anniversary | Washington Glass Studio

In September 2026, the Washington Glass School marks 25 years of teaching, making, breaking, rebuilding, and believing in glass.

WGS was founded in 2001, by artists Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers, and held its very first class on September 13, 2001 — just two days after the attack on the United States. At a moment when much felt uncertain, a group of artists and students chose to gather, work with fire, and make something with their hands.

Washington Glass School 1336 Half Street, SE, Washington, DC in 2003

That instinct to keep going forward has defined the studio ever since.

What began as the glass program at the Millennium Arts Center at 65 I Street SW (now the Rubell Museum) moved in 2003 to the Washington Sculpture Center. In that same summer, an intrepid, lapsed architect named Michael Janis walked in and took his first class. By 2005, he was named co-director alongside Tim & Erwin — just as the studio was given its marching orders to vacate Capitol Hill due to eminent domain and the arrival of the Washington Nationals.

In 2006, WGS relocated to Mount Rainier, Maryland, where it has now spent 20 years building a community that extends far beyond the hot shop walls.

Along the way:

Nearly 6,000 students have passed through the studio
WGS has organized landmark exhibitions such as Glass 3 (2006) and International Glass & Clay (2013)
Both Janis and Tate have become Fulbright Fellows
The studio has weathered Artomatic dramas, funding cycles, kiln rebuilds, and more than a few cracked molds
And WGS has created major public works, including the monumental glass doors for the Library of Congress Adams Building, along with numerous civic and community-based projects throughout the region

In September 2026, the anniversary year will culminate in a major exhibition and celebration at the Brentwood Arts Center — a space that, in a twist of history, was once slated to become WGS’s new home back in 2006 before Hurricane Katrina-related construction delays reshaped those plans.

Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing stories from the archives, voices from the studio, images of works-in-progress, and reflections from the many artists who have made WGS what it is.

This isn’t just a look back.
It’s a living history — and an invitation to be part of what comes next.

>The Washington Glass School proudly announces its
All New Spring & Summer Classes!
click here to see website
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Class 908 – Recycle your Glass Workshop
Green up your life by doing something creative to help the environment! The class will begin with an interactive presentation from eco-artist Erwin Timmers about his art, the ethics and methods of recycling glass, and the processes that he uses. Then you start your exploration into using recycled glass to make sculptural pieces, architectural elements, or table ware using a variety of techniques including casting, fusing and slumping. You are encouraged to bring in glass you’d like to recycle into art and no prior experience is necessary. This workshop will be given 3 times this semester.
Instructor : Erwin Timmers
Dates : Offered 3 times this semester – all on Saturday mornings
April 11
May 16
June 20
Time : 9am to 1pm
Tuition : $150
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Class 909 – Beginner’s Glass Lover’s Weekend
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 & 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! The class is offered 2 times during the Spring/Summer Class Semester

Instructors : Tim Tate / Erwin Timmers / Michael Janis

Dates : Offered 2 times this semester
Session 909a – Sat/Sun. May 2/3
Session 909b – June 27/2 8
Time : 1pm to 5pm each day
Tuition : $300 per student (all materials included)
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Class 910 – Day of Photography
The official photographers for the Washington Glass School is Anything Photographic, with photographers extraordinaire Pete & Alison Duvall, and we have teamed up to give you a chance to have your work documented professionally at a fraction of what it would cost you to arrange a private session. Sign up now and don’t miss this incredible opportunity to preserve your artwork in quality photographs that can be used in your portfolio, shown to galleries, or displayed for family and friends.Nothing is more important to marketing your artwork than good photographs. Come to this one day special event at the glass school where you can have work professionally photographed. Digital only, $25 per piece, $15 for the CD, and 6% MD Sales tax. Limit 5 pieces per artist. Space is limited, so sign up today. To reserve a space, contact Pete at: pete@anythingphoto.net.

Your work deserves the best shot it can get.

Photographer: Pete & Alison Duvall
Date: May 9th
Time: 10am to 4pm (contact Pete directly to schedule your slot ahead of time…you must make an appointment)
Price : $25 per piece

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Class 911 – Beginning MIG Welding
Want to try your hand at welding? Ever thought about making a metal stand to display your glass? How about a metal frame? You can do it yourself, and it’s easier than you think. In 3 evenings you will learn how to make a display stand or frame to show off your work at its best. You will also 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.

Instructor: Erwin Timmers
Dates : Tuesday eves in May (12, 19, 26)
Time: 7pm to 9:30pm
Tuition: $300
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~~~~~~ Anniversary Open House and Studio Sale~~~~~~

Please join us for our 8th anniversary party. This annual event brings out hundreds of folks……we will have art here from over a dozen popular artists, plus the other studios surrounding us (including Red Dirt Studio and Flux studio) will be open as well. There is even a huge parade which passes in front of the school….because its also Mt. Rainier day! Music, art, fun!

