The west coast of sunny Florida is where the glass art scene is hot! This past week, Habatat Detroit Fine Art held a glass extravaganza at the Ringling College of Art in beautiful Sarasota, FL. This was be their 8th Annual Glass Coast Weekend (GCW). This year the event paid homage to the past, present, and future of studio glass. The show featured noted artists, lectures, demos and a reception at the Ringling Museum of Art and the 5th Anniversary event at the Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, FL.
Above is a quick video fly-thru of the main show at Ringling College of Art
The Glass Coast excitement continued up the coast – at Duncan McClellan Gallery, where Washington Glass School artists are featured in the groundbreaking “Dreams & Visions” exhibit (thru March 5).
Michael Janis with glass fans at Duncan McClellan Gallery during reception held for Washington Glass School artists.
WGS Artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis were featured at a series of receptions, lectures and demonstrations held at DMG over the weekend.
Artist Tim Tate narrates to the audience on the hotshop what techniques the gaffer is employing to create Tim’s sacred heart glass sculpture.Tim Tate’s blown sculpture gets some heat!Tim Tate’s Sacred Heart sculpture after annealing and cooling. Tim plans on working imagery into the work and presenting a new series of hearts.
Artist Michael Janis had a large audience in attendance for his presentation on “Art in Architecture”, where he talked about his design background and how it influenced his artwork and the public art sculpture made by the Washington Glass Studio.
Michael Janis talks about his pop art work made in collaboration with Chicago artist Tony Porto.Michael Janis (center) with new collectors Steve and Debbie Lang at DMG reception.
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.”
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).
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.”
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.
artist: Christina Bothwell. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.
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
“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
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”.
“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.
Couldn’t make it to sunny Miami for Art Basel? Still want to see one of the leading shows from the comfort of … wherever? Click on link and get a 360 virtual tour of one of Art Miami’s leading art fairs – Aqua Art Miami. Spin all around, and go up and visit room #208 to see WGS Contemporary‘s exhibit – featuring works byTeri Bailey, J Jordan Bruns, Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, and Steve Wanna. The show was a great success – we will have more trips down to Florida, we might as well get a beachfront condo!
The virtual reality walk thru is so encompassing, you just might want to have a mojito in hand to get the full Miami effect!
nb: this is the full overview 360 view of show – follow arrows in and up the stairs to room 208 to see WGS – or walk thru the entire place and look into the windows to see all the galleries that had shown.
This years Art Basel / Miami Art Week is December 2 – 8, 2019. It’s the best time of the year for viewing contemporary art in Florida, if not the entire world. Miami and Miami Beach will be the center of the art world for a week. More than a thousand art galleries from around the world participate in some eighteen art fairs. You’ll see amazing artwork from around the world.
Potomac, MD’s Alida Anderson Art Projects will be presenting new works by WGS Co-Directors Tim Tate and Michael Janis at their gallery in the 15th edition of the PULSE Art Fair.
Tim Tate and Michael Janis’ collaborative glass/mixed media artwork titled: “The Longing for Transcendence” will be on display at Alida Anderson space #501 during Pulse Art Fair.
A new feature for the fair, PULSE Perspectivos, a dual-language series of talks and tours held in English and Spanish. A presentation, “On Identity in the Arts: What Does It Mean to be Latino/a? Latino, Latina, Latin(x), Hispanic…”, held in Spanish at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The conversation will be led by art critic, writer and blogger Florencio Lennox (aka Lenny) Campello who has been spearheading interactive events discussing these issues for the past few years.
El Sentinel / the Sun-Sentinel have already been posting about the upcoming arrival of our glass artist’s works!
PULSE Art Fair is located as Indian Beach Park, 4601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, and 46th Street with direct access from the beach and the boardwalk.
PULSE Art Fair is open to the public from Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8, 2019. A Private Preview Brunch will be held Thursday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SOFA 2018: Discovering New Concepts of Innovation and Design Chicago, Illinois (November 1 – November 4, 2018) – This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago, which takes place at the landmark Navy Pier.
Laura Beth Konopinski, “Beneath your walls the rubble exposed”, mixed media glass, Alida Anderson Art Projects, booth #A39. (photo by Pete Duvall)
Washington Glass School artists Laura Beth Konopinski, Tim Tate and Michael Janis will have their new works featured at the critically acclaimed expo. The Chicago-based art expo is traditionally dedicated to three-dimensional art and design.
Michigan’s Habatat Galleries will feature new works by Tim Tate and Michael Janis, in their space #A25. Tim’s new infinity mirrors have become much more sculptural and dynamic – they must be seen in person to experience the reflected themes of empowerment and hope.
Tim Tate, “I Stand With My Sisters”, mixed media, LED, glass. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photo by Pete Duvall)
Michael Janis has been creating a new series that will debut at the Chicago SOFA art fair, where his realistic imagery is offset with color and abstracted forms. His work can be seen also at Habatat Galleries space, #A25. Michael’s work will also be in a special exhibit at the fair: Intersection: Art & Lifethat features works by artists featured in a new book by Kevin Wallace, director of California’s Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. His book explores the historical parallels between art and life, with the arts playing a central role in exploring identity, spirituality, our relationship with the environment and developing technologies.
Michael Janis, “In My Dreams”, fused glass, 12″ x 16″, Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photo by Pete Duvall)
Michael Janis, “Forever”, “Talk to Me”, “Forever”, 12″ x 16″ each. Habatat Galleries booth #A25. (photos by Pete Duvall).
Laura Beth Konopinski will be showing her new narrative mixed media sculptures. After a successful exhibit at the Art Miami Fairs last year, she has been creating new works that have already received critical acclaim. Laura Beth can be found at Alida Anderson Art Projects space, #A39
December 4 – 10, 2017, Miami and Miami Beach becomes the epicenter of the art world with approximately 1200 art galleries from around the world showing thousands of artists. It’s also a week of fashion with gala openings and after parties. Music, Art & Design all combine with incredible Florida weather – it’s an incredible place for viewing contemporary art.
Washington Glass School artists are being represented in a big way this year, with all of the school’s Directors and the new Studio Coordinator having works being exhibited at the art fairs.
Tim Tate’s work will be featured at Habatat Galleries space at both SCOPE art fair and FORM.
Tim Tate and Michael Janis’ work will be shown at Habatat Galleries space at Scope Miami (space F35) and the inaugural show of Form Miami (located across the street from Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center).
CONTEXT Art Miami will feature works by WGS artists Erwin Timmers, Laura Beth Konopinski and WGS alum Audrey Wilson.
Alida Anderson Art Projects’ booth #C225 at Context Art Miami will feature some incredible new sculptural works by WGS Co-Director Erwin Timmers and Studio Coordinator Laura Beth Konopinski. Alum Audrey Wilson will be exhibiting her new body of work that shows the influence of the Kent Sate MFA that she is currently enrolled in.
For an overview of all the contemporary art fairs going on in the Miami/Miami Beach area – click HERE
Erwin Timmers prepares his latest cast glass works for the Miami Art Fairs.
.
If you are heading to the sunny warm beaches of Miami, FLA, be sure to visit the premier showcase for international contemporary art!
Kilnformed glass artwork by Michael Janis exhibited at Maurine Littleton Gallery space 2015 during SOFA.
This November, the world’s foremost Sculptures Objects Functional Art + Design Fair (SOFA CHICAGO) is back and happening at Chicago’s Navy Pier this Nov 3-6, 2016.
SOFA CHICAGO is one of the longest running art fairs in the world, and the oldest art fair in Chicago. Now in its 23rd year, SOFA CHICAGO is dedicated to bringing together the perpetually separated spheres of design, decorative arts, and fine arts. With nearly 70 internationally renowned galleries, SOFA CHICAGO will be exhibiting an array of media-specific art and innovative designs. Additionally, those who come to SOFA CHICAGO will have the chance to meet hundreds of the world’s most creative people, as well as view works of some of the globe’s most talented emerging artists.
