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.

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day

National Geographic Society's Arts Ambassador Award 2011 made of cast recycled glass by the Washington Glass School.

National Geographic Society’s Arts Ambassador Award 2011 made of cast recycled glass by the Washington Glass School.

In schools up and down the country, little children are taught that a heroic Italian explorer discovered America, and various events and parades are held to celebrate the occasion. 

It has now become common knowledge amongst academics that Christopher Columbus clearly did not discover America, not least because is it impossible to discover a people and a continent that was already there and thriving with culture. thirty-nine crew members.

Columbus: heroic adventurer or wicked exploiter? It’s been said that Columbus is reall responsible for the propagation of seeds, germs and slavery into a global scale. And there is no where to hide.

The cast recycled glass globe shown above was made by our studio for the National Geographic Society as its Arts Ambassador award for 2011. The recipient that year was musican/ filmmaker Jack Johnson – and the process of making the award was featured in a detailed Glass School post.

Maryland Citizens for the Arts Professional Development Conference ArtsLAB

artslabArtsLAB is a traveling professional development conference, presented by MCA each year, in different parts of the state. ArtsLAB is a place where artists, arts professionals, advocates and more, come together to discuss current issues and concerns facing the arts sector. In addition to thrilling performances, the morning portion highlights an individual keynote speaker which exemplifies best practices for the topic at hand. The afternoon portion of the day is a mix of hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and case studies.

Who should attend ArtsLAB?

MCA encourages anyone in this sector to attend this event. There are elements for arts administrators, artists, board members, volunteers, and general arts lovers. There really is something for everyone. For more information – click HERE to jump to ArtsLAB page.

Topic: Embracing Reinvention
Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
Time: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
LocationHarmony Hall Arts Center, Ft. Washington, Maryland

The theme of this year’s conference will be “Embracing Reinvention” and will feature presentations by, and conversations with artists and arts administrators that have found creative ways to adapt to the ever changing conditions of the arts sector. Come and add your voice to the conversation. Click HERE to register.

Cost: $15 per person, $12 per person for groups of 3 or more from one organization

“Embodiment” Exhibit at Pittsburgh Glass Center

embodiment-opening-web

The Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC)and the 3 Rivers Glass Beadmakers (3RGB) present “embodiment,” the first jewelry and wearables exhibit at PGC.

Entries were received from around the world including Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and the U.S. for this juried exhibition. Sixty-nine works of art were selected for exhibition including 10 artists along with several collaborators from Pittsburgh.

Laura Beth Konopinski's work commands the show.

“Captivated by the Dance of a Radiant Night” by Laura Beth Konopinski, Valerie Herrero and Jason Forck.  The work, designed for a performance, was designed to transform the wearer into a Silk Moth, displaying unconstrained feelings akin to the way a moth is attracted to the light.

Objects on display range from necklaces and wings to a crown and cape and reflect a variety of glass techniques. All of the art included in “embodiment” was chosen based on craftsmanship, aesthetic beauty, originality/creativity, and realization of the concept of embodiment meaning a tangible or visible form of a specific idea, quality or feeling.

PGC Executive Director Heather McElwee said,” The jurors looked for a diversity of art work and unusual content or untraditional subject matter, plus the use of different materials and techniques.” 

embodiment
October 6 – November 19, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, October 6 from 6 to 9pm
pgc_horz_logo-792x600The Hodge Gallery at Pittsburgh Glass Center
5472 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

 

Exhibiting Artists:
Carolyn Baum
Heather M. Behrendt
Jill  Benfield
Jennifer Blazina
Sabina Boehm
Deborah Carlson
Eunsuh Choi
Sarah E. Cohen
Alberto Corte
Ronit Dagan
Meredith  Edmondson
Jason Forck
Lezlie Foster
Alexandra Fresch
Nolly Gelsinger
Valerie Herrero
Nina Sam Hibler
Lisa M. Johnson
Leslie Kaplan
Floor Kaspers
Joy  L. Knepp
Natalia N. Komorowska
Laura Beth Konopinski
Lou Krueger
Sara Sally LaGrand
Ronnie Lambrou
Hethre Larivee
Stephanie Maddalena
Michael Mangiafico
Melissa A. Melan
Ben Miller
Linda Newnham
SaraBeth Post
Gillian Preston
Madeline Rile-Smith
Laurie Salopek
Daria Sandburg
Barbara  B. Simon
Lisa F. St. Martin
Ann Steenkiste
Tiger Waddell
Jeri Warhaftig
Deborah B. Weaver
Jeri J. Wiskus
Margaret  L. Zinser Hunt
Caterina Zucchi

JRA Private Dinner at the Lane Collection

The James Renwick Alliance(JRA) is a vibrant group of art enthusiasts, collectors, artists, educators, students and art professionals who share a passion for contemporary American craft.  Members of the JRA enjoy a diverse year round schedule of programs including, social events, educational lectures and tours, and art-inspired excursions – one of which comes up soon! – LeslieLaneDinner2017_FINAL

On October 3rd, the JRA presents one of this year’s featured events : A Private Dinner at the Lane Collection. 
This is a unique opportunity to dine with collectors Leslie and Bruce Lane. They recently transformed their French country-style home into a exceptional showcase of contemporary craft. Highlights of their museum-quality collection include works by Lino Tagliapietra, Dan Dailey, Michael Janis, Dante Marioni, Dale Chihuly and Therman Statom as well as pieces by emerging artists.

Michael Janis, "Finding My Soul A Home", 2015, fused and cast glass, glass powder imagery, steel

Michael Janis, “Finding My Soul A Home”, 2015, fused and cast glass, glass powder imagery, steel

Lean more – click HERE

After registering, further details including an address will be emailed. 

Cost: $250 for members | $400 for non-members