Author Archives: Chip Montague

New Lampwork Class Schedule

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>The New Winter Schedule for the Lampwork Concentrations is now online! – Have a squiz!

Class 1048 – Borosilicate Casting – Learn to cast components for use in Flameworked Sculpture

Learn the process of borosilicate glass casting for component assembly in Flameworked sculpture. Students will review the process of casting as it relates to borosilicate glass. Once cast the component elements will then be flameworked into sculptural works of art. Come learn the process and develop your skills in this one of a kind class!

In this 4 day class students will make rubber molds of various items, review “lost wax casting” process, discuss firing schedules for casting borosilicate glass, practice coldworking processes to clean up the cast elements, and learn how to assemble numerous components at the bench torch for creating flameworked sculpture.

Day 1 – Class overview, Project Discussion, Rubber Mold Creation

Day 2 – Rubber mold prep, Wax and plaster investment, casting schedule and color discussion

Day 3 – Divestment and coldworking of components

Day 4 – Flameworking components into final sculpture

Instructor: Rob Kincheloe

Dates: Sat/Sun, Jan 22 & 23 and 29 & 30

Time: 10am to 1pm (the 1:30pm to 5pm open studio session directly following this class is free to any class member)

Tuition : $500 plus $100 material fee. (Pay material fees to instructor in class)

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Class 1049 – Beginning Sculptural Flameworking


Learn the basics of making objects in the flame from borosilicate (Pyrex) glass. This 2-day class will focus on skills that are the basis of working with glass on the torch. You will come away with knowledge and some fine objects too! Rob is an energetic, knowledgeable instructor and artist who is ready and willing to help anyone learn this fascinating art form. The materials fee provides student with initial pack of glass, fuel for the torches and the loan of a full set of hand tools. Additional glass and supplies are available for purchase as the class progresses. Take this class more than once to reinforce your skills! Class Limit: 6 students

Dates: This class will be offered 2 times this semester

Session 1049A – Sat/Sun Feb 5 & 6

Session 1049B – Sat/Sun Feb 26 & 27

Time: 10am to 1pm (the 1:30pm to 5pm open studio session directly following this class is free to any class member)

Tuition : $250 plus $50 material fee (Pay material fees to instructor in class)

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Class 1050 – Glass Beadmaking – Developing Your Style

Glass beads have been objects of adornment for thousands of years, and are experiencing a popular revival. We will begin the class with a technical exploration of various foundation techniques essential to the success of all beadmakers and then progress to color, types of glass and ways of utilizing the properties of the medium. Whether as a component of a necklace or alone as a pendant, glass beads can also be an element of creative expression. Together we will begin a conversation about forms of jewelry, finding your palette and individual style.Class Limit: 6 students

Instructor : Clare J. Nykolyszyn

Dates : Sat/Sun March 19 & 20

Time : 10am to 1pm

Tuition : $250 plus $50 for materials (Pay material fees to instructor in class)

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Class 1051 – Flamework Club – Open Studio For Flameworkers


Already know the basics of flameworking? Want to join others in a social atmosphere while you work? Our Flamework Club gives each student the opportunity to work independently in a world class studio while meeting some great new friends! Materials extra.Class Limit: 6 students

Instructor : Robert Kincheloe

Dates : Sat / Sun afternoons (call to confirm appointment)

Time : 1:30pm to 5pm

Tuition : $300 for 4 sessions or included with Instructor Classes

Posted in flamework, fun class, lampwork, lampworking, sculptural flamework

New Winter Class Schedule!

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>Its Here! The Winter 2010/2011 Class Schedule is now available! Huzzah!
Part One – below – is the WGS warm glass course listing. Part two – posted on the blog tomorrow -are the Lampworking Courses.

For more info – or to register online – click HERE to jump to the Washington Glass School course lisiting.

Class 1040 – Beginner’s Weekend – 3 Technique Glass Class
Our most popular class, this is the fastest way to learn all aspects of warm glass in the shortest amount of time! Under the supervision of several professional glass artists you will learn the fundamentals of fusing, slumping and dimensional kiln casting. Everything from bowls and plates to sculptural objects… this is the perfect way for a beginner to learn the basics of glass… and you will leave with several very cool items! Offered 2 times in the winter schedule.

