Report from Miami Art Fairs

The view of the Atlantic Ocean from SCOPE Art Fair 2017

The view of the Atlantic Ocean from SCOPE Art Fair 2017

It may snow along the East Coast this weekend, but down at Art Basel Miami Beach, it was all sunshine and beach parties and artwork and music everywhere. A fun thing about Miami is you get to spend hours in Lyfts and cabs going across causeways to and from the beach exhibits. context.art.fair.miami.2017.alida_anderson

Washington Glass School artists were represented at a number of the incredible art fairs that took place during Art Basel / Miami Art Fair week.

Erwin Timmers new work was dazzling!

Erwin Timmers new work was dazzling!

At Context Art Miami – Alida Anderson Art Project showed artists Erwin Timmers, Laura Beth Konopinski and Audrey Wilson.

Audrey Wilson and Laura Beth Konopinski at Context

Audrey Wilson and Laura Beth Konopinski at Context

Congrats to our own Laura Beth Konopinski, who was selected by Julian Navarro, the fair director as one of the standout women artists at the fair!

Tim Tate's works shone brightly at SCOPE Miami

Tim Tate’s works shone brightly at SCOPE Miami

Tim Tate and Michael Janis were featured by Habatat Galleries at two art fairs – SCOPE Miami and Form Art Fair. Tim’s new wall pieces were a hit at SCOPE – with many reacting to the artwork’s content.jennifer.scanlan.scope.tim_tate.glass.miami.art.fair

Tim's work was the most photo'd works at Miami Beach.

Tim’s work was the most photo’d works at Miami Beach.

The newest art fair “Form” opened across the street from Art Basel. Run by the same group that presents SOFA Chicago, the artwork focused on media specific art.

Michael Janis' work at Habatat Galleries space at the FORM Art Fair.

Michael Janis’ work at Habatat Galleries space at the FORM Art Fair.

There was alot of glitz and glamour and celebrity-sightings during the week.

Artist Chuck Close came thru the show.

Artist Chuck Close came thru the show.

As did these glitterati.

As did these glitterati.

When Art Basel first came to Miami in 2002, it was a satellite art fair and an end-of-the-year anchor to the Basel, Switzerland main event held in the summer. But in a perfect storm of palm trees, parties, a surge of interest in art (or at least the lucrative art market), and an Instagram explosion, it’s now become the biggest annual art event in North America, attended by some 85,000 people. And as the fair morphs into two dozen satellite fairs and a weeklong full calendar of art and fashion happenings, it’s also a venue to show how the art by a new generation of artists is being made.

10th Annual JRA Day Craft Artist Exhibition and Sale

PeggyShiffrin.jra.james.renwick.alliance.craftThis coming Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 11a.m. to 5p.m. is JRA Day – the James Renwick Alliance’s 10th annual craft show, held at the Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase. The JRA Day show features work by 40 different artists in the craft media. Admission is free, and so is the parking!
JRA Day is sponsored by the James Renwick Alliance, an independent national nonprofit organization that celebrates the achievements of America’s craft artists.

JRA Day Raffle
In honor of the 10th Anniversary of JRA Day, the James Renwick Alliance will offer three prizes in this year’s JRA Day raffle – vase form piece by Michael Janis,

Michael Janis, "Crossing Paths" , fused and hotworked glass, 14"H x 8" Dia.

Michael Janis, “Crossing Paths” , fused and hotworked glass, 14″H x 8″ Dia.

a slab-built ceramic vase by Janet Larson, and a mixed-media teapot by David Peters. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. The drawing will take place at 4:30 p.m. on JRA Day.

Saturday, December 2, 2017
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase

 

Washington Glass School Artists To Show @ Art Basel / Miami Art Fairs!

Art-Basel-Miami-Beach-logoDecember 4 – 10, 2017, Miami and Miami Beach becomes the epicenter of the art world with approximately 1200 art galleries from around the world showing thousands of artists. It’s also a week of fashion with gala openings and after parties. Music, Art & Design all combine with incredible Florida weather – it’s an incredible place for viewing contemporary art.

Washington Glass School artists are being represented in a big way this year, with all of the school’s Directors and the new Studio Coordinator having works being exhibited at the art fairs.

Tim Tate's work will be featured at Habatat Galleries space at both SCOPE art fair and FORM.

Tim Tate’s work will be featured at Habatat Galleries space at both SCOPE art fair and FORM.

Tim Tate and Michael Janis’ work will be shown at Habatat Galleries space at Scope Miami (space F35) and the inaugural show of Form Miami (located across the street from Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center).

CONTEXT Art Miami will feature works by WGS artists Erwin Timmers, Laura Beth Konopinski and WGS alum Audrey Wilson.

CONTEXT Art Miami will feature works by WGS artists Erwin Timmers, Laura Beth Konopinski and WGS alum Audrey Wilson.

Alida Anderson Art Projects’ booth #C225 at Context Art Miami will feature some incredible new sculptural works by WGS Co-Director Erwin Timmers and Studio Coordinator Laura Beth Konopinski. Alum Audrey Wilson will be exhibiting her new body of work that shows the influence of the Kent Sate MFA that she is currently enrolled in.

For an overview of all the contemporary art fairs going on in the Miami/Miami Beach area – click HERE

Erwin Timmers prepares his latest cast glass works for the Miami Art Fairs.

Erwin Timmers prepares his latest cast glass works for the Miami Art Fairs.

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If you are heading to the sunny warm beaches of Miami, FLA, be sure to visit the premier showcase for international contemporary art!

American Craft Magazine Profiles WGS’ Tim Tate

WGS Co-Director Tim Tate is featured in the American Craft Dec/Jan 2018 magazine with an article by William Warmus.

WGS Co-Director Tim Tate is featured in the American Craft Dec/Jan 2018 magazine with an 8-page article by William Warmus. Photos by Pete Duvall.

The American Craft Council (ACC) is the leading arts nonprofit cultivating a culture of making. The ACC’s award-winning magazine seeks to “inspire, telling the behind-the-scenes stories of artists and designer-makers, while exploring the multifaceted benefits of creative living”.

A humorous take on what the ACC magazine cover should have looked like. (Note: this is not the real issue cover!)

A humorous take on what the ACC magazine cover should have looked like. (Note: this is not the real issue cover!)

As such, the December/January 2018 issue of the magazine features a story by author/critic William Warmus that delves deep into Tim’s softer side. Exploring Tim’s history in the glass world, William writes about the what drives his work, and about the development of the Facebook “Glass Secessionism” page and the backlash created by the online conversation. 

Dec/Jan 2018 American Craft magazine cover (the real one).

Dec/Jan 2018 American Craft magazine cover (the real one).

 

WGS Installs Art At Prince Georges William Beanes Community Center

Installation of Suitland's William Beanes Center new public art sculpture.

Installation of Suitland’s William Beanes Center new public art sculpture.

Washington Glass Studio recently installed the site specific commission for the William Beanes Community Center in Suitland, MD. As mentioned in an earlier post, the 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. If not for Dr. Beanes, Francis Scott Key would not have been on a ship in Baltimore’s Harbor, and he would never have written the poem which became our National Anthem. 

The original design was modified to allow for installation on the center's special exterior cladding.

The original design was modified to allow for installation on the center’s special exterior cladding.

The design by Washington Glass Studio is characterized by abstracted fireworks “Bursting In Air” to connect the National Anthem and to reference imagery inspired by Suitland’s residents and heritage, the community, its history and goals. 

Each circle medallion is internally illuminated with LED lighting.

Each circle medallion is internally illuminated with LED lighting.

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. 

The completed site specific work helps draw visitors to the new community center.

The completed artwork helps draw visitors to the new community center.

On the day, all the preplanning and preparation paid off, as installation went smoothly.
Soon, WGS will take professional photos of the finished project and we will publish them online!

In Recognition of Veterans Day

The eleventh day of November is a special day. In the United States, the day is called Veterans Day. In some other parts of the world, it is called Remembrance Day, a day to honor military folk, who served during war.veterans day glass panel by Chip Montague

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe

Splash: Attitude & Process @ Brentwood Arts Exchange Reception Nov 11

Ginevra_Shay.splash brentwood.maryland.art.Splash: Attitude & Process – Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition

Attitudes are catalysts for new processes, and re-envisioned ways of making. To use any material, or even to make work that is ethereal, arises from widely varied practices, but always embodies the artist’s attitude about creating. Furthermore, to act with style and intention in creating articulates and shares the position of the artist. Pushing the boundaries of art informs not only making art but also seeing it. 

玻璃艺术雕塑

Michael Janis: “A Light Touch In Passing” Fused and Cast Glass with glass powder imagery and steel frame, 23″ x 36″

Splash: Attitude and Process
November 6 – December 30, 2017
Brentwood Arts Exchange at Gateway Arts Center
3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 11, 5-8 pm

On view: November 6 – December 31, 2017

Featuring works by: Maryamm Abdullah, James Coley, Felicia Cowser, Lindsay D’Andelet, Elliott Hamilton, Tom Hill, Paul Hrusa, Michael Janis, Khadija Khaalis, Aselin Lands, Rashad Muhammad, Sarah O’Donoghue, John Paradiso, Jose Piedra, Mary Celestine Ranney-Howes, Federico Ruiz, Tina Silverman, Ronnie Spiewak, Kim Thorpe and Acquaetta Williams.

