chicago | Washington Glass Studio

SOFA Art Fair is now INTERSECT Chicago

Posted on October 27, 2020 by admin |

Works by Tim Tate and Michael Janis will be featured at Habatat Galleries online venue.

Intersect Chicago is replacing SOFA virtually for the 2020 art fair edition due to COVID-19.

Going “Live” online from November 6-12, with a dedicated VIP Preview day on November 5, 2020, the fair will feature a special focus for each day, including: Glass, Contemporary Art, Ceramic and Craft, Design, Outsider Art, Fiber Art, and Public Art / Sculpture.

Intersect Chicago Art Fair will showcase work by WGS artist Michael Janis at Habatat Galleries

For more information on the Art Fair – click HERE.

Posted in 2020, 21st century glass, 21st century sculpture, american craft, chicago, habatat galleries, intersect.chicago, michael janis, sofa chicago, studio glass, Tim Tate

The Future of Art: Glass Art Fair 2020

Posted on October 25, 2020 by admin |

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.”

glass.art.fair.2020.tim.tate.sculpture.contemporary.art.modern.usa.craft

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).

GlassArtFair2020.michael_janis.glass.sgraffito.art.contemporary

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.”

artist: Wilfried Grootens. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

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.

Expect more of what you love at the Glass Art Fair.

artists:
Jennifer Caldwell and Jason Chakravarty. Image courtesy Habatat Galleries.

Posted in 2020, american craft, american glass, art, art fair, art glass, art world, chicago, contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, cool glass, covid, glass art, intersect art fair, intersect.chicago, intersectchicago, online art fair, online glass, sofa chicago, sofa expo, studio glass, twenty first century glass, стекло искусство новое, アメリカのガラス芸術, 美国玻璃艺术家 | Tagged future of art, glass 2020, glass art fair, glassartfair

Tim Tate & Michael Janis Collaborate

Posted on October 11, 2019 by admin |

The Collaboration…..

“All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” Michael Janis & Tim Tate; 2019, fused glass, cast glass, sgraffito imagery, steel; 6′-0″ x 9′-0″; Photo credit: Pete Duvall.

Michael Janis and Tim Tate have worked together as Co-Directors of the Washington Glass School and Studio for more than 15 years, working on their own individual work, teaching and creating a functioning arts studio in the nation’s capital.

Michael Janis creates imagery with crushed glass powder his signature “sgraffito” technique.

This summer, the two artists decided to build on that rich and storied history by collaborating on an impressive piece that would both combine and challenge their individual, and strongly, narrative work.

Tim Tate works on the glass panels for the collaborative artwork.

“All Things Solid Melt Into Air” is the title of their 6’ x 9’ wall installation, comprised of 54 separate kiln cast glass insets. To create this work, the artists made 42 separate bas-relief plaster molds, 12 sgraffito glass powder drawings, 12 lost wax glass castings and 4 months to produce this spectacular and monumental work.

Detail of “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” Photo credit: Pete Duvall

Referencing mankind’s interaction with nature as the artwork main theme, Tim and Michael set about to produce an experience that people will want to engage with…on a tactile basis. One can explore each of the olive tinted glass tiles to feel sentiments and poetic visions of the artists, or step back and just enjoy the piece as one would enjoy a bird’s song. They are both immensely proud of this work, which will be shown at the Habatat Prime exhibit during SOFA Expo in Chicago, (October 31, 2019 – November 3, 2019).

Habatat Prime
Location: Roosevelt Collection @ 1023 S. Delano Court East, Chicago, IL 60605
Habatat will have transportation to and from the space that is 3 miles from the Pier.

Posted in chicago, collaborative, contemporary art glass, contemporary artwork, cool glass, dry plaster casting, fullbright scholar, glass and steel sculpture, glass art, habatat galleries, kiln-formed, sofa chicago, sofa expo

Mary Van Cline’s Documenta Project Presents: EXPOSED!