Instructors: Tim Tate / Robert Kincheloe

Dates: Session 1040A: Sat/Sun Jan 22 and 23

Session 1040B: Sat/Sun March 12 and 13

Time: 1pm to 5pm each day

Tuition: $300 per student (all materials included) __________________________________________________

Class 1041 – Lighting Solutions For Your Home
This class will bring some serious color to your life, and brighten up your living space. This is the perfect way to use glass in a most practical application: ceiling lamps. You will design your own colored glass, determine your own shape, and have your choice of several different hanging or mounting options. For considerably less than the price of a designer fixture, you can put your own name on one. Tuition includes glass, mold materials, and mounting hardware. No glass experience is needed, and electrical experience will be provided.

Instructor : Erwin Timmers

Dates : Wed evenings in Jan 26 and Feb 2 & 9

Time : 7pm to 9:30pm

Tuition : $300
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Class 1042 – Reverse Relief Casting
Explore a range of techniques for making reverse imagery using fiber blanket, fiber board and papers. You will learn how to cut thick glass and to make re-usable molds, as well as ways to
add color with powders, frits and sheet. Firing techniques and schedules for versatile
float glass will be covered. You will take home several cast glass pieces made by using the reverse relief technique.

Instructor : Michael Janis
Dates : Sat / Sun Feb 12 & 13
Time : 2pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300

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Class 1043 – Going Green – Recycled Glass Art Workshop
Green up your life by doing something creative to help the environment! This is an exploration into using recycled glass to make sculptural pieces, architectural elements, and tableware. We will delve into multiple techniques, including casting, fusing and slumping. Glass chemistry, coloration, and firing temperatures will be explained for each particular application. It is a fantastic way to learn aspects of any warm glass work while focusing on recycling! And now we have it concentrated into a long weekend class – over the President’s Day Weekend!
Once you start down the path of recycled glass, you will see more and more opportunities for experimentation around you. No prior experience is necessary – you are encouraged to bring in materials you’d like to try…and you will leave with several very cool items!

Instructor : Erwin Timmers
Dates : Sat/Sun/Mon on Feb 19, 20 & 21
Time : 10am to 4pm
Tuition : $400

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Class 1044 – Beginning MIG Welding
Ever wondered about learning to weld? Want to impress your friends, your older brother and that cute bartender? It’s easier than you think! In three evenings you will learn how to lay a bead, and handle all sorts of sharp and dangerous tools. You will be able to complete a small project and leave with lots of ideas and know-how for other projects. This class will teach you the basics of welding, metal work and design, joining, bending and finishing. And you will get dirty!

Instructor : Erwin Timmers
Dates : Wed evenings in March 16 23 & 30
Time : 7pm to 9:30pm
Tuition : $325

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Class 1045 – Sculpt A Glass Bowl : Introduction To Lost Wax Casting
The goal in this class is to make a vessel form in glass using the lost wax process. Students will begin with a pre-made wax form that they carve into and alter. We will be asking students to research surface decoration ideas for their project before coming to class. Students will bring these ideas to class in the form of sketches, Xeroxes, magazines, etc.
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Instructor : Debra Ruzinski
Dates : 3 Day Class – Sat/Sun. Mar. 26/27 and Sun. Apr. 3
Time : 10am to 2pm
Tuition : $350

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Class 1046 – Turning Your Wood-Cuts and Lino-Cuts Into Cast Glass Panels
This incredible process will allow your wood cuts or lino cuts to be duplicated in a cast glass panel with out harming your original cut piece! What a miraculous way for that printing technique to be used architecturally! You can also print from the glass plate. Imagine a wall of your wood cuts all translated into glass, then gridded out within in a metal frame….and made into a 10 ft high x 20 ft long wall. Or as simple a single back-lit glass panel! ….The possibilities are myriad! This is the perfect way for a lino cut printer to enter the world of large scale public art or to incorporate a quality of translucency into their work. The process is very simple to learn ……. and it will expand your artistic dialog exponentially …. All while using your own imagery!

Instructor : Kirk Waldroff
Dates : Saturdays in April 2, 9 & 16
Time : 1pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300

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Class 1047 – Work at Your Own Pace – Open Studio
Already know the basics of casting or fusing? Open Studio gives each student the opportunity to work independently in a world class studio. Tuition includes a kiln firing per session, clear base glass and colored scrap glass, use of studio tools.