Juried by Ginevra Shay – an artist and curator living and working in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the Artistic Director of The Contemporary Museum, and curator of Rose Arcade, founder of the Current Space Community Darkroom and Photo Program, and was recently artist and curator in-residence at Gallery Four. She has worked with a number of private collections and Baltimore institutions, including The Jewish Museum of Maryland and The Afro-American Newspaper, to aid with research and assist with digital archiving processes. She has exhibited her own work at Present Company (NYC), LVL3 (Chicago), Rock512Devil (Baltimore), The Finnish Museum of Photography (Finland), Notre Dame University (Maryland), John Hansard Gallery (United Kingdom), Galleri Vasli Souza (Sweden), and Flying Object (Mass). Her work and publications are in the libraries of Yale University Art Gallery Library, The International Center for Photography, Indie Photobook Library, Houston Center for Photography, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Ginevra has lectured widely at The Maryland Film Festival, The Queens Museum, Oakland Museum, National College Art Association Conference, the Society for Photographic Education National Conference, and American Philosophical Society. She has been a visiting artist at Rutgers, Maryland Institute College of Art, and Towson University. In 2013, she selected as “30 Creative Minds Under 30” by Maryland Art Place.

Art, Craft & Design Converge @ 2017 SOFA CHICAGO

SOFA Chicago 2017 Habatat Galleries features the best in glass art & sculpture.

SOFA Chicago 2017 Habatat Galleries features the best in glass art & sculpture.

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago is dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. Continuously running since 1994, SOFA focuses on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. The 2017 Fair will showcase nearly 80 galleries displaying artwork by emerging and established artists working in ceramics, wood, glass, fiber, studio jewelry, metal, painting, photography and works on paper, at Chicago’s Navy Pier this November 2-­5, 2017. SOFA CHICAGO also includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world.

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries (Booth #1400) will feature over 55 artists from around the world working in contemporary glass. WGS artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis will be exhibited as well as works by Alex Bernstein, Christina Bothwell, Susan Taylor Glasgow, John Littleton & Kate Vogel, Dean Allison, Paul Stankard, Daniel Clayman, Ginny Ruffner, Peter Bremers, Wilfried Grootens, and Lucy Lyon.

Glass National 2017 Opens at Lorton Workhouse Center

Veta Carney, "Max", mixed media, cast glass. Photo by Pete Duvall.

Veta Carney, “Max”, mixed media, cast glass. Photo by Pete Duvall.

The Workhouse Arts Center is proud to announce its 3rd Annual Glass National exhibition. Glass National is a juried exhibition which promotes and displays the breadth of contemporary glass artwork being created throughout the USA and Canada by highlighting both functional and sculptural works. This year’s juror was installation, video and glass artist, Charlotte Potter.

Juror, Charlotte Potter
Charlotte Potter has focused the field of performance glass in her work as the Glass Studio Manager and Programming Director at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA. An avid educator, Potter is the mentor of the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio Assistantship program and has taught glass and new media courses at Penland School of Crafts and Oxbow. 

Glass National 2017
On View October 28 – January 14, 2018
Reception November 11, 6pm-8pm

W-16, Vulcan Gallery
9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA, 22079
Phone: 703-584-2900
Website: workhousearts.org

WWJD? He’d Work With Glass! Jesus ❤ Glass!

Leonardo Da Vinci, Salvator Mundi, c. 1500

Leonardo Da Vinci, Salvator Mundi, c. 1500

Auction house Christies unveiled this past week its previously top secret and “most thrilling acquisition to date”: Salvator Mundi (“Savior of the World”), a formerly lost masterwork by Leonardo da Vinci that is believed to be the artist’s last painting. Made around 1500 and presumed lost until discovered early this century. Believed to be the last Leonardo in private hands, it is estimated to sell for $100 million. The oil painting, which is 25 7/8 inches by 18 inches.

jesus.glass.orb

The painting originally hung in the collection of King Charles I and depicts a beatific Jesus Christ, clad in lapis lazuli robes and holding a glass orb, one hand extended skyward; it bears a certain compositional likeness to the Mona Lisa, and was painted around the same time. Of 15 Da Vinci paintings presently known to exist, Salvator Mundi is the only one in private hands.

Click HERE to jump to the news article about the Christies Auction.