Posted on September 11, 2019 by admin |

Mary Van Cline’s “Documenta Project,” is an ongoing photographic quest to capture the images (and personalities) of the unique community of artists, dealers, and collectors who coalesced around glass as an art medium. As the Documenta Project celebrates 3 years of photographing the community of the global Studio Glass Movement, it has become an important historical archive of Portraits documenting artists, collectors, gallery owners and curators.

This year, at the arts extravaganza that is SOFA Expo – Mary will present a lecture and event, titled: Exposed!

Lecture at SOFA Chicago 2019 Friday, November 1st, 2019; 3-4pm (right after AACG sponsored lecture)

Janusz Walentynowicz

Come see the “out takes” and behind the scenes action of the Photo Shoots that help make the Portraits so engaging, and enjoy an informal visual historical narrative. After all, LAUGHING MATTERS!

SOFA Chicago

Festival Hall, Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Opening Night Preview
Thursday, October 31, 2019
VIP Preview | 5 – 9 pm
Public Preview | 7 – 9 pm

Posted in american studio glass, chicago, creative glass, documenta project, habatat galleries, mary van cline, sofa chicago, sofa expo

Get Ready for SOFA Expo (31 OCT – 3 NOV 2019)

Posted on September 10, 2019 by admin |

The huge art fair SOFA Chicago will be staged again at Chicago’s Navy Pier the first weekend of November. SOFA stands for “sculptural objects and functional art,” but the content of the fair has an even broader scope. On par with Art Basel and TEFAF Maastricht, SOFA is produced by Clarion Events.
Critically acclaimed and continuously running since 1993, what distinguishes SOFA from other top art events is its focus on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. SOFA is noted for its exceptional presentation, with an elite selection of international dealers presenting for sale one-of-a-kind masterworks.
With a strong educational emphasis, SOFA CHICAGO includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world.

WTTW video of previous SOFA Expo – watch to see works by some of your favorite glass artists and cameos of works by DC artists!

Michigan’s Habatat Gallery will again be participating in SOFA Chicago for the 33rd year. For the 2019 event the gallery will be doing something exciting and all are invited!Habatat will have a presence at the SOFA Art Fair at Navy Pier and also at Habatat Prime which is a pop up location near Chicago’s Printers Row area. There, Habatat will have 7500 square feet of display spacing and also a live auction at the space as well Friday night! The space will open to the public Thursday morning so please join us for lunch on Thursday October 31st and preview the auction.
Habatat SOFA Navy Pier Booth: A34 & A32
Habatat Prime Location: Z Gallery 1023 S. Delano Court East – Space F123, Chicago, IL 60605
Habatat will have tranportation to and from the space that is 3 miles from the Pier.

SOFA CHICAGO
31 OCT – 3 NOV 2019
Festival Hall, Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Opening Night Preview
Thursday, October 31, 2019
VIP Preview | 5 – 9 pm
Public Preview | 7 – 9 pm

Posted in chicago, habatat galleries, navy pier, sofa chicago, sofa expo

Art, Craft & Design Converge @ 2017 SOFA CHICAGO

Posted on October 26, 2017 by admin |

SOFA Chicago 2017 Habatat Galleries features the best in glass art & sculpture.

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA) Fair in Chicago is dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. Continuously running since 1994, SOFA focuses on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. The 2017 Fair will showcase nearly 80 galleries displaying artwork by emerging and established artists working in ceramics, wood, glass, fiber, studio jewelry, metal, painting, photography and works on paper, at Chicago’s Navy Pier this November 2-5, 2017. SOFA CHICAGO also includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world.

Michigan’s Habatat Galleries (Booth #1400) will feature over 55 artists from around the world working in contemporary glass. WGS artists Tim Tate and Michael Janis will be exhibited as well as works by Alex Bernstein, Christina Bothwell, Susan Taylor Glasgow, John Littleton & Kate Vogel, Dean Allison, Paul Stankard, Daniel Clayman, Ginny Ruffner, Peter Bremers, Wilfried Grootens, and Lucy Lyon.

Posted in chicago, habatat galleries, sofa chicago

Report from Chicago SOFA

Posted on November 13, 2015 by admin |

Chicago’s Navy Pier was host for the 2015 SOFA expo.

