The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites all to a Public Art Dedication of : The Community Gateway Arch
On Friday, July 18, 2014 come to the Unity Health Care’s Parkside Health Center, 7:00 – 9:00 PM at 765 Kenilworth Terrace, NE Washington, DC 20019
For more information contact: The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities:
202-724-5613 or tonya.jordan@dc.gov
Light refreshments will be served
DC Ward 7 Green Community Arch sculpture located at the new Unity Healthcare Building.
One of the Washington Glass Studio’s most ambitious public art projects has just completed installation. The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities commissioned the sculpture for the new Unity Healthcare facility in Washington, DC, and the glass-and-steel artwork was installed without a problem this week.
Michael Janis bolts the panels to the top of the public art sculpture before the work is hoisted into place.
Concept design for the Green Community Gateway Arch
The public artwork concept was designed and engineered to a high level.
The design of the public artwork was intended to mark the symbolic entrance to the Kenilworth / Parkside section of DC’s Ward 7. This area (near Caeser Chavez charter school, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the Anacostia Freeway) was recently identified as a DC Promise neighborhood – and its experiencing a renewed investment in neighborhood revitalization. After meeting with community representatives, the WGS team focused on themes that were strongly held. A “Community Gateway Arch” became the vision for the placemaking sculpture that would help identify the new environment. The glass panel insets in the 16′ tall sculpture would be made with the help of the neighborhood residents, students of the high school, and the staff of the new Unity Healthcare facility. The Washington Glass Studio worked with the DC Creates! Public Art Program selection committee, the DCCAH Council, Unity Parkside Health Care, the Ward 7 ANC and the community and held a series of glass “quilting-bees” and made a communal environment where community and art were not separate.
Artist Erwin Timmers oversaw the structural integration of support framework, LED lighting and glass panel insets.
The 16′ high x 14′ wide sculpture lit internally with LED lighting was one of the largest outdoor artworks installed to date for the Washington Glass Studio, and much went into the design, engineering and the fabrication of the steel framework.
DCCAH invitation to Ward 7 to make glass at WGS
In early 2014, with the structural foundation for the artwork finished and the steel framework underway, the call went out to the community to come make glass. By directly involving the public in the creation of the new landmark, the space would resonate because the artwork would have meaning to all – as everyone had the chance to tell their story. The glass workshops were packed. Many of the people that came to work in glass returned to each of the scheduled dates – they loved working in glass and wanted to see how the artwork changed once fired.
DC ANC Ward 7 Commissioner Willie H. Woods, Jr and DCCAH Exec Director Lionell Thomas were among the community enlisted to interact with the glass artwork.
By having many area residents making the glass art insets, the sculpture has an increased sense of local identity. The artwork arch stimulates curiosity, inspired some of the budding artists to consider new artistic avenues and on occasion, create a smile.
Many voices told many stories in the inset panels that made up the glass quilt archway.
Opposite view of Washington, DC’s Green Community Arch.
The formal opening ceremony of the Anacostia Arch with DC Mayor Gray is now being scheduled. We will update on the school’s FB page and on the blog!
Project Details
 |
| International Glass & Clay exhibit in Washington, DC, March 2013 |
This year, Sister City art organizations enabled Washington, DC to host an exhibit of glass and clay artwork by US and UK artists during the month of March. The Washington Glass School – one of the partners in the exhibition – has had a history of working with artists from Washington, DC’s Sister City of Sunderland, England, which is President George Washington’s ancestral home.
The International Glass & Clay exhibit that was originally held here in DC in March of 2013 has moved on – and over the pond – landing in the UK, with the exhibition opening at the Sunderland Museum, in Sunderland, England. Currently, the main show at the museum is an exhibit of tapestries by noted English artist Grayson Perry, titled “In The Vanity of Small Differences“.
Exhibiting at two venues in the City of Sunderland, the exhibit again integrates and mixes works by artists from both cities from August 22nd – September 29th 2013. DC artists exhibiting: Sean Hennessey, Jeff Herrity, Michael Janis, Tamara Laird, Laurel Lukaszewski, Tim Tate, Novie Trump. UK artists exhibiting: Stephen Beardsell, Criss Chaney, James Maskrey, Brian Thompson, Robyn Townsend, Margareth Troli, Roger Tye, Phil Vickery and Philippa Whiteside.
 |
| Novie Trump’s ceramic installation looks incredible. |
If you find yourself in England’s beautiful North East, wandering along the River Wear – do pop into the Museum. Oh, and stop by the National Glass Center for a spot of Prince Rupert’s Drop!
