SOFA Art Fair is now INTERSECT Chicago

Works by Tim Tate and Michael Janis will be featured at Habatat Galleries online venue.

Works by Tim Tate and Michael Janis will be featured at Habatat Galleries online venue.

Intersect Chicago is replacing SOFA virtually for the 2020 art fair edition due to COVID-19.

Going “Live” online from November 6-12, with a dedicated VIP Preview day on November 5, 2020, the fair will feature a special focus for each day, including: Glass, Contemporary Art, Ceramic and Craft, Design, Outsider Art, Fiber Art, and Public Art / Sculpture.

Intersect Chicago Art Fair will showcase work by WGS artist Michael Janis at Habatat Galleries

Intersect Chicago Art Fair will showcase work by WGS artist Michael Janis at Habatat Galleries

For more information on the Art Fair – click HERE.

The Future of Art: Glass Art Fair 2020

Many art fairs have been moved online due to the global pandemic. Now, as a way to provide access to the best of art glass – Glass Art Fair has been formed. This new online art fair provides a unique opportunity with virtual experience – where all are invited to learn and explore each artist featured and share on their personal social media. The future has “arrived so much sooner,” said the creator of Glass Art Fair,  “If galleries and fairs are closed, how can we sell art? Creating an online art fair platform is something we envisioned as an important part of what we do.”

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artist: Tim Tate. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

New for 2020, the Glass Art Fair online art fair features over 60 artists creating using glass as their art medium, opening online to the public on Sunday, November 1st, 2020. This art fair will be online the same time as the Sofa Chicago art fair (rebranded Intersect Art Fair).

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artist: Michael Janis. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.


Glass Art Fair hopes collectors on their laptops and iPads will take more time with the work than those darting through a Navy Pier or a Miami beachfront tent. 
“We have the ability to have multiple images and detail shots – When people are visiting the online platform, they aren’t walking through for 45 seconds. You’re going to have their attention for so much longer.”

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artist: Wilfried Grootens. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

This online presentation will continue for the month of November with more presentations as works become available. Each artist has the availability to edit and add artwork throughout the month so please check back in for updates often. The works on the site are available for purchase.

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artist: Christina Bothwell. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

Expect more of what you love at the Glass Art Fair.

artists:  Jennifer Caldwell and Jason Chakravarty. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

artists:
Jennifer Caldwell and Jason Chakravarty. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

JRA CRAFT WEEKEND – ALL VIRTUAL

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Join the James Renwick Alliance this weekend –  October 24 and 25 for the JRA Craft Weekend in their first-ever digital Craft Weekend!  Come one, come all, to the most fabulous Craft Weekend of them all. The Weekend will feature the Carnival of Craft, hosted by Michael Monroe, taking place this Saturday at 7pm ET. Craft fortunes, magic, and more. This is bound to be one of the most fun craft events of quarantine.

The Craft Mediums will entertain with good fortunes and predictions that will astound and amaze. Get ready for many OMG moments!

The Craft Mediums will entertain with good fortunes and predictions that will astound and amaze. Get ready for many OMG moments!

The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) invites all to a lively weekend of 3 events in 2 days, celebrating American Craft and the 2020 Distinguished Educators. 

Events include: DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR SYMPOSIUM

Join the 2020 James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Educator Symposium online, featuring Syd Carpenter, Warren Seelig, Sondra Sherman and Carol Savion on behalf of Craft in America. The Distinguished Educators, will speak about their experiences and inspiration, sharing student work, and discussing the field of craft education. The conversation will be moderated by Leila Cartier, Executive Director of CraftNOW Philadelphia.

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As part of the night’s entertainment – you won’t want to miss what The Washington Post calls everyone’s “favorite mad-genius magician,” David London! He will be joining the event on Saturday, October 24 where he will encourage us to explore our creativity and sense of wonder. David is a magician, storyteller and experience designer based in Baltimore, MD, who creates and presents original interactive magical experiences. As a 20-plus-year practitioner, student and writer on the art of illusion, London’s created a series of dazzlingly original stage productions and appeared at over 30 magic events throughout the country. His specialty is an engaging blend of illusion, storytelling, comedy, and even some sly surrealism.