Instructor : Studio Staff
Dates : Wed/Thurs/Sat afternoons (call to confirm appointment)
Time : 1pm to 5pm
Tuition : $300 for 4 sessions

Tommorow’s posting will feature the Flameworking Classes!

Posted in cool class, fun class, glass school. glass class, kilnformed, winter, winter class schedule

December Sculpture Market

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The Washington Glass School proudly presents: Artworks, Sculpture, Fine Art Furniture and other handmade goods by some of the area’s finest artists in the December Sculpture Market!

See some of the new directions the artists of the Washington Glass School are moving the traditional craft with integration of modern process, mixed media, and narrative.Some of the artists showing include: Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Elizabeth Mears, Chris Shea, Allegra Marquart, Michael Janis, Nancy Donnelly, Robert Kincheloe, Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan.
Music, Demos, Class Specials and more are on the agenda for the day!

The recent Glass & Steel Sculptural Development class will present their final projects in one of the galleries at the school – this semester’s class has created some of the most impressive works yet! See what happens when you have set loose a class at DC Glass Works and Washington Glass School and toss in some aluminum pour castings & metal welding – you will be impressed and wanting to know when the next class occurs!

Erin Antognoli’s kilncast glass and steel sculpture


The adjacent Flux Studios will also be open – see the works of some of the area’s best ceramic artwork!

WASHINGTON GLASS SCHOOL
December Sculpture Market & Holiday Open House
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 2:00 til 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Glass School

3700 Otis Street

Mount Rainier, MD 20712

Admission: Free

202.744.8222

Posted in december sculpture market, holiday open house, washington glass school

Project 4 Gallery Yuletide Art Festival

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>Yuletide: a year-end art festival at Project 4
December 4 – 22, 2010

Yuletide marks the 1st year-end art festival at Project 4 Gallery. The exhibition features a selection of small works by artists who frequently collaborate with Project 4. All works of art are priced under $1,000.

Yuletide considers and presents art of all media including: recycled glass, LP records transformed, drawings, watercolors, ceramics, wood sculpture, and more.

Featured artists include: Margaret Boozer, Beau Chamberlain, Justin Gibbens, Kate Hardy, Tricia Keightley, Laurel Lukaszewski, Thomas Müller, Foon V. Sham, Erwin Timmers, and Paul Villinski.

Project 4 Gallery

1353 U Street NW, Suite 302

Washington, DC 20009

The exhibition runs December 4 – 22, 2010

Opening reception on December 4, 6:30 pm- 9:30 pm.

The opening reception will feature a musical performance by Saïs Kamalidiin and Rick Peralta from the group MIN from 7:00 -8:00 pm followed by an artist talk at 8:15 pm.

The gallery will be open Monday to Saturday, 12 to 6:00 pm.

For more information: (202) 232-4340 or email: info@project4gallery.com.

Posted in project 4 gallery, yuletide

The Grinch In Art

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Gaylord National Harbor Hotel Strictly First Glass shop

A number of years ago, the Washington Glass Studio was commissioned to create custom glass elements for the Gaylord National Harbor complex’s presidential suites lighting and for the signature glass sculpture in the center’s “Strictly First Glass” art gallery. Made from recycled glass, the ceiling mounted sculpture was intended to allow lighting to filter thru from recessed lights mounted in the ceiling.

Erwin Timmers installs the components made from recycled glass into the ceiling mounted sculpture.

A waggish designer commented that ribs that made up the steel support framework for the glass resembled an umbrella, and due to the tapered form, alternately to an upside down Christmas tree. Soon the artwork was compared to a scene from the 1966 animated Chuck Jones “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” television special where both a Christmas tree and umbrella are combined.

The Grinch steals the Whoville Christmas Tree.

So, somehow it is fitting that the sprawling resort and convention center features a sculpted holiday wonderland with scenes carved in ice based on Dr. Seuss’ classic story, on now thru January 9, 2011.

The Grinch in Ice

Click HERE to jump to the Gaylord National Harbor site.

Posted in gaylord national harbor, grinch, strictly first glass

Washingtonian Magazine on Tim Tate

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Washingtonian Magazine photo by Stephen Voss

A nice article about Tim Tate was in the November issue of Washingtonian Magazine. The writer, Paul Barbagallo focuses on Tim’s original motivations for working in the glass medium, and how it keeps him going strong.

