This weekend, St Petersburg, Florida’s new Imagine Museum
opened, and artists Tim Tate, along with artists Rik Allen and Christina Bothwell received “Artists of the Future” awards. The museum awards were selected for artworks that had narrative content dealing with spirituality.
Like our Professor Tate – we are all tickled pink!!
Wishing all our Aussie mates a Happy Australia Day!!
Pathway Schools students visit Washington Glass School to learn the challenges of glass innovation and business. (photos by Arlene Graham)
This week and next, students from the Pathways Schools will be at the Washington Glass School being exposed to glass and the business of art, enabling the students to experience and appreciate firsthand the intricacies and discipline required for the creation of art and design.
Artist Patricia De Poel Wilberg talks about her process of reverse painted glass to the students from Pathways Schools’ Caribbean Returning Nationals – Students For Student Initiative (CRN-CSFSI).
CRN-SFSI designed the “Community Experience” for The Pathways Schools. Approximately 10 students visit select businesses in Prince George’s County to learn and shadow their workers as their curiosity is aroused through discovery. The students ages range from 15 to 19 years.
WGS Director Erwin Timmers outlines how sustainable design can work in the creation of fine art sculpture.
About Caribbean Returning Nationals Foundation, Students for Students Initiative
Arlene Graham is the Founder and Executive Director of Caribbean Returning Nationals Foundation (CRN), Students for Students Initiative (SFSI) a non-profit headquartered in Maryland. CRN SFSI empowers students and young professionals from all cultures to be global innovators. CRN SFSI understands today’s youth needs support and access to opportunities to compete on the global stage. Through their Out-Of-The-Box Approach to career development, CRN SFSI offers various programs designed specifically to address the young person’s interests and skills.
About The Pathways Schools
The Pathways Schools operate five therapeutic educational programs in Maryland’s Anne Arundel, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties for students aged 11 through 21 who have emotional and behavioral disabilities. Each school provides a unique, comprehensive, success-oriented alternative day program in a small family-oriented setting of not more than 40 students. Their goal is to enable students with emotional or behavioral disabilities to take responsibility for their lives and to become independent contributing members of our communities and society.
Wendell Castle, a visionary woodworker, furniture-maker and sculptor has died at the age of 85. Mr. Castle died late Saturday afternoon at his estate in upstate New York, according to an announcement by Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was an artist in residence. Mr. Castle suffered from leukemia and had been in and out of the hospital over the last two months.
In more than a half-century of work, Mr. Castle melded furniture with art, creating provocative tables, chairs, clocks and other objects that bemused, surprised and baffled those who saw them. He placed form above function, and frequently shifted styles and genres.
Wendell Castle, Ghost Clock, 1985, bleached Honduras mahogany, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
His best known work at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery – which looks like a white sheet was draped over a grandfather clock – is a masterpiece of illusion. The museum’s artwork description includes the following text: At first glance, Ghost Clock appears to be a grandfather clock hidden by a large white sheet tied with a rope. A close look, however, reveals a masterful deception: this entire sculpture was hand-carved from a single block of laminated mahogany. With meticulous detail, Castle re-created in wood the contours of soft, supple cloth, then completed the illusion by bleaching the “drapery” white and staining the base of the “clock” a walnut brown. This work is the last in a series of thirteen clocks the artist created in the 1980s; unlike the others, it lacks an inner mechanism. Its haunting stillness and silence suggest eternity—the absence of time.
Mr. Castle’s work — in media like wood, but also plastic, concrete, bronze — is exhibited in galleries and displayed in museums worldwide.
editor’s note:
Wendell Castle’s 10 Adopted Rules of Thumb:
1. If you are in love with an idea, you are no judge of its beauty or value.
2. It is difficult to see the whole picture when you are inside the frame.
3. After learning the tricks of the trade, don’t think you know the trade.
4. We see and apprehend what we already know.
5. The dog that stays on the porch will find no bones.
6. Never state a problem to yourself in the terms it was brought to you.
7. If it’s offbeat or surprising then it’s probably useful.
8. If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it.
9. Don’t get too serious.
10. If you hit the bullseye everytime, then the target is probably too near.
We pause to reflect on the meaning of Martin Luther King Jr Day. MLK day is one that celebrates the iconic leader and the legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sarasota: The Glass Mecca!
