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Breaking Glass News!! Tim Tate to be Featured Artist at GLASSTRESS During Venice Biennale!

Posted on April 4, 2019 by admin |

Returning for the 58th Biennale di Venezia, the sixth edition of GLASSTRESS brings together a new line-up of leading contemporary artists from Europe, the United States, Latin America, India, and China in an ambitious exhibition exploring the endless creative possibilities of glass.

GLASSTRESS is a project by Adriano Berengo dedicated to supporting his mission of marrying contemporary art and glass. Since its debut in 2009 as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale, GLASSTRESS has revived the traditional craft of Murano glassblowing by forging new alliances with internationally renowned artists and designers and has since become an unparalleled platform showcasing ground-breaking new works in glass.

To celebrate 10 years of GLASSTRESS and 30 years of , the exhibition goes back to its historical roots on the island of Murano. An old abandoned glass furnace is now an evocative exhibition space for striking new works and installations by returning artists Ai Weiwei, Tony Cragg and Thomas Schütte as well as first time participants Prune Nourry, José Parlá, Tim Tate and Xavier Veilhan, amongst others.

Tim Tate; “The Endless Cycle”; 36″ x 36″ x 4″; Glass, Aluminum, Poly-Vitro, electronics

For this section, Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has invited all artists to explore ‘how glass redefines our perception of space’. In another section of the exhibition, curated by Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, highlights from the past ten years will also go on display, including Mutter (2016/17) by Erwin Wurm, Laura’s Hands (2011) by Jaume Plensa and A Different Self (2014) by Mat Collishaw. Referring to the making of glass works, Vanmechelen says: ‘the world of the unknown and unseen becomes visible and tangible through beautiful accidents in time.’

With little or no prior experience working with glass, these artists have embraced the challenge of creating extraordinary works in this very delicate medium in collaboration with Muranese artisans. The output of this unusual encounter defies the stereotypes associated with this ancient craft, ultimately pushing the boundaries of both contemporary art and glass. This year’s edition of GLASSTRESS will also provide visitors with the opportunity to watch Murano glass masters at work at the adjacent glassblowing studio and learn more about Fondazione Berengo’s preservation efforts of this centuries-old artistry of Venetian glass-making.

Tim Tate; “The Endless Cycle” detail

GLASSTRESS 2019 – PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

New artists :

Saint Clair Cemin (Brazil), Pedro Friedeberg (Mexico), Carlos Garaicoa (Cuba), Artur Lescher (Brazil), Prune Nourry (France), José Parlá (USA), Pablo Reinoso (Argentina), Valeska Soares (Brazil), Tim Tate (USA), Janaina Tschäpe (Germany), Xavier Veilhan (France), Robert Wilson (USA).

Returning artists :

Ai Weiwei (China), Monica Bonvicini (Italy), Tony Cragg (UK), Shirazeh Houshiary (Iran), Alicja Kwade (Poland), Karen LaMonte (USA), Paul McCarthy (USA), Vik Muniz (Brazil), Jaume Plensa (Spain), Laure Prouvost (France), Thomas Schütte (Germany), Sudarshan Shetty (India), Koen Vanmechelen (Belgium), Erwin Wurm (Austria).

GLASSTRESS Anniversary highlights :

Jean Arp (Germany), Ayman Baalbaki (Lebanon), Miroslaw Balka (Poland), Fiona Banner (UK), Mat Collishaw (UK), César (France), Jake and Dinos Chapman (UK), Tracey Emin (UK), Jan Fabre (Belgium), Kendell Geers (South Africa), Francesco Gennari (Italy), Abdulnasser Gharem (Saudi Arabia), Michael Joo (USA), Ilya & Emilia Kabakov (Russia/USA), Michael Kienzer (Austria), Hye Rim Lee (South Korea), Oksana Mas (Ukraine), Hans Op de Beek (Belgium), Tony Ousler (USA), Javier Pérez (Spain), Antonio Riello (Italy), Bernardì Roig (Spain), Joyce Jane Scott (USA), Wael Shawky (Egypt), Lino Tagliapietra (Italy), Fred Wilson (USA), Dustin Yellin (USA).

