MPA ArtReach features works in Continuum Exhibit

McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) fall 2022 exhibition, Continuum: Artists Teaching Artists, runs thru November 10, 2022. The invitational exhibition highlights work by artists who give significant time to teaching, mentoring, and community building, while continuing to sustain and develop strong and innovative personal bodies of work. Continuum includes the work of artists and educators from most of the area colleges and universities, including George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Northern Virginia Community College, the University of Maryland, the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Washington Glass School. All of the participants are as dedicated to their on-going artistic practice as they are to their students, and vice versa.

One of the center’s programs is Art Reach- MPA’s highly successful educational outreach program for local preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as senior citizens.

MPA’s Sharon Fishel describes Michael Janis’ art to 2nd Story’s Culmore Safe Youth Project.

MPA’s ArtReach recently visited West Springfield Elementary, to share the current exhibition, Continuum: Artists Teaching Artists. After seeing Michael Janis’ art installation titled “How We Take Care of Each Other” the kindergarten classes were inspired by the work and created their own art installation together as a classroom community. They used markers to trace their hands using favorite colors and then drew images of things or people that inspire us to care for one another. The kids became communicators when they shared their art pieces with classroom peers and collaborators when they combined the works together to make an art installation on paper.

West Springfield Elementary kindergarten class riffs off Michael Janis’ artwork.

Continuum featured artists include: David Carlson, Patrick Craig, Robert Devers, Kate Fitzpatrick, Helen Frederick, Janis Goodman, Rene Gower, Michael Janis, Maria Karametou, Steven Prince, John Ruppert, Foon Sham, Judy Southerland, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Stephanie Williams, Sue Wrbican, and Peter Winant.

1234 Ingleside Avenue
McLean, VA 22101
703-790-1953

Demystifying Public Art – Online presentation by the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass

Artists Erwin Timmers & Michael Janis will present an online ‘zoom’ presentation that will be part of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) Online Education in Art Series – “Demystifying Public Art.”

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Public art created by artists of the Washington Glass Studio both enrich and celebrate diverse communities. Successful projects include – The Monumental Doors for the Library of Congress, Laurel Library, the Washington DC Gateway Arch, and the West Palm Beach International Airport.
Michael Janis and Erwin Timmers will discuss how they navigate the complex processes from finding the projects to their ultimate creation and installation.

On Tuesday, September 15, at 2 p.m. Eastern time, AACG starts their Online Education Series called “FIRED UP” – click on the link to register for the free event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYucemupz4jE9xI6GbpH6qoSHz7-iWuztOT?fbclid=IwAR0A-NoKAxTtkf6k12vBHvukn8IlUFRaY5uTfj97pj5yBBaA3-bsCO0abDc

The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to further the development and appreciation of art made from glass.

The Alliance informs collectors, critics and curators by encouraging and supporting museum exhibitions, university glass departments and specialized teaching programs, regional collector groups, visits to private collections, and public seminars.

CLICK-IT Exhibition Opens June 16th @ WGS Contemporary

WGS Contemporary hosts CLICK-IT and Artists for Racial Justice

WGS Contemporary hosts CLICK-IT! and Artists for Racial Justice

With much of the physical art world closing because of Covid-19, artists, galleries and museums have turned to technology and social media to stay open (albeit virtually), allowing visitors from anywhere in the world to interact with and view art.

WGS Contemporary Gallery (located in the DMV’s Gateway Arts District) had to get creative with how to bring art to the world. With so much changing so quickly, artists and arts organizations are still in the process of finding their footing. “With everyone in isolation, art is needed now more than ever to help remind people that we are not alone. Art helps us to dream, escape our current realities, and engage our imaginations in building a better world for tomorrow,” said Gallery Director Teri Swinhart (Bailey). “With this show, we all stand united (six feet apart, of course) and ready to take on these challenges and the new opportunities they present.” 

"Spilt Perfume Set", Artist:  Carmen Lozar

“Spilt Perfume Set”, Artist: Carmen Lozar

"Sea Through The Looking Glass" Artists: Jennifer Caldwell and Jason Chakravarty

“Sea Through The Looking Glass”, Artists: Jennifer Caldwell and Jason Chakravarty

Opening June 16th, WGS Contemporary presents “Click-It!” featuring works by some of the most exciting and inspiring artists, with a broad spectrum of works that showcase the current trends in art and the media specific works.

"Patterns of Containment", Artist: Erwin Timmers

“Patterns of Containment”, Artist: Erwin Timmers

Artists in the show include:

Teri Swinhart (Bailey)
F. Lennox Campello
Jennifer Caldwell
Jason Chakravarty
Cheryl P. Derricotte
Sean Donlon
Sean Hennessey
Joseph Ivacic
Michael Janis
Carmen Lozar
Tim Tate
Erwin Timmers
Steve Wanna
Jeff Zimmer

“By placing artworks of different materials, mediums, and styles in direct conversation, there is opportunity for new dialogues and perspectives,” adds Swinhart. Click-It! will highlight the many parallel and interesting artistic directions these artists bring creating a dynamic environment of exchange online.
“We will be using our online platforms to introduce exciting new art programming that aims to enrich, entertain and inspire during this challenging time.”
A special fundraising event “Artists for Racial Justice” is also scheduled online as a companion show, with the-proceeds for these special works to be donated to the non-profit organizations “Color of Change ” and the “NAACP”.

"Deja Vu" Artist Sean Dolon

“DejaVu”, Artist Sean Donlon

 

WGS Contemporary is a Washington, DC area art and special projects fine arts gallery. WGS Contemporary’s mission is to contribute to thinking about art, new media, technology, and social issues through an open access forum which we hope will facilitate contemporary and innovative projects worldwide. In that process, WGSC will expose the cutting edge work of artists pushing the new media frontiers of art. Projects using robotics, sensory perception, holographic imaging, self-contained video sculptures and others will offer an intelligent and fresh set of artwork that marries technology and art into a new creative dialogue in the visual arts.

 

 

 
Want more than just visual …stimulation? click on link below and get the official “Click It” themesong – music by Donovan Lessard.

Washingtonian Magazine Loves Glass Class

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The September issue of Washingtonian Magazine is all about learning. The “Learn Something New” cover article highlights the editors and writers favorite of the “most interesting courses for smart people who love to learn new things”. The Washington Glass School makes the grade, and the Beginners Glass Lovers class was selected as the top of the class for Glass Art!

DC’s Eastern Senior H.S. Does Glass

This past week, students from Washington, DC’s Eastern Senior High School came to the Washington Glass School for a short course in glass fusing. In each World History unit taught at Eastern Senior High School, a section on art is implemented into the curriculum as a way to encourage students to live a part of history rather than solely read about it. The art class this year was taught by Audrey Wilson, and the class dove right into the thick of it, making beautiful glass. 

The students worked in creative collaboration on the art projects.
Under the watchful eye of Audrey Wilson, the class beavered away.
Sonic Hedgehog in glass. A modern classic.
The students loaded the kilns with their artwork.
Another beauty in glass comes from the kiln.

Their teacher, Ms. Olaiya said of the art trip: “As an educator I believe that experiential learning is imperative to forming well rounded students. Exposure to mind opening experiences, such as the Washington Glass School, I believe, will awaken possibilities for life goals and ignite a sense of adventure for our students.”  The students then returned to their school excited from a day of Glass Adventure! Said Ms. Olaiya: “The students said how much they enjoyed it and thought it was really cool to work with glass.”

Eastern Senior High School

 Here’s to the young artists’ future!