International Glass & Clay
August 22 – September 29, 2013
Sunderland Museum and Creative Cohesion
 |
| DCax Incubator Panel (L-R) Mike Abrams, Lisa Neher, Paul So, Travis Bowerman, Michael Janis, Kristina Bilonick |
This past weekend, DCartistexchange (DCax) – the collaborative project developed by several DC-based arts and cultural organizations – held the third in their initial series of panel discussions designed to explore new ways to build community.
 |
| WGS’ Michael Janis talks about how incubators = community. |
Saturday’s talk was focused on how artist incubator spaces got started, their learning curves and growth, and what is planned for the future. The talk included an in-progress tour of the nearby artist spaces that are under construction.
 |
| Travis Bowerman of CulturalDC outlines what is planned for the new shared arts venue going up in the Brookland section of Washington, DC. |
 |
| One of the artist spaces to be dedicated as performing arts/exhibition space. |
 |
| Travis explains how the ground level artist studios are integral to the residential development. |
The tour included a review of Dance Place’s spaces – given by their founding director Carla Perlo. After, a great lunch prepared by chef Tim Meadows ended the panel with everyone enjoying the fantastic food.
The initial series discussions still has more talks planned, as well as their networking events called Swap Meets – designed to allow opportunities for artists and creative professionals to swap services and art materials; increase connectivity and facilitate community building.
Check out the event dates HERE.
The next panel discussion topic: “Government Support” is scheduled for next Saturday, Aug 24th, starting at 10:30 am – held at the offices of the Menkiti Group, 3407 8th Street, NE, Washington, DC. Click Here to jump to DCax website for more info.
 |
| Glass archway proposed by Washington Glass Studio for DC’s new Unity Parkside Health Care Center. |
The Washington Glass Studio was recently awarded the DC Commission on the Arts& Humanities’ Public Art commission for an outdoor sculpture located at DC’s new Unity Parkside Health Care center, now under construction. The new health center is located just down the road from the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service site that boasts some of the most beautiful water lilies and lotus flowers in the months of June and July.
 |
| Architectural rendering of the finished Unity Parkside health care center in Ward 7. |
The Washington Glass Studio proposed making a 16 foot high arch of colorful glass and images of healing.
Inspired by the comments from the community meeting and site review– our objective was to create a sense of place for DC’s Kenilworth – Parkside community.
 |
| The design and documentation of the artwork was to be outlined in detail in the presentation. |
 |
| The site in early May, 2013. The mound of dirt is the artwork location. |
The fabrication work for both the glass and the steel framework will soon start. Completion is targeted for early 2014.
 |
| Audrey Wilson works on constructing the half-scale maquette created for the presentation to the Council. |
Washington Glass Studio sends a big thank-you to the DC Creates! Public Art Program selection committee, the DCCAH Council, Unity Parkside Health Care, and the Ward 7 community!
The opening reception for the International Glass and Clay 2013 was crazy and fun – meeting all the artists was great, but I didn’t focus on the works. My good friend, Patrick Oberman of Artomatic invited me to come back to the show on a quiet afternoon and really look. This posting is intended to contemplate the media based artwork by the talented artists involved in the International show and see what the works say.
 |
| The artwork on exhibit invites investigation. |
UK glass artist Roger Tye – Roger has two works in the exhibit, and they each present very different aspects. His wall piece is lush with color and organic plant forms. The glass tendrils curve around and out of the dimensional piece – its a very pretty and appealing work.
 |
| Roger Tye’s blown glass wall sculpture. |
His other sculpture “Fold” has a different feel – its much more narrative. All over the moors and fells of the North of England and southern Scotland, there are strange dry-stone structures – similar to what Roger has sculpted. The stone structures (aka ‘sheepfold‘) were designed to provide a shepherd with a place to hold a few sheep and protect from theft. Roger’s sculpture “Fold”, made of cast glass and slate, is a witty contemporary commentary on this concept, complete with security camera.
