35th Biennial Exhibition of the Creative Crafts Council

Saturday ​March 15 – Saturday May 24, 2025

Thursday, March 20, 2025:   Opening reception and awards ceremony open to the public at the Strathmore Mansion 7-9 pm

The Creative Crafts Council (CCC) celebrates its 35th biennial exhibition supporting the finest crafts from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The first biennial had bold beginnings as the Exhibition of Creative Arts at the National Collection of Fine Arts, now known as the National Museum of American Art, and today continues a long tradition of exhibiting at Strathmore.

The 2025 Creative the Crafts Council 35th Exhibition will showcase some of the finest artworks from the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, featuring ceramics, enamel, fiber, glass, metal, mixed media, wood, book arts, jewelry, and wearable art. The exhibition runs from Saturday, March 15, 2025, to Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the Mansion at Strathmore, located at 10701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.

The Creative Crafts Council (CCC) is an umbrella organization of fine craft guilds that sponsors a juried biennial exhibition of artworks from regional fine craft artists at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, and supports and promotes craft-making across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The CCC’s exhibitions of regional craft have been held since 1954.

Meet the Jurors for the 35th CCC Exhibition

Michael Janis, Co-Director of the Washington Glass School & Studio, blends his architectural expertise with a disciplined approach to glass art, managing site-specific and public art commissions since 2005. His narrative artwork, inspired by his multicultural background as the child of Asian/Latino descent, is featured in major museum collections including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Tacoma Museum of Glass. Janis is the Lowe Art Museum’s 2024 Distinguished Artist, currently working on a public art memorial for the Enslaved People Who Built the US Capitol.
Robert Devers is an artist with a multi-faceted practice that includes ceramics, sculpture, painting, and photography. Ceramics remains his essential focus and provides the lens through which the other mediums are engaged and ultimately brought back into play in ceramic practice. Robert Devers received his MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He is currently the Coordinator for the Center for Craft Studies at VisArts in Rockville, MD. He has taught at universities in Washington, DC and Maryland and has works in public collections including Smithsonian Renwick Gallery and the Manuel Cargaliero Foundation, Ravello, Italy.
Mary Higgins is an independent curator and consults with working artists on the development of their marketing and digital media presence through her consultancy, Distinct Studios. Throughout her career, she had maintained her artistic practice of drawing and exhibiting throughout the Washington DC region and internationally. She served for five years as a gallery director and curator for the Schlesinger Center at Northern Virginia Community College where she produced or curated more than 80 exhibitions including three site-specific public installations.

The Strathmore Mansion; 10701 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Commemoration of the Slaves who Built the US Capitol

Glass art by Michael Janis

The recent order from President Trump to rescind DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs has led to a noticeable downplaying of Black History Month across government agencies. The U.S. State Department, for instance, has prohibited public events or messages celebrating the month, which has been a staple of American culture since the 1970s.

Michael Janis’ design for DC Ward 5 Memorial

In contrast, local organizations in Washington, DC, are stepping up to honor Black history and contributions. The Lamond Riggs Library Friends, in collaboration with the DC Office of Planning, is hosting Foundations of Freedom: Recognizing the Enslaved People Who Built the U.S. Capitol. This special event will introduce WGS Director Michael Janis’ design for a new DC Memorial to Honor the Enslaved People Who Built the U.S. Capitol for Ward 5. Along with DC’s Office of Planning staff, Michael will offer an overview of a public art proposal. The program will include storytelling, a discussion of the design process, and a Q&A session to engage the community.

Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 1 pm – 3 pm @ Lamond-Riggs DC Public Library, 5401 South Dakota Ave NE, WDC.

For more information – click on link to jump to DCPL site: https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/12875262

Looking Forward to 2025!

To end 2024 on a positive note – We are looking forward to 2025: DC’s new Cedar Hill hospital commissioned Washington Glass Studio to make a ‘DC themed’ glass mural (8 foot x 5 foot high). All our studio artists were invited to make inset panels in their glass style. Just started process fitting out glass panels into the steel framework- here’s a sneak peek! The artwork will be installed early in 2025!! Happy New Year!

Artists involved include: Nancy Kronstadt, Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Arden Colley, John Henderson, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Graciela Granek, April Shelford, Jaelin Jones, Jun Lee, Trish Kent, Chip Montague and Michael Janis.

Winter Open Studio Is Coming!