Jan 25, 2018 to Sunday, Jan 28, 2018
Sarasota Glass Weekend 2018!
Starting January 25th and continuing through the 28th, 2018, Michigan’s Habatat Galleries aims at providing a spectacular glass experience.
Alex Bernstein’s Dolomite Series will be part of the “Currents” Exhibition.
During the week on the West Coast of Florida is the much-anticipated grand opening of the Kotler-Coville Pavillion located at the entrance of the prestigious Ringling Museum of Art. This new space was created to present Studio Glass gifted from these great collections and selected glass works from the museum’s collection.
Habatat Galleries will also present two important exhibitions: “Trends” – an eye-opening presentation that speculates on the future of glass as an expression for artists and “Currents” – which presents new sculptures of 30 of the most sought-after International artists working today.
Also, during the week is the grand opening of the new Imagine Museum, whose collection features rare glimpses into the 55-year history of Studio Glass in America.
Habatat’s list of events include visits to the Duncan McClellan Gallery, collector homes, a visit to the Chihuly Museum and talks by a number of the glass artists being exhibited.
For more info – click HERE to jump to Habatat Galleries’ page.
Imagine Museum’s grand opening ribbon cutting will be on Tuesday, January 23rd @ 10:30 a.m.
The brand-new Imagine Museum opens January 23, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, near the Morean Arts Center, which has a permanent collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork.
The vision for the museum comes via its benefactor, Trish Duggan, a glass collector and artist in her own right. Duggan wanted to create a space with both aesthetic and civic significance, a cultural institution dedicated to her medium of choice: glass. The new museum’s primary collection will focus on 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 collection of the museum seeks to present an historical Family Tree of the American Studio Glass Movement from the 1960’s to the present. This 55-year phenomenon is represented by 55 prominent glass artists who exemplify its vitality. The collection comprises almost 500 extraordinary works that highlight the connections and influences among studio glass pioneers through to the present. The museum’s collection was acquired with the help of Corey Hampson, president and owner of Michigan’s Habatat Galleries, who was acting as a “curatorial advisor.”
Imagine Museum
1901 Central Avenue
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33713
WGS Co-Director Tim Tate’s artwork will be part of INTO ACTION, a large-scale pop-up art exhibition, cultural gathering and community organizing action event in Los Angeles featuring hundreds of inspiring works of art.
Tim Tate’s work:”We Rose Up” was curated into the LA event.
An expansive week long pop-up art exhibition, INTO ACTION promises to feature a series of large format creative installations, music performances, panel discussions and activist workshops designed to inspire hope, galvanize community and ignite creative engagement.
The Jurors selected works based on the following themes: Justice Is A Human Right; Together We Rise; No Human Is Illegal And No Human Should Feel Unsafe; This Moment – In History; Manifesting Solutions; Love, Peace And Empathy.
Jurors such as Rita Gonzalez, Contemporary Art at LACMA; Rosario Dawson, Artist / Activist; Harry Belafonte, Artist / Activist; Naima E. Keith, Curator, California African American Museum and others have curated work around the following themes: Justice Is A Human Right; Together We Rise; No Human Is Illegal And No Human Should Feel Unsafe; This Moment – In History; Manifesting Solutions; Love, Peace and Empathy.
INTO ACTION is free and open to the public.
INTO ACTION
Jan 13-21, 2018
Los Angeles, CA
A look back at some of our biggest moments of the year and what we’re looking forward to in 2018. This year brought us the first year of Trump’s presidency, a historic solar eclipse and some huge exhibits. Now, as the year draws to a close, WGS blog reflects on some of the happenings that rocked – and to some degree reshaped our place in the glass art world.