“Fold” by Roger Tye.
US ceramic artist Jeff Herrity has three of his slipcast ceramic “totems” in the show. Jeff’s mother was a ceramic artist, and these works harken back to his childhood memories that include kitschy bits and bobs and elements created from ceramic molds. He sees the stacked figures as representative of a group of people that are a clan. We are all may different, yet we rely upon each other – for if one goes missing, we all fall.
 |
| Jeff Herrity “Totem I”, “Totem II”, “Totem III” |
UK glass artist James Maskrey has some exquisite narrative glass works in the show – amongst my favorites:
 |
| James Maskrey “The Worst Journey In The World” |
His blown works all reference the 1910–1913 British Antarctic Expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott. The ill-fated journey was to recover eggs of the Emperor penguin for scientific study. It was thought at the time that the flightless penguin might shed light on an evolutionary link between reptiles and birds through its embryo.
 |
| James Maskrey, “Winter Journey”, “Last Entry”, “The Barrier”. |
The series based on the story “Worst Journey in the World” and asks, but does not answer, the question of whether their suffering was futile, or whether it would inspire future human beings facing very different challenges.
 |
| Nancy Donnelly’s fused glass panels. |
US glass artist Nancy Donnelly is exhibiting her beautiful fused glass panels “Thistle & Berries” and “The Night Garden”. Both are made from fused frit powders and enamels fired into panels of glass. Her works have a quiet and thoughtful reserve.
 |
| Inge Panneels, “Micro Macro” |
UK glass artist Inge Paneels’ fused glass panels are created using waterjet to precisly cut intricate patterns based on aerial imagery of river estuary juxtaposed with blood vessel structure. The fused glass panel highlights the communalities.
 |
| Joe Hicks “Bottle” |
US clay artist Joe Hicks has some beautiful ceramic stoneware with shino glaze. His works anchor the entry space of the gallery.
 |
| Philippa Whiteside’s ceramics feature incredible detail. The waterjet cut ceramics tell a story that runs around the cube form in different fonts. |
 |
| Philippa Whiteside “Hope” |
UK ceramic artist Philippa Whiteside works at creating beauty with her detailed clay works. She clearly loves to experiment with surface decoration and texture, and has a fascination with text and words.
 |
| Syl Mathis’ boat shaped glass/mixed media forms showcase his master craftsman skills. |
US glass artist Syl Mathis‘ artwork has me fall in love with both the glass and the method he displays the kilncast forms. He is very skilled in his metal and stonecarving techniques, and I love his sandcarving of the glass figures.
 |
| Syl Mathis, “Ancient Ice”, “Time Bound”. |
The artworks by the artists create intriguing and beguiling relationships with the other works on display. Part of the fun of the show is the new juxtapositions of the different styles and approaches of the art.
 |
| Allegra Marquart‘s kilnformed & sandcarved glass panels (L) and Erwin Timmers‘ cast recycled glass sculptures (R) have a great dialog in the gallery. |
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.
 |
| Pepco Edison Place Gallery |
Today, Saturday, March 9
The Fulbright Program, now in its 65th year, has amassed an alumni body of almost 300,000 participants, representing nearly every nation of the world. The Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Roughly 1,700 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Approximately 318,000 “Fulbrighters” have participated in the Program since its inception in 1946.
 |
| WGS Fulbrighter Michael Janis |
 |
| WGS Fulbrighter Tim Tate |
Join us today, Saturday, March 9th as we discuss the “Fulbright Experience ” with a roundtable of Fulbright Scholars from area universities.