Also -CAUCUS DAY: CRAFT COLLECTIONS TOUR

jra.craft.tourIn this fun exclusive social event we will see the collection of Sharon Karmazin, Judith & Martin Schwartz, and Fred & Susan Sanders. Each collection, stunning on its own, creates a unique opportunity to see some of these top collections all in one afternoon with fellow JRA donors and friends. ​

Click HERE to find out more about Craft Weekend and to online links to register !

The James Renwick Alliance is made up of collectors, artists, educators, gallery and museum professionals and others who share a passion for contemporary American craft. For more information – click HERE

WGS New Covid Protocols = Big Hit!

The Washington Glass School prepares to reopen the studio- and have outlined new COVID-19 procedures, based on CDC guidelines. Click HERE to jump to posting.
Proper Face Masks must be work to enter the studio and school.

Dr Tony Fauci at Washington Glass School

Dr. Fauci ceremoniously presents the golden thermometer to WGS Co-Director Erwin Timmers as the reopen protocols for the Washington Glass School are announced. After the ceremony, all scrubbed up for 20 seconds and social distancing was returned. Image by C. Montague, esq.

The announcement of new Covid Protocols garnered much fanfare and attention! Dr. Fauci – Tony – swung by to give it the “thumbs up”.

DC’s Multi-media Arts Festival – Artomatic – is HERE!

ARTOMATIC 2.0: A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE . Since we can't gather physically, for now,  the 20th anniversary celebration is online - July 20 - August 20, 2020

ARTOMATIC 2.0: A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE . Since we can’t gather physically, for now, the 20th anniversary celebration is online – July 20 – August 20, 2020

If you have been around the DC area for a while, you have probably experienced Artomatic in some form, either as a participant or visitor. Please consider showing your artwork this year. There is a suggested $20 entry fee. For that, you’ll receive your own page with 5 images, your bio, a paragraph about your work, and links to whatever you want. The James Renwick Alliance – a group of collectors, artists, educators, gallery and museum professionals who share a passion for contemporary American craft will be giving out awards to media specific work again this year & we hope to see your work among the pieces for consideration. Artomatic is such a great community building event and we would love you to be a part of our special family.

Artists! Sign-up online – click here to jump to Artomatic artist page!

If you register for Artomatic 2.0, be sure to share on social media.  Tag @jracraft and #jracraft so they can see you!

WGS Featured Artist: Sean Donlon

CLICK IT! Featured Artist: Sean Donlon

Sean Donlon has been drawn to the challenges of glass manipulation. Sean earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Craft and Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012. He has traveled all over the United States and internationally to Lauscha, Germany and Murano, Italy to study lost glass techniques and to work with other glass artists. Among his distinguished honors, Sean has been the recipient of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts fellowship, was awarded Craft + Design’s Best in Show, and was recently featured in American Craft Magazine. Sean’s work has been exhibited in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and the Chrysler Museum. He is currently living and working in Richmond, VA.

Sean Donlon

Sean Donlon

Washington Glass School blog catches up with Sean as his work is part of the WGS Contemporary online exhibit “CLICK-IT!”.

Washington Glass School (WGS): Describe your artwork method/process.

Sean Donlon: I use flameworking, a glassblowing technique, to create these teapots. Within the manipulation of glass and fire a unique vessel is born.

Sean Donlon, "Tantric Tea Time"; glass / mixed media

Sean Donlon, “Tantric Tea Time“; glass / mixed media

WGS: Describe your work in the show and highlight aspects that the viewers should understand about the work.

Sean Donlon: We are surrounded daily by functional objects; beauty everywhere is easily overlooked when it is hidden in plain view. Becoming obsessed with this practical object turned into an opportunity to make sense of the world.

The teapot became a symbol in my eyes, one that could be recognized by all people. Throughout history teapots have been used as a canvas for expression through its maker or utilizer. This makes the teapot a greater symbol – one that can connect everyone on the principle of taking a moment to wind down, interact, tell stories, or internally reflect.