As the 2015 edition of the Sculpture Objects Functional Art + Design fair wound down the red dots were spread around the exhibition spaces at Chicago’s Navy Pier Festival Hall that featured glass. The broadened scope of works included more painting and photography as part of the show’s evolution.

Tim Tate talks about his work at Habatat Galleries space.

Washington Glass School artists Tim Tate, Michael Janis, Allegra Marquart, Audrey Wilson and Sean Hennessey were featured at Michigan’s Habatat Gallery, Maurine Littleton and Alida Anderson Art Project spaces that featured works by internationally acclaimed artists.

The art expo also featured talks by the artists about their work and notable critics such as William Warmus and American Craft Editor Monica Moses hosted lively discussions on the future of collecting.

Monica Moses.american.craft.magazine.editor.william.warmus.sofa.chicago

Editor-in-Chief of American Craft, Monica Moses, with curator/critic/art consultant Bill Warmus presenting a talk about the future of collecting @ SOFA Chicago 2015.

One of the best activities for this visitor was to wander amongst the incredible artwork and strike up a conversation with the artists that you had a craft-crush and obtain real insight into their work and process. Some of the works truly left the viewer gobsmacked – with details and depths to the work that jpeg photos simply could not show. Although the show was just a long weekend, I could have kept finding new works to be mesmerized in each aisle.

Michael Janis talks about his work at SOFA Chicago

I can’t wait till next year’s iteration! But until then – have a look at some of the glass works photos in the Washington Glass School’s flickr album – click HERE to jump to SOFA Chicago album. Or- want to see a short local PBS (WTTW) vid? Click HERE.

Detail of “The Gun Eater” by Carmen Lozar.

Carmen Lozar’s “The Gun Eater” at Bender Gallery.

Posted in chicago, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, craft design art, craft fair, sofa chicago | Tagged sofa

Washington Glass School Goes All SOFA Chicago

Posted on October 16, 2015 by admin |

Every fall Chicago, IL hosts the critically acclaimed Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Expo, more commonly known as SOFA. SOFA Chicago 2015 will be held November 6 – 8, 2015 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, where masterworks from top international galleries and dealers from numerous countries will exhibit. An opening night preview will be held Thursday, November 5. On par with Art Basel and TEFAF Maastricht, the critically acclaimed art fair has been continuously run every year since 1994. What distinguishes SOFA from other top art events is its focus on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. SOFA is noted for its exceptional presentation of artwork by international galleries and it is enhanced by the many talks to attend in the Lecture Series given by award-wining designers and artists.

This year, a number of Washington Glass School artists will be featured at the art fair, and the artists are bringing new works that have taken them in new directions. Tim Tate will be giving a “Booth Talk” at Habatat Galleries (space #1400) on Saturday, Nov 7 @ 1:00 pm. Just after that talk, at 2:00 pm, Sean Hennessey and Michael Janis will be featured at the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) Ice Cream Social on the terrace at Navy Pier.

Allegra Marquart, "The Princess and the Pea", 2015, Cast glass shapes wall mounted over a sewn panel, 14"x 28"

Allegra Marquart, “The Princess and the Pea”, Cast glass shapes wall mounted over a sewn panel, 14″x 28″ photo: Pete Duvall

Allegra Marquart (Maurine Littleton Gallery, Space #821) has mixed her cast glass with textile, exploring the new possibilities for color, texture and especially line. Allegra has been stitching connections that create open, delicate looking backgrounds that complements and comments on the bolder glass shapes which are mounted slightly in front. The glass and the threads compliment concepts of fragility and ambiguity.

Sean Hennessey, clockwise from top left: “The Doors that May Open”, “The Relentless Path Upward”, “The Gift of Time”, “From Mud and Soap”, cast glass, imagery, steel, LED; 24″ x 36

Sean Hennessey (Habatat Galleries, Space #1400) will be presenting works that take him in a new direction, both in terms of the brightness of the colors and in the use of a separate panel that incorporates photographed and drawn imagery, telling a slightly different side of the story from the larger panel.