January
The Women’s march held in Washington D.C. on Jan. 21, 2017 was organized after the election of Donald Trump as president of the U.S. to demonstrate solidarity among women, minorities, LGBT and other disenfranchised communities. Glass Art Magazine editor Shawn Waggoner visited the Washington Glass School while in town for the event.
Glass Art Magazine editor Shawn Waggoner (second from left) was one of the participants in the Women’s March in January.
WGS Instructor Debra Ruzinsky was named the new director of the Appalachian Center for Craft. The Appalachian Center for Craft is located in scenic Middle Tennessee near the town of Smithville. The facility was built in 1979 and has spacious studios, gallery, exhibitions, administrative offices, library, student housing and meeting/audio visual rooms.
The Appalachian Center for Craft in Tennessee.
Glass Art Magazine featured our Michael Janis in a profiled in their magazine and as part of their podcast series “Talking Out Your Glass“.
Glass Art Magazine featured Michael Janis in the Jan/Feb issue.
February
Washington Glass Studio completed installation of a two-part public art project in Florida. Palm Beach County‘s Art in Public Places awarded WGS the commission to design and fabricate integrated public art sculptures as part of the renovation of an existing facility for the new headquarters for Palm Beach County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO). The works were installed starting in January and completed in February 2017.
Public art at Florida’s West Palm Beach International Airport
March
March featured the opening of “Embracing Narrative” – the joint exhibition of glass works by artists from the Washington Glass School and the Virginia Glass Guild opened this weekend at Virginia’s Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center (PACC). Juried by Diane Wright, Curator of Glass, Chrysler Museum of Art and Sheila Giolitti, Mayer Fine Art Gallery, the exhibit kicked off the Glass Art Society’s (GAS) 46th annual conference that was held at the Chrysler Museum and the Perry Glass Studio in June, 2017. 
April
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) invited WGS’ Michael Janis in April to the museum to talk about his artwork that was featured in the exhibit “Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art”. He talked about his glass process and the themes that run thru his work. 
In April, Habatat Galleries featured works by Washington Glass School artists Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Michael Janis and Sean Hennessey at the gallery’s 45th Glass International Award Exhibition.
Erwin Timmers’ new cast glass and LED panels were featured at the 45th International.
May
Washington Glass School co-founder Tim Tate was invited by Glenn Adamson, senior scholar at Yale, to speak at a symposium at Yale University. Tim talked about his work, as well as artists Roberto Lugo and Stephanie Syjuco. Tim Tate talked about how objects differ from other types of evidence, when it comes to histories of ideology and belief.
Tim Tate at Yale conference.
June
WheatonArts hot shop during Glass Weekend 2017
New Jersey’s WheatonArts opened GlassWeekend 2017– an International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass. For 32 years, GlassWeekend brought together the world’s leading glass artists, collectors, galleries, and museum curators at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center for a three-day weekend in June. This year’s demonstrating artists were Matthew Szosz, Rik Allen, and Shelley Muzylowski Allen. The keynote speaker featured Susie Silbert, the new Curator of Modern and Contemporary Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Tim Tate was one of the featured LBGTQ artists in the Liberty Museum show.
The National Liberty Museum hosted the nation’s first museum exhibit of studio glass works produced exclusively by artists of the LGBTQ+ community. Each artist explored diverse subjects, methods, and styles using the artistic medium of glass making.
July
Teary-eyed farewell to our Ms Wilson – artist Trish Kent baked a farewell cake in the shape of Audrey’s favorite artistic element – a feather.
The glass table-making class was great fun!
Washington Glass School’s table making class ended with some happy artist/students! Erwin Timmers class made the glass for the tabletops and welded the steel for the table bases.
Audrey Wilson was recognized unstoppable force of nature! The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) awarded her with their Visionary Scholarship – with it, she was off to Penland for intensive workshops. Glass Art Magazine also featured Audrey with a great profile in the July/August issue! Ms Wilson had to say goodbye to WGS, as she began MFA classes at Ohio’s Kent State.
Glass Art Magazine featured Audrey Wilson in their July/August issue.
August
Tim Tate outlines the history of the American Studio Glass Movement to the class.