ABOUT GLASSTRESS:

GLASSTRESS was launched in 2009 by Adriano Berengo as an official collateral event of the Biennale di Venezia. Today it is the world’s leading showcase for the collaborative work of contemporary artists and designers with Berengo Studio’s Muranese glass masters. GLASSTRESS runs from May 9 to November 24, 2019

Organized by Fondazione Berengo, GLASSTRESS exhibitions have been presented in prominent museums and institutions worldwide including the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Florida, the London College of Fashion and The Wallace Collection in London, the Art Museum Riga Bourse in Riga, Millesgården Museum in Stockholm, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York, the Beirut Exhibition Center (BEC) in Beirut, and the Ptuj City Gallery in Ptuj, Slovenia.

Click HERE to jump to website.

Posted in art glass today, contemporary art glass, contemporary sculpture, content driven glass, creative glass, glass art, GLASSSTRESS, GLASSTRESS, international, mixed media glass, Tim Tate, twenty first century glass, united states | Tagged Adriano Berengo, Berengo Studio, Biennale di Venezia, Venice Biennale

James Renwick Alliance Spring Craft Weekend Honors Therman Statom!

Posted on March 22, 2019 by admin |

You are cordially invited to The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) Spring Craft Weekend on April 26-28, 2019 in Washington, DC.

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 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

Posted on March 17, 2019 by admin |

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”

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.

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.

Posted in in memorium | Tagged stephen rolfe powell

A Visit With Mel & Nancy

Posted on March 16, 2019 by admin |

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.

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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.

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

Posted on March 8, 2019 by admin |

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

Posted on March 6, 2019 by admin |

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.

Posted in james renwick alliance | Tagged mel douglas, nancy callan

Bullseye Glass Company Closes Portland Gallery & Project Space

Posted on February 24, 2019 by admin |

Opening night of 2012 exhibit “Facture: Artists at the Forefront of Painterly Glass” that featured works by WGS artist Michael Janis.

Three years after a toxic air scare resulted in unprecedented legal and civil actions against Bullseye Glass Company, the 45-year-old colored art glass factory is closing its downtown gallery, educational, and projects space in a move to cut costs while maintaining a firm commitment to its worldwide arts community. The sole surviving Pacific Northwest art glass factory plans on closing their flagship arts space as costs related to regulatory, legal, and civil actions exceed $4M.

Financial losses related to State demands and strategically orchestrated negative publicity, paired with the resultant billion-dollar class action lawsuit, cut deep into income that had previously supported Bullseye’s arts program.

“For twenty years our space in [Portland’s] Pearl District showcased remarkable works in kilnformed glass created by artists from around the world who use the glass handmade in our southeast Portland factory,” said Lani McGregor, Bullseye co-owner and director of the exhibition and activities space known as Bullseye Projects.

Bullseye Projects is scheduled to close its doors on June 1st, though some of its activities organizing touring exhibits and doing educational programming will continue as will key staff members who will be transferred to the Bullseye facility in southeast Portland.

Click HERE to jump to BE press release.

Posted in bullseye glass

Save the Date! JRA Spring Craft Weekend April 26-28, 2019!

Posted on February 16, 2019 by admin |

All are cordially invited to the James Renwick Alliance (JRA) Spring Craft Weekend, April 26-28, 2019 in Washington DC. Celebrate the accomplishments of artists Nancy Crow (fiber), Michael Hurwitz (wood), Myra Mimlitch-Gray (metal), Michael Sherrill (ceramic), and Therman Statom (glass) as they receive the 2019 James Renwick Alliance Master of the Medium awards during the Craft Weekend celebrations.