Audrey Wilson (Alida Anderson Art Projects, Space #402) makes her debut at the art fair. Her new mixed media works explore alternate and extraordinary realms.

Audrey Wilson, ” Luminiferous Aether Electrode”, Cast glass, electronics, found objects, photo Pete Duvall

Michael Janis (Maurine Littleton Gallery, Space #821) explores concepts of identity with his frit powder (sgraffito) drawings with cast glass elements. New this year are his ceramic and glass sculptures.

Michael Janis, “Regeneration”, cast glass, ceramic, 14” x 16” x 12” photo: Pete Duvall

Tim Tate (Habatat Galleries, Space #1400) is showing his new illuminated pieces, his infinity series. Tim entices the viewer to look deeply into his created environments, create an optical and physical illusion of infinity through apparent limitless space. There is an intimacy created by viewing deeply into a circular opening, as if peering through a portal to another reality.

Tim Tate, “Violet Tattoo Infinity”, Cast Poly-Vitro, Glass, Lighting; photo: Pete Duvall

SOFA Chicago November 5-8, 2015

NAVY PIER
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Chicago SOFA Floor Plan 2015

Posted in "maurine littleton", Alida Anderson Art Project, Allegra Marquart, audrey wilson, chicago, habatat galleries, littleton gallery, michael janis, mike janis, sean hennessey, sofa chicago, Tim Tate, アメリカのガラス芸術, 玻璃艺术

Chicago’s UIMA Features Glass & Ceramics

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Chip Montague |

Chicago’s Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) will present an exhibition that focuses on the mediums of ceramic or glass in contemporary art.
Titled “Ceramics / Glass” the UIMA has selected some distinctive and expressive glass and clay artwork that challenges the boundaries between the traditional categories of craft, art, and design.

Michael Janis “Flying In Place”

Glass artists Brent Rogers, Alex Trommler, Aaron Wolf-Boze and Eric Bladholm will showcase works from Chicago’s Ignite Glass and Chicago Glassworks Studios.

Nikki Renee Anderson, Robert Pulley are from Chicago Sculpture International and their works focus on the sculptural aspect of working with ceramics.

Eric Bladhom “Istok Industrija, Crveno (Eastern Industry, Red) “

Michael Janis, a Chicago-born artist (now Co-Director of the Washington Glass School) will present his unique fused glass frit powder drawings.

Xavier Monsalvatje lives in Spain and works in traditional ceramic techniques which reflect industrial aesthetic designs reminiscent of the works of Mexican Muralists.

Yurij Musatov and Anna Lypko, both from Ukraine, are two contemporary artists working in ceramics.
Ceramics / Glass

December 6, 2013 – February 2, 2014
Opening Reception December 6, 2013 (Friday 6-9pm)

UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART
2320 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Click HERE to jump to the Facebook event listing of the opening.

Posted in ceramics/glass, chicago, glassworks, ignite, UIMA, ukraine, ukrainian institute

Happy Birthday Mies!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Michael Janis |

Famed Bauhaus Modern architect Mies van der Rohe was born 127 years ago today. Along with other post-World War I architects, such as Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier, Mies‘ aesthetic came to define what “modern” looked like in the 20th century.

Seventy-five years ago, Mies van der Rohe arrived in the United States to lead the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago and profoundly influence the world’s taste and built environment.

As an architecture student at IIT, the Bauhaus-derived philosophy that was based on a deep understanding of materials before the design process could begin had a profound impact on my work. The rigorous discipline instilled a focus on craftsmanship, of which I still rely.

Often the design studies had students learning how to get the maximum from the minimum – above is a 1928 collage by Albrecht Heubner, that was titled Minimal Dwelling – I find that my appreciation of Dadaist imagery and humor must have come from this background.

Have a slice of Mies –

Leandro Erlich’s “Chocolate Mies van der Rohe Barcelona couch” Cake

Posted in chicago, dada, iit, mies

The Washington Glass School

Category Archives: chicago