Details: Saturday, March 9th
Reception 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Panel Discussion 1:00 – 2:30 pm
The Fulbright roundtable discussion is part of the events that make up the International Glass and Clay 2013 exhibit held at the Pepco Edison Gallery at 702 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC. The show is organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH.
 |
| “007 – Walther P99”, Light, Fused water jet cut BE glass, 2010, Dr Magareth Troli – artwork featured in the “International Glass + Clay 2013” exhibit |
A number of the UK artists exhibiting in the International Glass and Clay 2013 show (at Pepco Edison Place Gallery -702 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC) have come to the opening events and programs. The visiting UK artists have hit DC town running – there have been a number of Glass and Clay show events to keep them occupied!
 |
| UK Glass Artist Demo at Washington Glass School during International Glass & Clay |
 |
| Robyn Townsend’s artwork incorporates glass and metal |
Demos by UK Artists:
Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend showed their techniques for metal inclusions and patinas in glass.
 |
| Criss Chaney shows how the patinas are formed |
 |
| Robyn Townsend and Criss Chaney |
Over at DC GlassWorks, Colin Rennie, Phil Vickery and Roger Tye wowed the fans of blown glass with a series of virtuoso feats in hot glass.
 |
| UK artist Phil Vickery demonstrates the process for his beautiful glass forms |
 |
| L-R Colin Rennie, Phil Vickery and Roger Tye at DC GlassWorks |
 |
| Roger Tye makes a triple incalmo bowl in red, white and blue. |
 |
| Colin Rennie ended the demos with a flourish! |
 |
 |
| Whee! |
 |
| Artists in the exhibit have a get-together at Artomatic founder George Koch’s place. (Top row L-R: Anne Tye, Tom Hurst, Catherine Auld, Roger Tye. Bottom row L-R: Dr Magareth Troli, Phil Vickery, Robyn Townsend, Criss Chaney, Audrey Wilson, Philippa Whiteside, Colin Rennie) |
The exhibit continues thru March 23 – make sure you come into the gallery to see this incredible showcase of art from the US and UK.
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.
 |
| Opening reception for International Glass and Clay 2013 Exhibit in Washington, DC |
This weekend, the opening reception for the International Glass & Clay 2013 was a great sucess!
The collaborative show, organized by Artomatic, the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia and DC’s Sister City of Sunderland, England and the University of Sunderland had a great turnout for the first night of the month long event. A number of the UK artists exhibiting in the show were on hand at the opening, and they were able to make connections with collectors and the DC creative community.
Below are some photos of the opening night and of the exhibition:
 |
| Colin Rennie (foreground) Michael Janis (L) Roger Tye |
 |
| Colin Rennie talks about his process and influences. |
 |
| Washington DC collectors contemplate Megan Randall’s ceramic works. |
 |
| Stephen Beardsell’s glass sculptures are always a favorite. |
 |
| UK glass artist Robyn Townsend answers questions about her glass artworks on exhibit. |
 |
| Beautiful ceramic sculptures by Novie Trump. |
 |
| Glass artwork by UK glass artist Jeffrey Sarmiento and beyond, works by US artists Nancy Donnelly and Audrey Wilson. |
 |
||
| UK glass artist Phil Vickery chats with DC collectors. |
 |
| Artwork by UK glass artist Criss Chaney and ceramic work by US artist Tamara Laird. |
 |
| Ceramic sculpture by the UK’s Philippa Whiteside. |
 |
| UK glass artist Roger Tye expresses surprise at what artist Criss Cheney has to say. |
 |
|||||
| Sunderland City International Manager Catherine Auld is happy as Sunderland’s Anne Tye negotiates a sale with a Washington, DC art collector. |
The international exhibit will be open to the public thru March 23, 2013. Location is Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20068.
Gallery hours Saturday & Tuesday 12pm-4pm. Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 12pm-8pm.
Click HERE to jump to the exhibit website for more info on special events and artist info.
Opening March 1, 2013, Washington, DC will host an international exhibit of glass and clay artwork – the third collaborative exhibition organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH between Washington, DC artists and artists from our Sister City of Sunderland, England. With all the amazing glass and ceramic artwork being showcased, Washington Glass School will publish online a five part series of profiles on the artists behind the works. US & UK Artists in the International Glass + Clay 2013 Exhibition in Washington, DC.
Part 5 of 5
 |
| Laurel Lukaszewski / Ceramics / US |
Laurel Lukaszewski is a Washington, DC area based artist. She has exhibited widely in the Mid-Atlantic region and nationally with solo exhibitions in Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, Norfolk, VA, St. Louis, MO, Tulsa, OK, and Bainbridge Island, WA.
