Stop The (Digital) Presses! Washington Glass School Blog Named 2nd Best Arts Blog in DC! We’re Number 2!

No Fake News! All Glass- All the Time!

No Fake News! All Glass- All the Time!

Washington City Paper’s “Best of D.C.” Awards the Washington Glass School Blog as the Second Best Arts Blog in the DC area!

The new Washington DC City Paper publisher – Katy McKegney – said that their “Best Of D.C.” would mean just that—”a celebration of this city and all it has to offer, and of the work [the] residents, businesses, and institutions do to make D.C. the best it can be”.  

And with that – in the Best of Arts & Entertainment category – Washington Glass School Blog was voted as Second Best Arts Blog! Woo-Hoo!

Since 2008 we have been pumping out stories on the DC and national art scene since Sean Hennessey started the blog. A big thank you to all the writers who have worked on the blog over the years!

Our collective hearts are full. 

Michael Janis Selected as Finalist in 31st DC Mayor’s Arts Awards

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The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (DCCAH) has selected our Michael Janis as a finalist in the “Excellence in the Arts” category for the 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. The Mayors Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations, and patrons of the arts.

This year, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will present the 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards Thursday, September 22, 2016, 7 pm at the Historic Lincoln Theatre.

Artists and Organizations will be recognized in six categories:

Excellence in the Arts

Excellence in the Humanities

Excellence in Creative Industries

Outstanding Student Award

Excellence in Arts Teaching

Outstanding New Artist

Special Awards will be given to individuals and organizations, recognizing their outstanding support to DC arts, humanities and creative industries.

Everyone is invited to come to the ceremony- 

Mayor Muriel Bowser presents

The 31st Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards

Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 7 pm

Historic Lincoln Theatre

1215 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

Red Carpet Pre-Show 6 pm

Reception 8:30 pm

DC is the District of Creativity

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The arts and culture are the hallmark of any great city. The Washington, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) has granted over $7.4 million in FY 2014 to local organizations and individuals as well as provided numerous professional opportunities, educational enrichment, and other services to those serving the creative sector. The DCCAH aids the grantees in their efforts to elevate their work and, thus, the District of Columbia.

District of Creativity: A Year in the Arts and Humanities is a celebration for and by local artists and organizations. Performances and remarks will review and highlight the accomplishments of those arts and humanities organizations and individuals funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in FY 2014.

Presentations and Performances By:
• Step Afrika
• Michael Janis
• Shawn Short for Dissonance Dance Theatre/Ngoma Center for Dance
Dance Place
Life Pieces To Masterpieces, Inc.
Young Playwrights’ Theater
The Dance Institute of Washington
Capital Fringe
• Washington Youth Choir

and others!

Following the production, the DCCAH will be hosting a Networking Social at Lost Society for DCCAH grantees and local funder, philanthropies, and DC VIPs.

District of Creativity: The Arts and Humanities in 2014 

Kindly RSVP here.

Lincoln_Theatre_and_Bens_Chili_BowlEvent Details

Date: Monday, June 8, 2015

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Location: The Historic Lincoln Theatre

1215 U Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009

#DistrictofCreativity

The Process: Public Art and Placemaking

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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.

Michael Janis bolts the panels to the top of the public art sculpture before the work is hoisted into place.

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Concept design for the Green Community Gateway Arch

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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. 

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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

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 Commissioner Willie H. Woods, Jr and DCCAH Exec Director Lionell Thomas were among the community enlisted to interact with the glass artwork.

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.

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Many voices told many stories in the inset panels that made up the glass quilt archway.

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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

  • Location: Corner Hayes Street & Kenilworth Terrace, NE; Washington, DC 20019
  • Washington Glass Studio Public Art Team: Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson, Derek Thomas, Miles Lark, Cris Chaney and Robyn Townsend
  • Structural Engineers: Holbert Apple Associates, Inc and Wolfman and Associates
  • Structural Steel: Iron Kingdom
  • Number of Glass Tile Insets: Over 300
  • Weight of Sculpture: 2000 lbs

DC’s Eastern Senior H.S. Does Glass

This past week, students from Washington, DC’s Eastern Senior High School came to the Washington Glass School for a short course in glass fusing. In each World History unit taught at Eastern Senior High School, a section on art is implemented into the curriculum as a way to encourage students to live a part of history rather than solely read about it. The art class this year was taught by Audrey Wilson, and the class dove right into the thick of it, making beautiful glass. 

The students worked in creative collaboration on the art projects.
Under the watchful eye of Audrey Wilson, the class beavered away.
Sonic Hedgehog in glass. A modern classic.
The students loaded the kilns with their artwork.
Another beauty in glass comes from the kiln.

Their teacher, Ms. Olaiya said of the art trip: “As an educator I believe that experiential learning is imperative to forming well rounded students. Exposure to mind opening experiences, such as the Washington Glass School, I believe, will awaken possibilities for life goals and ignite a sense of adventure for our students.”  The students then returned to their school excited from a day of Glass Adventure! Said Ms. Olaiya: “The students said how much they enjoyed it and thought it was really cool to work with glass.”

Eastern Senior High School

 Here’s to the young artists’ future!