DC GlassWorks Announces Closing

DC GlassWorks – one of the glass studios integral to Washington DC’s contemporary art scene – has announced its closing.

DC GlassWorks studio held many important events. UK artists Phil Vickery and Roger Tye demonstrated at DC GlassWorks as part of an international exhibition of glass and clay artists in 2013.

DC GlassWorks studio held many important events. UK artists Phil Vickery and Roger Tye demonstrated at DC GlassWorks as part of an international exhibition of glass and clay artists in 2013.

David D’Orio, the artist-entrepreneur who founded the hotshop with four other artists (Graham Caldwell, Jesse Caldwell, Alger Dole, Wyndell Williams, David DOrio) in 2001 said that the changes in the studio’s surrounding area made it impossible to continue.

Washington Glass School considered DC GlassWorks a “sister school” and held many crossover classes and events with them. We knew what an important part DC GlassWorks was to our art community. Its closing will leave a space in our hearts and our cultural melting pot.

From DC GlassWorks:

The past few years have been challenging for the studio. Our neighboring businesses have changed and, unfortunately, the business models of these new neighbors have forced us to reduce our events and offerings. In the end, location matters. Good neighbors’ matter. It is in this context that we find we can no longer continue offering glassblowing and will be closing the studio over the next month.

It has been a great run and we would like to thank all the studio artists, visiting artists, students, bands, patrons, and everyone else who have supported DC GlassWorks over the last fifteen plus years. We have had the pleasure to teach many hundreds of students of all ages and backgrounds, have hosted movie nights and countless open houses, had the pleasure to host many national and international artists, and tried to pass on our knowledge of glassblowing and sculpture to all who came to the studio. We have had great times, made great art, and hopefully enriched the lives of all persons who we interacted with.

DC GlassWorks was founded on the idea that glassblowing should be accessible to all persons and became a place where a person could start off with no glass experience and, through training, hard work, and perseverance, could make the work they wanted to make and could give back to the greater glass community. Our goal was to foster self-sufficiency so that students were prepared to work in whatever studio they ended up at. We’ve always taught that it was important for all glass artists to make sure they are involved with assisting and teaching. It is heartwarming to see so many former students still working in glass and giving back to the community.

Our parting wish is that students find a place to learn glass that fosters their creativity and self-sufficiency; where people are taught how to blow glass without having to take perpetual ‘private lessons’ before gaining access to equipment; and a place that guides student to a level where they are free to blow glass without having to pay someone to assist/supervise them. We also hope our renters find places they can work that allows them the ability to work without having to befriend the owner, work like indentured servants, or have a specific pedigree or education just to get access to glassblowing facilities. DC GlassWorks was founded to fight against these worn-out models of glass studios. Expect more and aim high.

It has been an amazing ride and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of this experience.

-DC GlassWorksdc.glassworks.washington.maryland.dave.david.dorio.studio.hotshop

Trawick Prize Winners Announced

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“Just Not Enough” By Dave D’Orio; scooter, found objects, glass syringes, silvered glass water jugs
Bethesda Contemporary Art’s Trawick Prize is a visual art prize produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District that honors artists from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The annual juried competition awards $14,000 in prize money to selected artists and features the work of the finalists in a group exhibition. The 2012 exhibition is at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD, and it runs through Sept 29th.  The public opening reception will be held Friday, Sept 14 from 6-9 pm in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk.

Baltimore artist Lillian Bayley Hoover was awarded “Best in Show” on Wednesday, Sept 5 at a special reception that named the winners of the Trawick Prize. Hooverwon $10,000 for her oil painting based on a photograph of a scale model Pergamon Altar in the ancient Greek city of Pergamon, in modern day Turkey.

“Feeder 301” By Dave D’Orio Artwork photos by AnythingPhotographic

Mount Rainier artist Dave D’Orio won second place for his mixed media glass sculptures. David frequently uses found objects, blown glass and industrial materials to crate symbolic imagery. He uses duplication, repetition, and an emphasis on material to evoke the feeling of factory mass-produced objects and of hyper technology. Dave’s imagery is a mix of the metaphoric, absurd and ironic and possesses an enviable ability to attract and repel the viewer. Dave does not explain every element in his sculpture – he says he likes viewers to draw their own conclusions about the “possible purpose and unstated problem the artwork would address“.