Baltimore’s Contemporary Glass Art class held at the CCBC visited the Washington Glass School as part of their studies. The group got to meet with many of the artists working from the studio, and were able to see how a school & studio functions.
LBK gets to work making changes in the Glass School.
Laura Beth Konopinski joined the WGS crew as the new Studio Coordinator coming from the Pittsburgh Glass Center. LBK quickly updated our procedures and has taken over the workings of the busy studio. Ms Konopinski’s artwork has also been noticed, with her work being sought out for exhibition at the Miami Art Week.
“The Great American Eclipse” was the name given to the solar eclipse visible within a band across the entire contiguous United States, passing from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. WGS celebrated by having the community over to watch the event using the studio’s protective welding eyewear.
Said WGS Co-Director Michael Janis of the eclipse: “whoa”.
September
Artist Sean Hennessey became a proud papa, introducing his best work yet: Atlas Leif. Mazel tov!
The James Renwick Alliance’s (JRA) annual Distinguished Artist Series (DAS) brings notable craft artists from around the country – and in September, the season started off great with Alex Bernstein as the distinguished artist in Glass. Alex took the JRA workshop attendees along a journey from billet to awesome in about 3 hours! The JRA Distinguished Artist walked the audience thru his signature process of “Bernstein-ing” his work, and everyone loved it!
DAS Alex Bernstein begins his workshop demo at the Washington Glass School. photo by Diane Charnov
October
Washington Glass School said farewell to Studio Artist Veta Carney as she retired from her law practice and headed out west with her husband to join her son Daniel Carney’s glass studio in Arizona.
Changes at the Glass Studio are best addressed with food.
November
The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago this past November was focused on three-dimensional art and design. Artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis were shown at Habatat Galleries space at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Seen in Chicago SOFA 2017 at Navy Pier
Also in November, the Washington Glass Studio installed the site specific commission for the William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD. The internally illuminated artwork was commissioned by Prince Georges County for the new community center named for William Beanes, MD, who played a pivotal role in the history of The Star-Spangled Banner.
The William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD.
The images were designed and selected by the community after a series of interactive meetings and finalized with the help of local council members. The LED illuminated discs were mounted to a powder coated structure that was mounted to the building structure.
December
Tim Tate’s definitive profile by William Warmus in American Craft Magazine.
The December/January 2018 American Craft magazine issue features a story by author/critic William Warmus explores WGS co-founder Tim Tate’s history in the glass world. Titled “The Spaces Between“, William writes about what drives Tim’s work, and about the development (and controversy) of the Facebook “Glass Secessionism” page.
Miami Art Week 2017 featured works by WGS crew Michael Janis, Laura Beth Konopinsk, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers & Alum Audrey Wilson.
December 2017 finished up with an amazing feat – ALL the principal staff of the Washington Glass School were featured as part of the worlds largest and most prestigious art fair – Art Basel/ Miami Art Week. The enormous art fair envelopes Miami and one cannot help but be inspired and encouraged.
Looking Ahead
2018 promises many new opportunities – looking ahead on the calendar:
New classes at the glass school! Michigan’s Habatat Galleries will again feature WGS artists in this year’s 46th International Glass Invitational in April. Michael Janis will be teaching an intensive session at Pittsburgh Glass Center in May. Tim Tate’s artwork will be part of the LA activist art show “Into Action!” curated by John Legend, Shepard Fairy, Rosario Dawson, Harry Belafonte and other notable activists, artists and museum curators. Never a dull moment!
Washington Glass School and Studio Wishes All the Best for the Holidays! May the New Year give wings to all of our dreams and let them come true in 2018!
May the magic and the wonder of the holiday season stay with you throughout the coming year!
The Magpie’s Hoard by Robert Wynne
Blown and float glass, bronze and steel; 110 H x 65 W x 23 D cm
Born in Yarram, Victoria, Robert Wynne studied Visual Arts at Monash University, Majoring in Ceramics, before going on to complete a Master’s Degree in glass at California State University. On returning to Australia, Robert established his career as an independent glass artist based in Sydney.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year filled with health, happiness, and spectacular success!