This summer, Washington Glass Studio has been quietly building the foundation for Harbor of Stories, a new public artwork for Kempsville, Virginia. The nearly 18-foot steel structure now standing in the metal shop is the armature that will soon hold hundreds of community-made glass elements.
In partnership with the City of Virginia Beach and Historic Kempsville, we worked directly with Kempsville residents through a series of hands-on workshops held at Virginia MOCA and the Kempsville Community Center. Participants translated personal histories, local landmarks, and shared memories into colorful fused glass tiles — each one a small but vital part of the whole.
The artwork will also feature larger cast glass bas-relief panels created by Washington Glass Studio artists, depicting Kempsville’s native flora and fauna and the layered histories that define the area.
Right now, the steel stands empty — but not for long. The next phase involves cutting, prepping, and installing the glass, transforming this structure into a welcoming beacon at the corner of Witchduck Road and Princess Anne Road.
The harbor is coming together.