When asked about what receiving the Trawick Prize means to him, Dave said  ” My work can be seen as “challenging” and its not what most people think of as beautiful – its really great to have my work seen in this prestigious setting; to also have it awarded is incredible”.

 

Dave D’Orio in his studio. Photo by AnythingPhotgraphic
David is the executive director of DC GlassWorks, a glass blowing facility in Hyattsville, MD. His work has been shown at Artomatic in Crystal City, the Marlboro Gallery of Prince George’s Community College and last year was part of the Arlington Arts Center Solos. At this past Artomatic, the James Renwick Alliance gave Dave’s installation sculpture its ‘Award of Recognition’.

The 2012 Trawick Finalists included:

Lillian Bayley Hoover, Baltimore, MD; David D’Orio, Mt. Rainier, MD; Dean Kessmann, Washington, D.C.; Hannah Walsh, Richmond, VA; Skye Gilkerson, Baltimore, MD; Nate Larson, Baltimore, MD; Joshua Wade Smith, Baltimore, MD; Diane Szczepaniak, Potomac, MD

Congratulations to the 2012 Winners!

1st Place, $10,000 – Lillian Bayley Hoover, Baltimore, MD

2nd  Place, $2,000 – David D’Orio, Mt. Rainier, MD

3rd  Place, $1,000 – Dean Kessmann, Washington, D.C.

Young Artist Award, $1,000 – Hannah Walsh, Richmond, VA

Carol Trawick with David D’Orio and Catherine Leggett. Photo courtesy Bethesda Urban Partnership
The 2012 Trawick Prize jury included Dawn Gavin, Associate Professor in Drawing and Foundations at the University of Maryland, College Park; B. Kelly Gordon, Associate Curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.; and N. Elizabeth Schlatter, Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions at the University of Richmond Museums, Virginia.

Glass Artist Dave D’Orio Trawick Prize Finalist

>Dave D’Orio, (owner of our sister glass school, hot shop DC GlassWorks), was named as one of the eight finalists for this year’s prestigious Trawick Prize

The website for the Trawick uses one of Dave’s works as its banner headline.
The Trawick Prize: Bethesda Contemporary Art Awards is a visual art prize produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District that honors artists from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. The annual juried competition awards $14,000 in prize monies to selected artists and features the work of the finalists in a group exhibition.

The 2012 exhibition will be held in September at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814. Winners will be announced September 5. 

In his work, D’Orio explores “the ideology of technology as the source of solutions for social problems (both real, invented and imagined). … This work has the sense of a forgotten or undiscovered manufacturer/inventor whose sole purpose is to create objects that defy classification.”



Selected finalists will have their work on display September 1 – 29, 2012 in downtown Bethesda at Gallery B, located at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E.The Gallery is located just two blocks from the Bethesda Metro station.

The opening reception for The Trawick Prize will take place Friday, September 14 from 6-9pm, in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk. Many of the finalists and winners will be on hand to discuss their work.

Congratulations Dave!

ArtDC Showcases DC GlassWorks

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David D’Orio. Photo Courtesy artDC gallery.

Artdc Gallery features artists from our sister glass studio – DC GlassWorks –  in great show, now thru Aug 18. 

Joseph Corcoran. Photo Courtesy artDC gallery.
The exhibit, entitled Glass 2012, showcases 10 artists curated by Joseph Corcoran, whose work at this year’s Artomatic art fair was one of the show’s many highlights.  Dave D’Orio’s work is also featured in the Artdc exhibit, and his work at Artomatic received the James Renwick Alliance “Award of Excellence“, and further enhanced the profile of the DC area glass art scene.  The full list of artists can be found on Artdc’s website.  The exhibit will remain on display until Aug. 18. 

The Artdc Gallery is located in the Lustine Center at 5710 Baltimore Avenue in Hyattsville, MD.

Saturday – Meet the Artists @ Artomatic

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This Saturday is the “Meet the Artists” night at DC’s Artomatic Art Fair – from 7 – 9 pm.


