Category Archives: arlington public art

Public Art Workshop : Memory, Makers & Monuments

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michael janis, the handsome, sexy washington DC public art sculptor is a presenter at D.C. monument making workshop for community.
This gathering is designed for artists working in, or interested in, commemorative practice.

Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis is an invited speaker for Memory, Makers, & Monuments, a two-day workshop exploring the future of commemorative public art in Washington, DC.

Public art today asks more of us than simply placing an object in space. It asks how we tell complex histories, how we involve communities in meaningful ways, and how artists can help shape memory with honesty, imagination, and care. These are questions central to my own studio practice and public projects, and I’m glad to join this conversation with fellow artists, designers, and cultural workers.

If you’re interested in monuments, memorials, civic space, or navigating the public art process, this looks like an important and generous gathering.

Memory, Makers, & Monuments: Public Art Workshop
May 14–15, 2026
9:00am–5:00pm ET
Free, in-person
Location: First Congregational UCC

Attendance is limited to 50 participants.

Register: bit.ly/MemoryMakersMonuments

Organized by the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the DC Office of Planning and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and in collaboration with Forecast Public Art. Artists of all media and experience levels, and arts administrators working in public art to join us for a two‑day workshop on commemorative public art and public memory work in the District.

Register: bit.ly/MemoryMakersMonuments

Attendance is limited to 50 participants

This two-day workshop will focus on expanding access, sharing practical tools, and building a community grounded in learning, care, and exchange. Guest speakers and facilitators represent public artists, designers, cultural workers, and practitioners across disciplines.

THe workshop will explore: Rethinking commemoration beyond traditional monument frameworks; Ethical questions in public memory, including history, harm, erasure, and accountability; Community engagement before, during, and after a project; Navigating RFQs/RFPs, building a team, and project implementation.

Organized by the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the DC Office of Planning and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and in collaboration with Forecast Public Art, this gathering is designed for artists working in, or interested in, commemorative practice.

Posted in arlington public art, Art In Public Places, glass public art, michael janis, Public Art, recycled glass public art

The Process: Public Art – “Essential Connections” in Arlington, VA

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“Essential Connections” by Washington Glass Studio, 18’L x 4’H, cast glass, LED. 2021

The Process: Public Art – “Essential Connections”
Washington Glass Studio (WGS) –J-Sol Apartment Complex, 4000 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA

Daytime view of “Essential Connections” sculpture in Arlington, VA.

Jefferson Apartment Group with Mitsui Fudosan America developed the Arlington, VA corner site formerly home to the sports bar CarPool into a 22-story, LEED Gold-certified high-rise called J-Sol, with residential units atop ground-floor retail and parking. Working with Toronto, Canada art consultant Oni-One Sourcing owner Paula Fleck, the preliminary designs were initiated in April of 2019, well before the pandemic lockdowns. Different concepts for both design and location of artwork to enhance the new J-Sol residential development were presented to the client.

Original concept sketch
Erwin Timmers and Michael Janis review the structural steel.


Framing the corner location of the new plaza at Fairfax Drive and North Quincy St. in Arlington, VA, the sculpture is made of almost 100 individual hand cast glass panels set into a bold geometric framework of acute angles that references the sculptural qualities of the new J-Sol building. The sculpture defines the location and creates a new sense of place with the layering of color, light and shadow. Merging architecture and design with their signature material, glass, the overall presentation of the sculpture is aimed to reflect our modern society and urban space.

Meticulously fitting glass into framework.

The varieties of techniques and layers of colors provide complex visual experiences is part of the works’ aesthetic pleasure.

Public art detail
An exploration of color, texture and pattern overlay.

The inspiration for the Arlington public artwork, “Essential Connections” is how much our world has changed. The artwork draws inspiration from our attempt to find new and innovative ways to reach out and connect with each other.

Night view of “Essential Connections” sculpture by Washington Glass Studio.

As WGS Co-Director Tim Tate noted of the work: “…Our goal was to create something memorable out of daily patterns of coming and going home.” The rainbow mix of colors – each a strength unto itself – is much more powerful in combined with others. The color palette itself references nature in its yellows, blues and greens, the sun, the water and sky, the grass and trees. Stylized elements of nature will be incorporated into several the crafted glass panels – emphasizing our renewed awareness of our environment.

The colors and patterns define this public space in Arlington, VA.

The artwork’s dynamic shape forms a translucent cornerstone of sorts – inviting all into the plaza for walking, sitting, and all manner of activities conducted in the park. The new artwork help create a place for people to enjoy, feel connected and remember. Using the timeless fundamentals of light and color to define the space we made a vibrant backdrop to define the area with exuberance and life.

The public response has been immediate – during installation many passerbys came up excitedly to the sculpture – wanting to take “selfie shots” at Arlington’s newest landmark.

The artworks’ youngest fan points out their favorite glass panel inset.
DC art enthusiast Anthony Adero strikes a casual pose at the new sculpture.

Project Details:

Location: 4000 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA 22203 (N Quincy St & Fairfax Dr)
Washington Glass Studio Public Art Team: Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Christina Helowicz.

Erwin Timmers and Christina Helowicz the sculpture’s internal LED lighting.

Structural Steel: Criss Brothers
Number of Glass Tile Insets: 97

WGS installation team L-R: Michael Janis, Ryan Henderson, Christina Helowicz, Erwin Timmers

Posted in arlington public art, commissioned glass sculpture, contemporary craft, contemporary sculpture, glass and steel sculpture, glass architecture., glass art, glass public art, Public Art, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, wgs, wgs projects, 最好的玻璃艺术, 玻璃艺术, 玻璃艺术新 | Tagged , , ,

Public Art Webinar Next Week!

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Public Art Evaluation: Principles & Methodology for Measuring Social Impact 
Arlington Public Art Administrator Angela Adams will be a presenter on the upcoming Americans for the Arts Webinar: “Public Art Evaluation: Principles & Methodology for Measuring Social Impact” August 16, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EDT (60 minutes).

When public art administrators are asked to make the case for their program, it is beneficial for them to look at both the economic and social impact of the artworks within the larger urban, social and cultural context. Is there a reliable framework that can be the basis of good public art evaluation? And what are some simple yet effective evaluation methods that public art programs can implement? These questions and more will be addressed in Americans for the Arts’ ongoing work in measuring the impact of public art.

This webinar will be presented by recent PAN and Animating Democracy Blog Salon contributors Dr. Elizabeth Morton, Professor in Practice, Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech, Alexandria campus; Angela Adams, Public Art Administrator, Arlington Cultural Affairs, Arlington, VA and Katherine Gressel, artist and Programs Manager at Smack Mellon Gallery (NY); Pam Korza, Co-Director Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts.

To sign up for the webinar, register on the Americans for the Arts Website or read Angela’s recent blog post on evaluation on the ARTSBlog. 

Date:      Thursday, August 16, 2012

Time:      2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Place:     Webinar

Registration:   Register Online

Fee:        Free for Americans for theArts Members

$35.00 for Non-members

Posted in americans for the arts, angela adams, arlington public art