Washington Glass School artists will again be showing at the international art fair – Allegra Marquart, Tim Tate, Audrey Wilson & Michael Janis have been working away this past summer on new works.
Allegra Marquart,”The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings”; Hand blown reverse painted glass vessel; H.9″W. 5″ photo by Pete Duvall.
Allegra Marquart has been working with glass blower Tim McFadden – who blew the forms that she reverse painted and fired. The theme running through some of her new pieces is “wanting” – where the main protagonists want something they don’t have or more of what they have already. Allegra’s sculpture and her glass-and-textile wall installations will be shown at Maurine Littleton Gallery’s booth # 821 at SOFA.
Tim Tate, “Where We Hide From No One” detail; Silver Plated Frame, Mirror, Flame Worked Glass, LED’s; 18 x 18 x 4″. Photo by Pete Duvall.
Tim Tate has been working on whole new series developing for the past year and a half. Tim’s works engage the viewer and each piece visually draw’s the viewer deep inside.Tim’s new works will be shown at Michigan’s Habatat Galleries.
Michael Janis has had a incredible year so far! After receiving the 2016 Mayor’s Arts Award and having a successful solo show at Maurine Littleton Gallery, Michael has recently finished his signature cast glass/frit powder imagery panels for the art fair. Michael’s works will again be shown at Maurine Littleton Gallery – (Boorth # 821).
Audrey Wilson will again be showing at Alida Anderson Art Projects. Audrey’s wonderful sculptures wryly explore questionable science and conspiratorial thinking. In our troubled times, some recent researchers have found that anxiety and the feeling of loss of control triggers people to see nonexistent patterns and evoke conspiratorial explanations. With high-stress situations (such as job uncertainty) its not surprising that people concoct, embrace, and repeat conspiracy theories.
Audrey Wilson’s mixed media / Pâte de verre sculpture explores science and conspiracy theories.
This year’s SOFA CHICAGO hopes to take art lovers one step further. Explore the world of art like never before and be sure to take in one of the SOFA Lecture Series presented by some of the world’s most distinguished artists, collectors and professionals, as well as a special events series curated and presented by international art organizations.
The world-renowned art fair dedicated to Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art & Design (SOFA) returns to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. Many artists are working on the last bits of work to be shown at the exhibit that runs from November 7-9 2014, with a preview on the evening of November 6, 2014.
Celebrating its 21st year, SOFA CHICAGO is the longest continuously running, gallery-presented art fair in the city of Chicago, and one of the most successful in the country. Last year’s fair attracted 34,000 attendees from around the globe.
A number of Washington Glass School artists and alum will be shown at the art fair – Tim Tate will be at Habatat Galleries space, Allegra Marquart and Michael Janis will be showing at Maurine Littleton Gallery‘s space, and alum Jeff Zimmer will be one of Craft Scotland‘s collection that was designed to give audiences in Chicago the opportunity to see and buy some of the finest examples of ceramics, glass, wood, textiles, silver and jewelry being produced in Scotland today. Click on image below to see Craft Scotland’s video about their artists and works being showcased at this year’s fair.
Glass artist Jeff Zimmer describes his work being featured at Craft Scotland exhibit during SOFA Chicago 2014
Miami’s international contemporary art fair “Art Wynwood 2014″ will feature 70 international galleries presenting emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works and will have its own distinct identity and design. Alida Anderson Art Projects will be featuring a number of artists from the Washington Glass School and adjacent Flux Studios.
Tim Tate’s cast glass and video artwork at Alida Anderson Art Project.
Works by Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Audrey Wilson, Michael Enn Sirvet and Novie Trump can be seen at Booth C-9.
Audrey Wilson’s mixed media sculpture
Sean Hennessey’s cast glass sculpture positively glows!
Stop on by and say hi! Art Wynwood fair opens Feb 13th and goes thru Monday, Feb 17th, 2014.
Michael Enn Sirvet’s sculpture of perforated powdercoated aluminium
Novie Trump’s “Map of the Night Swallow”; Porcelain, Steel, Acrylic, Light