…”Always interested in art, he decided to try his hand at glassblowing: “I was going to leave behind a vase for my nephews and nieces to remember me by.”
Since then, Tate’s glass sculptures have been exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, and the Steps Gallery in London.
In 2001, he cofounded the Washington Glass School, carving out a communal studio space in an old Mount Rainier warehouse to mentor young artists. It’s here that he conceptualizes large installations, such as a donor wall for the DC-based charity Food and Friends, which features stained-glass squares.”…

Ignoring the fact the Food & Friends donor wall is not, in fact, made from stained glass – the magazine article is a nice, if brief, recap of Tim’s early glass history and how he was able to overcome his obstacles to emerge stronger as an artist.

Click HERE to jump to the Washingtonian Magazine article.

Posted in food and friends, HIV, paul barbagallo, stephen voss, washingtonian magazine

Happy Turkey Day!

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So much to be thankful for….

Our friendly UPS guy had brought a gift for the the glass school’s library : a 1944 edition of a book on Victorian Glass.
Inside the book are great examples of antique glass forms – some photos below:

Glass chicken & fowl tureens, bowls, dishes, servers and toppers abound – as they were a favorite motif of the decorative / functional novelites.

But the extensive and elaborate glass shoes and rollerskates are a surprise- who knew the Victorians had a foot fetish?

A Big Thanks to our UPS guy – and Best Wishes to All for a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted in glass bird, thanksgiving, ups, victorian glass

American Style Magazine – Fred & Susan Sanders’ Collection

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The latest edition – Issue #74 – of American Style Magazine is soon to hit the newstands (subscriber issues are already out!).
In the winter issue is a great story by Lee Lawrence about the amazing collection of Fred & Susan Sanders of Brooklyn, New York.

Both Fred & Sue Sanders have had a lifelong love of the arts, and Fred is the President of the Metropolitan Contemporary Glass Group and is on the Board of UrbanGlass in Brooklyn.

The article – written by Lee Lawrence & with photos by Stacy Bass – focuses on the exuberant and diverse collection of the Sanders and gives a great insight into the background of the collectors and how that informs the selection of the works that they live surround by.
Within their large collection are works by WGS artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis, and the magazine article gives a nod to some of those pieces.

A great view of a fantastic collection and of the Sanders beautiful New York place.


Click HERE to jump to AmericanStyle weblink.

Posted in american style magazine, americanstyle, fred sanders, lee lawrence, susan sanders

Michael Janis Goes West!

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photos by Demetra Theofanous

An earlier WGS blog post mentions that our own master of glass imagery – Michael Janis – was heading out west to teach a series of workshops at California’s Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI).
Michael’s workshops were about integrating imagery into glass – one workshop was creating deep bas-relief and in the other workshop he taught how he does his unique frit powder drawing technique.
Below are some photos of the California workshops:

Making clear and color bas-relief samples.

The students try out working in the plaster molds.

Mark adds color to his work; a student’s work shows the cast glass bristles of a paintbrush.

BAGI Executive Director Mark Murai is amazed at the detail captured by the kilnformed glass.

Michael Janis describes what goes on inside the glass during the firing.

Michael reveals all his secrets in how to use frit powder for drawing and how the layers of glass create the depth of the work.

Michael said he had really enjoyed working at BAGI’s facilities: “It’d be my new home… it has that experimental vibe – where as an artist you can really respond and can take your work the next level.”

Click HERE to jump to BAGI’s website.

Posted in BAGI, bay area glass institute, fused glass imagery, glass, imagery in glass, kilncast, workshop

Glass and Steel Sculpture Development Class Working Flat Out

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The sculpture development class held at both the Washington Glass School and DC Glass Works is working hard at completing their mixed-media sculptures.


Erin Antognoli sizes and fits her fused elements into her steel framework.


Lee Ann Taylor’s artwork.


Raya Koren marks the spacing for her glass & cast aluminum elements.


Tracy Benson’s cast ants cut around her cast glass leaves.


Brenda Dean shaping small elements.


Matthew Graham’s sculpture will feature delicate glass insect wings.


Joanna Viudiz assembles her cast glass elements into her steel framework.

Faz Besharatian working on the chop saw so fast, he becomes a blur.

The class is finishing up the works for a grand unveiling – stay tuned for photos of the finished works! The finished works will be part of the Washington Glass Studio’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 11, from 2-6 pm.

Posted in dc glassworks, glass and steel, mixed media, sculpture development class