The James Renwick Alliance will also host a reception at Artomatic on Saturday, June 2 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the JRA Education Room, #1106, on the 11th floor. Many of artists whose work was selected the JRA as recipients of the Award of Excellence will be at the reception – starting around  6 PM. At the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Room on the 3rd floor @ 7:30pm, they will announce the Department’s purchases of artwork by Prince George’s County artists for the Department’s permanent collection – for a bit of art excitement!

See you there!

Dave D’Orio / glass / Level 8

Michael Janis  / glass / Level 2
Sean Hennessey /glass / Level 9
Donna McCullough / metal / Level 1

Artomatic 

1851 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA, 22202 

(one block from Yellow Line Metro – Crystal City stop)

Free 

James Renwick Alliance Selects its Artomatic Favs

>The James Renwick Alliance (JRA) is an independent national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scholarship and education on contemporary American craft, to supporting activities directed toward this purpose, and to encouraging connoisseurship and collecting. The JRAassists the Smithsonian American Art Museum in adding to its permanent collection of American craft. For over 25 years, the JRA has supported activities and programs involving hundreds of artists, art supporters, galleries, and partnering institutions from across the nation and around the world.
As part of their mission for the arts, the JRA are sponsors of a workshop/reception “Renwick Alliance Room” in the huge DC Arts Fair – Artomatic. Located on the 11th Floor of the festival, the JRA has planned workshops and talks throughout the month long run of the show (thru June 23). 


Members of the JRA has also went thru the 10 floors of artwork – selecting their Top 10 media-based artists for their 2012 Artomatic “Award of Excellence”. 

James Renwick Alliance 

Recognition of Excellence 

ARTOMATIC 2012

Artist 

Work 

Type 

Floor 

Location 

Brad Taylor 

Chaise 

Wood and Metal Furniture 

305 

David D’Orio 

Installation 

Mixed Media (Glass) 

147 

Donna McCullough

Body of Work 

Metal Sculpture 

152 

Helen Baribeau 

Body of Work 

Fiber Sculpture 

121 

Julia Bloom 

Installation 

Wood Sculpture 

208 

Matt MacIntire 

Body of Work 

Mixed Media 

160 

Michael Janis

Body of Work 

Glass                 

173 

Pierre Davis

Body of Work 

Wood Sculpture 

10 

152 

Sean Hennessey 

Body of Work 

Glass                 

141 

Zofie Lang 

Installation 

Mixed Media 

112 

Congrats to the WGS/DC Glass artists & all the artists involved in the huge event!
And a big hug to the James Renwick Alliance!


The James Renwick Alliance welcomes the public to join them in a pre meet-the-artists-night reception. Mingle with other craft lovers! 
The JRA will be distributing maps they have created to help you find the media-based artists of Artomatic.
Saturday June 2
5:00pm-7:00pm
The Renwick Alliance Room, 11th floor


Montgomery College Sculpture Exhibition

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April 15-May 10, 2010
Transmuting Craft
Curated by Megan Van Wagoner, this exhibition features the work of ceramic and glass artists who use these craft media along with metal and other traditional sculpture materials to make three-dimensional mixed-media art.
Artists include David D’Orio, Sarah Lindley, Greg Nangle, and John Williams.

The Opening Reception is Thursday, April 15, 2010, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center
930 King Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Gallery Hours M-F, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

240.567.1368

Dave D’Orio opening @ Hillyer Art Space in Dupont Circle

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the feeder-eflyer

Feeders by David D’Orio
Hillyer Art Space

Exhibition October 2 – October 31

First Friday Reception: October 2nd, 2009, 6-9PM

Acoustic Ambience by Matthew Hemerlein!

Food and refreshments will be served

$5 suggested donation

DC GlassWorks artist Dave D’Orio opens his show of new work at

Hillyer Art Space tonite, Oct 2nd.

Hillyer Art Space
International Arts & Artists
9 Hillyer Court NW
Washington, DC, 20008


DC Arts Center features Dave D’Orio

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September 11 – October 11, 2009
Opening Reception September 11, 7-9
The Poetics of Material

DC Arts Center Curatorial initiative hosts their second show, featuring how each of three artists (Kate Carr, David D’Orio and Lisa Hill) explores ideas of materiality and process through contemporary sculpture. The resulting work marries the conceptual with striking formalism, drawing from and expanding on the legacy of post-minimalism.