>
Cheryl Derricotte – a celebrity studio artist from the Washington Glass School’s early days is the new executive director of Prince Georges County’s Gateway Community Development Corporation. Her artwork includes narrative glass and mixed-media sculptures focused on contemporary issues and politics. Whether jewelry or cast glass sculpture, Cheryl’s work always incorporates a strong statement. 
Check out her website here
>
Syl Mathis is one of the Washington Glass School ‘studio artists’.
His finely crafted boats are highly sought after for their poetic compositions.
Syl creates plaster silica molds and 
loads with glass. He fires the glass for at least two days, and then cold-works the cast glass.
Tough guy – but cries at the slightest glass cut.
>
We caught up with Jeff Zimmer, a Washington Glass School alum, when he visited from Scotland. Jeff was a teaching assistant, (back in the day) and was one of the artists in our incubator program. Jeff went to Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland and received his Masters of Design, Architectural 
Glass in 2005. This past September, he was one of the artists in the British Glass Biennale.
His glass artwork had early on received much attention, including Judith Schaechter listing Jeff as one of 10 glass artists to watch in an article in Glass Magazine (Fall 2003).
“images are built through multiple firings on many layers of glass, allowing an opacity and range of tones not often found in stained glass and permitting the object to ‘move’ as the layers shift in relation to each other with the movement of the viewer.” Jeff Zimmer
View Jeff’s website HERE
>Boxing day is not a US holiday – the Glass School artists are focused on creating new pieces
Tim Tate applies oil paint stain to his cast glass elements
Michael Janis does some sgraffitto for a new tarot card – ‘The Magician’
Nancy Donnelly works on a new glass dress.
>…And to all a Roast Beast!
>
A new class will have its debut in this session – Cobalt Blue Bowls. This class works with everyone’s favorite color – the lush, strong, deep cobalt blue. Click Here to see the class dates and times of what will be a fun class!
>
Tim Tate’s cast glass and steel sculpture won the international design competition held in New Orleans. It took many years to pull together financing and organize the construction; the park opened November 29, 2008, timed to open before World AIDS Day.
In the words of the committe: Set in historic Washington Square Park, the New Orleans AIDS Memorial will provide a healing sanctuary for family and friends and will promote understanding of the human tragedy of the AIDS epidemic. It (was the) goal for the monument to create a public landscape where anyone who has been touched by AIDS can find comfort and consolation within a dignified and creative community setting.
The memorial, made of concentric bronze circles framing inspirational multicultural cast glass faces, will provide a powerful yet comforting reminder of the meaning behind the memorial. Leading up to the memorial, a pathway of granite stones, inscribed with names of loved ones, will allow visitors to reflect on the way this disease has forever transformed our world.
The sculpture’s design, which incorporates cast glass faces that keep watch thru metal portals, is the focal point for the yearly “AIDS Walk” that commences at the park.
photography by Jonathan Traviesa