Laurel is a founding member of Flux Studios, in Mt. Rainier, MD and has been a visiting artist at Seattle’s Pottery Northwest and Holland Hall in Tulsa, OK. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards including the Washington Sculptors Group, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Washington Project for the Arts Artist Council.
 |
| Roger Tye / Glass / UK |
Roger Tye has been making glass since 1976, initially as Master production maker for the studios of Pauline Solven and Charlie Meaker, before setting up his own full time practice in 1989.Roger now concentrates on sculptural works. His most recent body of work also combines glass with slate and metal and offers wry observations of social events and situations. He has exhibited and throughout the UK and internationally to 28 countries and his work is in the collections that include Shell, British American Tobacco, American Airlines and the Royal Family.
 |
| Audrey Wilson / Glass / US |
Audrey Wilson has a BA in Crafts with a Glass Concentration from Kent State University. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Audrey has worked at the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio as the studio and teaching assistant, working with the museum’s visiting glass artists. Audrey’s artwork references nature and organic forms, and she specializes in kiln casting, pate de verre and sand casting with mixed media.
 |
| Jeffrey Sarmiento / Glass / UK |
Jeffrey Sarmiento’s working methods for image transfer in glass have taken him all over Europe and the US as an artist and academic. He holds an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design and a PhD from the University of Sunderland, where he is Reader in Glass. He has also lived in Denmark as a Fulbright fellow, and received emerging artist residencies at UrbanGlass in New York and at Pilchuck Glass School. Based at the National Glass Centre in Northeast England, Jeffrey leads the print and waterjet research areas by teaching, executing artist projects and making his own artwork. As a Filipino-American, his work is inspired by foreign ethnic contexts, expressed through collisions of layered images within glass. His work has been shortlisted for the Bombay Sapphire Prize, and he has held solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, Portland, and Istanbul. In 2012 he was the UK national commissioner for the European Glass Context in Denmark, and he also won the International Glass Prize, at GlazenHuis, Belgium. His artwork is the collections of the Museum of Liverpool, UK, the Speed Museum, USA, and the City of Lommel, Belgium.
 |
| Elizabeth Vorlicek / Ceramics / US |
Elizabeth Vorlicek is a ceramic sculptor and visual arts teacher living in Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University with a BFA and a MFA degree. Liz has taught in the Arts Department at Episcopal High School in Virginia for the past seven years. She is also a curator and the Director of the Angie Newman Johnson Gallery. Liz joined Flux Studios in Mt. Rainier, Maryland as an Emerging Artist in the fall of 2012. She enjoys traveling, bird watching and baking in her spare time.
 |
| Megan Randall / Ceramics / UK |
Megan Randall is a contemporary ceramic artist, and is a current PhD student a Sunderland University where her research focuses on the placement of domestic ceramic objects responding to the context of site. Her work makes use of thrown porcelain alongside other less traditional materials and found objects. Working on the wheel is repetitive this gives pieces a rhythm and flow. Recent work has focused on willow pattern designs, which create their own narrative around domestic spaces, industrial sites and the notions of home.
In the past her work has included site specific installation and interventions alongside designed and hand crafted ceramic objects. The link between the separate worlds of fine art concept and that of designer/maker is the consistent use of porcelain which evokes a sense of luxury, fragility and, in some pieces, vulnerability. Her work combines new technology through the use of the waterjet cutter with the altering of the readymade object.
Click Here to jump to US / UK Artist Profile Part 1
Click Here to jump to US / UK Artist Profile – Part 2
Click Here to jump to US / UK Artist Profile – Part 3
Click Here to jump to US / UK Artist Profile – Part 4
There will be a “Day of Demos” by a number of the visiting UK artists – Saturday, March 2, 2013.
 |
| Criss Chaney “Vessel” |
11:00 AM at the Washington Glass School, UK-based glass artists Criss Chaney and Robyn Townsend will demonstrate using metal wire and sheet inclusions into cast glass, and painting a layer of metal powders onto the inside mould surface. They will also demonstrate cold techniques for applying metals to a finished piece of glass, and options for patination using common household chemicals. Click HERE to reserve a space at this free demo.
2:00 PM at DC GlassWorks, superstar UK hot glass artists Phil Vickery, Colin Rennie and Roger Tye will show how they work. Click HERE to reserve a space at the free demo.