“To Be in the Right Place at the Right Time is a Wondrous Thing”
Some artists can pinpoint the exact moment their creative path changed. For Diane Cooper Cabe, it began with a walk into a glass studio in September 2001.
She had seen an advertisement for a glass casting course at Sally Hanson’s Gallery and decided to enroll. When she stepped into the Meltdown Studio, she was greeted by Tim Tate with the words:
“Welcome, you are the first one here.”
That simple welcome marked the beginning of a journey that has now spanned nearly twenty-five years. Diane proudly carries the distinction of being Washington Glass School’s very first student.
Discovering Glass
Many more classes followed as Diane became a regular at Meltdown Studio. There she discovered the magic of cast glass, learning not only the technical skills but also the possibilities of narrative artwork.
“The work I did there earned me honors,” she recalls, “including being named a Bullseye Glass Emerge Finalist and receiving a Torpedo Factory Merit Award.”
Just as importantly, she became part of the conversations, experimentation, and shared discoveries that defined those formative years.
Watching a School Take Shape
Diane witnessed the Washington Glass School evolve from its earliest days at Meltdown Studio with Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers to its move to Half Street in Southwest Washington, where the Washington Glass School officially took shape and Michael Janis joined the team.
“For me, those were halcyon days,” she says. “My creativity expanded, and energy and music filled the spaces.”
She also became one of the original “Table People“—resident artists who shared workspace, ideas, successes, failures, and plenty of camaraderie.
“Michael, Erwin, and Tim guided and encouraged me with patience and humor.”
Breaking the Mold
Those early years weren’t only about making artwork—they were about reimagining what glass exhibitions could be.
Diane remembers showing her work in some of the Washington Glass School’s earliest exhibitions, including Glastijl and Compelled by Content.
“They were exciting events that broke the wall of conventional glass shows.”
Rather than focusing primarily on functional objects, these exhibitions highlighted narrative and sculptural work, helping introduce audiences to new possibilities in contemporary glass.
“And then there was the splendid circus called Artomatic,” Diane laughs. “I reveled in it. What fun they were!”
A Continuing Connection
Over the years, Diane’s creative practice has led her into ceramics, mosaics, painting, and a decade of teaching glass classes at Glen Echo Park. But Washington Glass School has remained a constant.
“Over the past 25 years, I have wandered in and out of the School’s aura,” she writes. “Yet, the Washington Glass School and its artists are my North Star.”
She still returns regularly—to seek advice, make work, exchange ideas, and reconnect with friends.
“I am grateful for my bond with Tim, Michael, and Erwin and am honored to be a part of their history.”
As Washington Glass School celebrates its 25th Anniversary, Diane’s story reminds us that institutions are built not only by founders, but also by the artists who believed in them from the very beginning.
Celebrating 25 Years
As Washington Glass School marks its 25th Anniversary, the celebration continues this fall with a major exhibition featuring works by Washington Glass School artists at the Brentwood Arts Exchange in Brentwood, Maryland. Running from September 10 through October 31, 2026, the exhibition will showcase the extraordinary diversity, innovation, and storytelling that have defined the School for a quarter century.
The exhibition opening reception will be held on September 19, 2026, bringing together artists, students, collectors, and the community to celebrate 25 years of making, teaching, and pushing the boundaries of contemporary glass.