This inanimate object becomes vibrant and alive when juxtaposed in a foreign environment; every teapot manifests its own personality in these installations. Reflecting light off of each other and playing with their environment, these teapots, in every viewing angle become their own story. 

WGS: How have you handled the Covid lockdown?

Sean Donlon: It has been difficult, and a storm of emotions. I have family who is going through treatment for a terminal cancer and covid isn’t making that experience any easier.

I run a shared studio space with other artists, and it has been a big change. In the pace of the workplace, and to make sure everyone is on the same page in our adapting to this pandemic.  Safety has always been our top priority, I was very excited to see how everyone came together to make things operate smoothly.  It hasn’t been easy, but I have realized so many small things I love about life. Between the sound of water pouring on coffee beans for cold brew, and how light can change so much in a few seconds throughout the day.  Its made me so grateful to be able to reconnect with the world around me again.

I was thinking there would be a large flow of creative energy, but it has actually been hit and miss.  Its made my work slow down but in a great way.  New work from this is in the works and I am excited to share it when its ready… but its kind of hush hush till then.   

WGS: if you were not an artist – what would you be?

Sean Donlon: I discovered glass when I was working as a tire installer.  I had a car dropped when I was working on it and almost lost my hands and it was that day, I decided to switch to glass full time… I wanted to keep using my hands to create art and have not looked back since that decision.

Sean Donlon's surreal teapots.

Sean Donlon’s surreal teapots.

WGS: Do you do a lot of planning in your work – or is there an element of chance while working?

Sean Donlon: Much of the planning starts with the concept and design.  Then trying to figure out what tools to make is important to each piece.  Everything gets a custom-made component to make the mounting and shaping seamless.  Then the raw fun starts.  When doing the hot glass part, it is planned – but then I do allow room to have the natural avenue of chance and error to come into play!

WGS: What is your rule of thumb in determining when a work is finished?

Sean Donlon: (When the hot glue is dry… JK). I wish this was an easy answer but its not.  I often know when I am working the glass on the torch when its done.  There will be this moment where it just speaks to me in a way that i see if i change anything else it’ll be too much or throw off the balance of the piece.  Once this is done I still have to install and mirror the work so its still a long process after the glass is made.

My rule of thumb is when the work has the right gesture, narrative, flow, and I am happy with it.  I won’t let something out that I am not please with, and it takes failed works to make the great ones.

 

Click here to jump to Sean Donlon’s work in CLICK-IT!

 

2020 Glass Coast Weekend on the Gulf of Mexico – features work by WGS Artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis

Habatat Galleries‘ Fifth Annual Glass Coast Weekend features multiple exhibits, talks and demonstrations!

Habatat Prime Exhibit in Sarasota FL, February 6th – 9th, 2020

Habatat Prime Exhibit in Sarasota FL, February 6th – 9th, 2020

A special 10,000 square foot gallery is being created for the fifth annual Glass Coast Weekend 2020 on the Gulf of Mexico. The glass show will feature works by some of the world’s most respected glass artists showcasing their works in gallery shows, museum shows, artist talks, demonstrations and an auction

“Since its inception, art glass has become much more than blown glass,” said Ferdinand Hampson, founder of Habatat Galleries, which launched the Glass Coast Weekend. “Today it includes cast, slumped, flame worked, fused and laminated works. In all, it is the finest sculpture, using glass as a means of expression, and now acquired and exhibited by museums around the world. We’ve worked hard to expose art lovers across the globe to these gifted artists using glass as their medium.”

For the weekend, the company established Habatat Prime at 8840 N. Tamiami Trail, a gallery space that will house three exhibitions. Czech Glass Now will feature noted and emerging Czech artists. SPLASH features works by 24 artists who play with color, optics and forms. There also will be a special exhibition of work by Bertil Vallien, a Swedish glass artist considered one of the founders of the modern glass movement.

For info on PDF – click HERE!