What : Washington Glass School’s 8th Anniversary Party
Where : Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street
Mt.. Rainier, MD 20712
202-744-8222
When : Saturday, May 16th from 12 to 6pm (parade begins around 11)
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Class 912 – Bas Relief in Glass
Tired of working flat? Want an easy way to get some real depth into your glass? Here’s a fun class where you will learn one of the easiest methods of kilncasting sheet glass to achieve bas-re lief sculpture. This incredibly versatile method has endless fine art and architectural applications. In this two day class, we will discuss different types of glass and their firing s chedules. Working with color and how it can affect dimensional casting will also be explored. Bring items you may want to cast with this method or choose from our image library. All materials and firings included.

Instructor: Michael Janis
Dates: May 23/ 24
Time: 2pm to 5pm each day
Tuition: $350
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Class 913 – Plate Glass Bowls
So many innovations have been made with plate (float) glass recently….including the advent of wonderfully strong colors! Glitzy dichroic on plate glass? Sure! This two day workshop will not only teach you some great ways of working with color plate glass and reveal all sources. We will teach you the basics of working with float glass to create beautiful, unique and functional art. Learn techniques that allow you the opportunity to create a variety of fused glass bowls ranging in size up to a 12 inch platter and discuss the wide ranges of uses for this incredibly strong yet inexpensive glass. This is a great class to immerse yourself in and get hooked on glass! All materials are included.

Instructor: Michael Janis
Dates: Saturday June 6 & 13
Time: 2pm to 5pm each day
Tuition: $350
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Class 914 – Steel and Glass Sculptural Development
For this incredible class, we are teaming up with our sister school at DC GlassWorks to form this amazing collaborative experience. For anyone who has dreamed of creating true sculptural work, this is the class for you! This unusual class will feature 6 Sunday workshops, some discussing sculptural theory, while most are simply hands on with material in both studios. Students will be introduced to the basics of metal working, glass casting and fusing, and aluminum casting. This class is designed for anyone from beginner to the most advanced, no prior knowledge of glass, steel or aluminum are necessary. (An 18″ height restricti on will be imposed on all pieces).

Instructors: Dave D’Orio, Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate
Dates: Sunday Afternoons in June (7,14,21,28)/July (5,12) (we will have a make up class for those out of town over the 4th)
Times: 1 to 5pm each day
Tuition : $450
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Class 915 – LED Enlightenment for Artists
They’re small, efficient, and easy to use; LEDs are a great way to add color and sparkle to glass and other materials. We’ll review the work of LED artists and hobbyists, and then survey the world of LED styles and colors and explain how to make them work. We’ll cover some basic electronics and learn to design and solder our own simple LED circuits. You’ll learn what is possible with LEDs and how it applies to your work.

Instructor Tim Slagle/Erwin Timmers
Dates Wednesday evenings, June 3, 10, 17
Time 7pm – 9:30pm
Tuition $300
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Class 916 – Photographic Image Transfers On Glass
The transfer process did not die with Polaroid. Learn how to take your images, manipulate them, and put them on most any surface using Fuji’s instant print film. Instructors Alison & Pete Duvall w ill show you several tips and techniques so you can get the most out of your images. This will be a hands-on workshop, so come prepared to get your hands dirty. All materials will be supplied by the instructors but students are encouraged to bring their own slides and any materials they would like to transfer images to. There is a $20 lab fee for supplies to be paid to the instructors on the day of the workshop.

Instructor: Pete and Alison Duvall
Date: July 11
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Cost: $75
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Class 917 – X-treme Lava Lover’s Weekend!
This X-treme class is the fastest way to l earn all aspects of warm and hot glass and hot metal!! in the shortest amount of time! Under the supervision of several professional glass artists you will learn the basics of how to fuse and kiln-cast glass, blow glass, and cast molten aluminum in one quick weekend! Everything from bowls and plates to sculptural objects….this is the perfect way for a beginner to learn the basics of glass and metal….and you will leave with several very cool items! For this class we have teamed up with our sister school, DC GlassWorks. The first day will be at our facilities, the second day there. What’s cooler than melting glass and metal??

Instructors: Tim Tate/ Michael Janis/ Dave D’Dorio
Dates: Sat/Sun – August 1/2
Time: 1 to 5pm each day
Tuition: $400

The Washington Glass School

Category Archives: anniversary

Washington Glass School Turns 25

Photos from WGS 9th Anniversary Open House

New Class Schedule!