British Council USA Blogs About Phil Vickery

Phil Vickery glass – photo credit: Jo Howell

The British Council asked Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis to act as a US Cultural Ambassador and write a series of articles for their blog regarding the collaborative art exhibit “International Glass and Clay 2013“, now open in Washington, DC. The latest post is an interview with UK glass artist Phil Vickery, a Sunderland-based artist that has shown his work at two previous US/UK exhibitions held in Washington, DC.

Phil Vickery at the bench.

Michael interviews Phil and outlines his background in glass and his artistic influences. In the article, Phil discusses the benefits and outcomes of the (art) trade missions for him and the Cohesion Glass Network. 
Phil also talks about his current series of glass sculptures. Says Phil about his techniques: “I use the material properties inherent to (hot) glass to express this quality. Working with the fluidity of molten glass, I manipulate it into shapes and also allow gravitational force to create my signature spiral forms.”

Click HERE to jump to the full interview on the British Consulate website.

The International Glass and Clay 2013 exhibit is open through March 23, 2013, at Washington, DC’s Pepco Edison Place Gallery, located at 702 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC. The show is organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH.

Michael Janis named "US Cultural Ambassador", Knighthood Next?

The British Council is a British organization specializing in international educational and cultural opportunities. It was founded in 1934 as the British Committee for Relations with Other Countries, and granted a royal charter by King George VI in 1940. Its “sponsoring department” within the UK Government is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Recently, the British Council asked our Michael Janis to write about the sister city relationship between Sunderland, England and Washington, DC and how the Washington Glass School came to be one of the participants in the spectacular International Glass and Clay exhibit that opened March 1, 2013.

Click HERE to jump to British Council blog.

Michael was listed as a US Cultural Ambassador” and he is loving the title upgrade. He now insists on being called “honorable” and says he is planning to stage a “glass coup” at the UN and that he will begin issuing a list of non-binding resolutions. 

Michael Janis – the Dark Knight

After all his work with the British glass and ceramic artists, Knighthood surely is being planned.

This Saturday, March 9th, from noon- 1:00 pm, the International Glass and Clay Exhibit hosts a roundtable discussion about the Fulbright Scholar program. Come to the gallery and have a chat with Fulbright Scholars from area universities.

International Glass and Clay 2013
Pepco Edison Place Gallery  @ 702 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC
Gallery hours are Saturday and Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Gallery is closed on Sundays. The Gallery Place Metro station is within walking distance of the Gallery. The show is organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH.