School and the surrounding arts venues and studios. Mark your calendars (in RED) for Saturday, December 15th, from noon til 5pm.

SOFA Chicago Preview : Works By Washington Glass School Artists

SOFA 2018: Discovering New Concepts of Innovation and Design
Chicago, Illinois (November 1 – November 4, 2018) – This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago, which takes place at the landmark Navy Pier.

Laura Beth Konopinski, "Beneath your walls the rubble exposed", mixed media glass, Alida Anderson Art Project, booth #A39. photo by Pete Duvall.

Laura Beth Konopinski, “Beneath your walls the rubble exposed”, mixed media glass, Alida Anderson Art Projects, booth #A39. (photo by Pete Duvall)

Washington Glass School artists Laura Beth Konopinski, Tim Tate and Michael Janis will have their new works featured at the critically acclaimed expo. The Chicago-based art expo is traditionally dedicated to three-dimensional art and design.

Tim Tate, Mrs. Dalloway : Morning and Mrs Dalloway : Evening, 32"dia each.

Tim Tate, Mrs. Dalloway : Morning (L) & Mrs Dalloway : Evening (R), 32″dia each. Habatat Galleries booth #A25

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries will feature new works by Tim Tate and Michael Janis, in their space #A25. Tim’s new infinity mirrors have become much more sculptural and dynamic – they must be seen in person to experience the reflected themes of empowerment and hope.

Tim Tate, "I Stand With My Sisters", mixed media, LED, glass. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. photo by Pete Duvall

Tim Tate, “I Stand With My Sisters”, mixed media, LED, glass. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photo by Pete Duvall)

Michael Janis has been creating a new series that will debut at the Chicago SOFA art fair, where his realistic imagery is offset with color and abstracted forms. His work can be seen also at Habatat Galleries space, #A25. Michael’s work will also be in a special exhibit at the fair: Intersection: Art & Life that features works by artists featured in a new book by Kevin Wallace, director of California’s Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. His book explores the historical parallels between art and life, with the arts playing a central role in exploring identity, spirituality, our relationship with the environment and developing technologies.

Michael Janis, "In My Dreams", fused glass, 12" x 16", Habatat Galleries booth #A25. photo by Pete Duvall

Michael Janis, “In My Dreams”, fused glass, 12″ x 16″, Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photo by Pete Duvall)

Michael Janis, "Forever", "Talk to Me", "Forever", 12" x 16" each. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photo by Pete Duvall).

Michael Janis, “Forever”, “Talk to Me”, “Forever”, 12″ x 16″ each. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photos by Pete Duvall).

Laura Beth Konopinski will be showing her new narrative mixed media sculptures. After a successful exhibit at the Art Miami Fairs last year, she has been creating new works that have already received critical acclaim. Laura Beth can be found at Alida Anderson Art Projects space, #A39 

SOFA Opens to eager crowds

Each year, SOFA Chicago opens to eager crowds!

Location: SOFA CHICAGO
Address: Navy Pier, Festival Hall
600 E. Grand, Entrance 2
Chicago, IL 60611

sofa.2018

MOCO Outstanding Artist Erwin Timmers Saves The Day! Mark Your Calendars!

Erwin Timmers - artist/father/superhero. And now Montgomery County Outstanding Artist.

Erwin Timmers – artist/father/superhero. And now Montgomery County Outstanding Artist. (photo by Pete Duvall)

Next Monday – October 29, 2018, @ 7:00 pm, Maryland’s Montgomery County will honor Washington Glass School’s Erwin Timmers as MOCO’s Outstanding Artist. The County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities are the most prestigious honors conferred by Montgomery County on individual artists, scholars, organizations and cultural patrons.

Registration to the event is Free and Open to All – CLICK HERE. 

Montgomery County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities
Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
7995 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

IWU Wakeley Gallery Features Narrative Glass in “Strata” Exhibition

With a gallery opening that works well with the Chicago SOFA audience, Illinois Wesleyan University’s Ames School of Art will feature the work of glass artists Lindy Ihrman and Leslie Speicher.

On Thursday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m., Ihrman and Speicher will visit Illinois Wesleyan for a reception and artist talk on their exhibit “Strata,” which uses kiln-formed glass to create a sense of narrative through imagery and juxtaposition.

Lindy Ihrman, " Transcend", digital photography, enamel and kiln cast glass; 15 x 9 x 2½ inches.

Lindy Ihrman, ” Transcend”, digital photography, enamel and kiln cast glass; 15 x 9 x 2½ inches.

Ihrman’s distinctive art style blends layers of glass sheets and digital imagery to create three-dimensional pieces that generally seek to convey a story. A glass artist from West Michigan for over fifteen years, she has had her work featured in exhibitions throughout the U.S. and Britain. Ihrman said of her works in the show “I have always been interested in how we connect with the natural world around us.  My sculptures draw the viewer in to a particular story where light and dark, now and then, time and space are all unfolding.”

Chicago-based glass artist Leslie Speicher is notable for her distinct emphasis on color, form and texture when handcrafting her pieces. She also runs her own art studio, Chicago Glass Collective, which offers workshops, lectures and studio space for both beginning and experienced artists to improve their skills within a community. Prior to opening her studio in 2012, Speicher taught 3D Design at the University of Miami and glassmaking at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Leslie Speicher, " Districts, Demographics and Algorithms", fused glass

Leslie Speicher, “Districts, Demographics and Algorithms”, fused glass

Speicher’s work in this exhibit focuses on the function as well as the perception of networks grids and boundaries in everyday life. Using her hometown of Chicago as the basis of her series, she examines the system of gerrymandering (the practice of manipulating the boundaries of an area) by creating transparent layered glass maps and graphs made with fused glass and stringers. Her panels strive to examine and dissect they systems that distort and affect the concept of “one person, one vote”.

STRATA
The Merwin & Wakely Galleries at Illinois Wesleyan University Ames School of Art
6 Ames Plaza West
Bloomington, Illinois  61701
Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday: 12 – 4 pm Tuesday evening: 7 – 9 pm • Saturday and Sunday: 1 – 4 pm