Tentative Spring Craft Weekend Schedule:

Tour private collections Friday afternoon, April 26 for JRA Caucus and Patrons Program. Join this exclusive event at the private home collections of two area residents including Marc and Diane Grainer and another, yet to be announced.

Learn at the Saturday morning Symposium, April 27, at the Ring Auditorium at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The symposium will feature the five 2019 JRA Masters of the Medium, who will share their work and discuss their experience in the field.

Bid Saturday, April 27, at the Evening Soirée where exquisite work by the Masters of the Medium will be available for auction, along with the 2018/19 Distinguished Artist Series Artists and the 2019 Chrysalis Awardee. The Cocktail party will include hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to mingle with the guests of honor. This event will be at the Council on Foreign Relations historic venue at 1777 F Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Brunch on Sunday, April 28 at the Cosmos Club and celebrate the Masters of the Medium as they receive their awards.

Click HERE for more info!

Posted in james renwick alliance, JRA, spring craft weekend

Demystifying Public Art Symposium at UMUC

Posted on February 5, 2019 by admin |

M-NCPPC/Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation/Arts and Cultural Heritage Division; Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council; and University of Maryland University College Arts Program invite artists and other art professionals to a two-day symposium:

Demystifying Public Art

February 16–17, 2019

Public art—art outside traditional galleries or museums—is present everywhere, but many artists have limited knowledge of the various factors involved in participating in public art projects. The goal of this symposium is to demystify the process by bringing together people active in the public art field to address these factors.

The first day provides an introduction to public art through panel discussions geared to all levels of artistic experience. The second day offers a deeper dive into specific components of public art projects. Special closing events will take place on both days. This symposium will give attendees the opportunity to network and connect with presenters and each other.

Selected Panel Topics

Sponsors of Public Art
What Every Public Artist Needs to Know
Access and Entry Points: Testimonials of Various Artists
Public Art Resources
Public Art as the Art of Collaboration
Public Art Solicitation and Budget Documents
From Proposal to Fabrication: Making Public Art
Public Art and Community Engagement

Registration and on-site parking are free, but space is limited.

Click HERE to register online.

For more information, e-mail or go to:

Alec Simpson at Alec.Simpson@pgparks.com or arts.pgparks.com
Rhonda Dallas at rdallas@pgahc.org or pgahc.org
Eric Key at eric.key@umuc.edu or umuc.edu/art

Location

University of Maryland University College
3501 University Boulevard East, Room 2001
Adelphi, MD 20783 | Directions

Posted in Prince George's County Arts Council, Public Art, UMUC

Lure of the Object: The June & Rob Heller Collection at Knoxville Museum of Art

Posted on February 1, 2019 by admin |

Fifty-three works of art — sculptures, glass works and paintings — open on exhibit Feb. 8 at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA). The exhibition titled “Lure of the Object: Art from the June and Rob Heller Collection” will be shown at the KMA through April 21.

Michael.janis.kma.glass.art.heller.knoxville

Knoxville Museum of Art will exhibit glass artworks by WGS Co-Director Michael Janis.

Organized by the Knoxville Museum of Art with curatorial assistance from Mary Morris, the exhibit is of both small and large works includes nine sculptures, 32 glass sculptures and eight paintings. Eight of the works have been given the museum by the Hellers; the rest are part of their collection, assembled over four decades. The Hellers, who now live in Knoxville, TN, have collected art from around the world.

The show features works by William Morris, Michael Janis, Richard Jolley, Bertil Vallien, Oben Abright, Dante Marioni, Therman Statom, and Stephen Rolfe Powell. Complementing sculptural works are paintings by Jim Dine, Frank Stella, Christo, and Paul Jenkins.

Lure of the Object: Art from the June and Rob Heller Collection
February 8-April 21, 2019
1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN

Posted in michael janis | Tagged june heller, knoxville museum of art, Rob Heller

The Washington Glass School

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