Winter Open Studios Set for Dec 14th! Mark Your Calendars!

Join us in the DC region’s largest one-day visual arts event! On Saturday, Dec. 14th, from Noon til 5PM, Washington Glass School and its Resident Artists, Teachers and Students will participate in the Winter Open Studios! See what we’ve been up to!
Come visit hundreds of working artist studios in the Gateway Arts District, along Route 1 from the DC line/ Mount Rainier up to Hyattsville, MD.

December Holiday Open Studio Gateway Arts District DC Maryland
Washington Glass School 3700 Otis Street, MD Rainier, MD

Artomatic Event: The Washington Glass Scene, March 16th, 5-7PM

Step into a world where glass transcends its ordinary form and becomes a canvas of boundless creativity. The Washington Glass Scene on display in Artomatic’s Level 5 invites you to celebrate the kaleidoscopic fusion of artistry and craftsmanship on April 16th, 2024 from 5-7PM. Prepare to be captivated as the magic of glass takes center stage in a creative showcase unlike any other. Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of this versatile medium, where every piece tells a unique story and invites you to explore the depths of imagination. Meet the artists that are making the Washington Glass Scene a distinctive voice and push the boundaries, redefining the possibilities of glass. Event is Free and open to the Public!

Artomatic 25th Anniversary Event: Celebrate DC’s Glass Scene!

2100 M Street, Washington, DC 20037

May 14th Open Studios- Save the Date!

Save The Date! May 14th is the proposed date for Washington Glass School Open Studio Tour! Many of the surrounding art studios and galleries will be participating! We will follow health protocols – and it will be great to see all in real life! Come and see what’s new and what has been shaking at the studio!

Erwin Timmers Solo Exhibit Opens Feb 5th, 2022

Reception : Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 6:00PM-8:00PM; 9 N Centre St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Maryland’s Allegany Arts Council and its Saville Gallery feature WGS Co-Director and eco-artist Erwin Timmers for his solo exhibition, Reflections in Glass, to take place February 5-26, 2022. A Public Opening will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 6:00PM-8:00PM

Reflections in Glass features the environmental themed glass artwork of Erwin Timmers, Co-founder and director of the Washington Glass School and one of the DC area’s leading eco-artists. Recycling, waste, and the environment are recurring themes in his work.

Saville Gallery; 9 N Centre St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Pate De Verre Class Fun!

This weekend’s pâte de verre class was a great success! 

Instructor Teri Bailey demonstrates how to apply color frit powder into specific areas for the class.

Instructor Teri Swinhart (Bailey) demonstrates how to apply color frit powder into specific areas for the class.

Pâte de verre is a kilncasting method that literally means “paste of glass”. The general premise is to mix frit granules with some sort of binder such as gum arabic, then apply the glass to the inner surface of a negative mold.

Teri Bailey demonstrates proper frit application.

Teri Swinhart demonstrates proper frit application.

The Pâte de verre students made plaster molds in which they would cast the glass.

The Pâte de verre students made plaster molds in which they would cast the glass.

Lively discussion on ways to kilncast glass sculpture was explored by the class.

Lively discussion on ways to kilncast glass sculpture was explored by the class.The students all loved the process and can't wait til the firings are out of the kilns. The students all loved the process and can’t wait til the firings are out of the kilns.

 

Peppermill Village at Night – The City of Lights!

Peppermill Community Center public art by Washington Glass Studio and the Peppermill/Landover community.

Peppermill Community Center public art by Washington Glass Studio and the Peppermill/Landover community.

Cassi Hayden, the Senior Visual Media Photographer for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) was at Peppermill Village Community Center covering an event recently and found the artwork (made by Washington Glass Studio) in front to be exceptionally beautiful!

Detail of the internally illuminated glass panels made with the Peppermill community as part of the public artwork.

Detail of the internally illuminated glass panels made with the Peppermill community as part of the public artwork.

Cassi took some shots attached high-res files for your use.  All photos in this posting by: M-NCPPC/Cassi Hayden

The artwork reflects well in the glass of the new center - and on the community that inspired the creation!

The artwork reflects well in the glass of the new center – and on the community that inspired the creation!

Click HERE to see the public art sculpture in the daytime and how the work came to be!

Mary Van Cline’s Documenta Project Presents: EXPOSED!

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

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!

aaron.schey.corey.hampson.glass.art.habatatSOFA 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