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Michael Janis Finalist in 2022 Contemporary Craft Prize

Posted on August 9, 2022 by admin |

Michael Janis, “Allowing Our Past to Become Part of Ourselves” detail, 2022, fused glass, glass powder imagery. Photo by Pete Duvall.

17 national and international finalists have been selected for this biennial exhibition in glass art, featuring newly created, innovative works.

Michael Janis glass art - title "Allowing Our Past to Become Part of Ourselves" 60"H x 40' W fused glass, glass powder imagery aluminum

Glass is itself a transformation: created when ordinary sand encounters extreme heat. In this breathtaking exhibition, glass is transformed again, this time by 17 contemporary artists from across the globe. The resulting work pushes the boundary of traditional craft techniques and takes glass from the realm of the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Transformation 11: Contemporary Works in Glass is Contemporary Craft’s 2022 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize juried exhibition. The winning artist and their work will be announced and presented at the public opening of the exhibition on Friday, September 9, 2022, where they will receive a cash prize. The 2022 prize will be awarded in the category of glass, and must meet the requirement that it has been made within the last 12 months and addresses the theme of “transformation.” Seventeen contemporary artists from across the globe explore creative concepts and innovative approaches in their use of the glass medium, with the winning artist sending additional works to demonstrate the breadth of their work.

The 2022 Raphael Prize finalists are: Dean Allison, Pittsburgh, PA; Eunsuh Choi, Rochester, WI; Donald Friedlich, Madison, WI; Michael Janis, Washington, DC; Lauren Kalman, Detroit, MI; David King, Danville, KY; Eriko Kobayashi, Carbondale, IL; Weston Lambert, Tacoma, WA; Patrick Martin, Emporia, KS; Hisayoshi Muto, Yatomi, Aichi, Japan; Aya Oki, San Bernardino, CA; Miroslava Ptackova, Zlín, Zlínský kraj, Czech Republic; David Schnuckel, Rochester, NY; Michaela Spruzinova, Ústí Nad Labem, brná, Czech Republic; Ben Wright, Stanwood, WA; Ayano Yoshizumi, Everard Park, SA, Australia; and Hoseok Youn, Toledo, OH.

The jury for the 2022 prize includes Anna Rothfuss, Project Development Manager, Derix Art Glass Consultants, LLC U.S., Portland, OR; Heather McElwee, Randi & L. Van V. Dauler, Jr. Executive Director, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA; Alexandra Raphael, enameller, London, England; Catherine Raphael, metalsmith and writer, Pittsburgh, PA; Rachel Saul Rearick, Executive Director, and Kate Lydon, Director of Exhibitions (retired), Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA

Contemporary Craft, 5645 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Contemporary Craft hours: Mon-Sat: 10 AM – 4 PM

September 9, 2022 – March 18, 2023

This opening is free and open to the public.

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY CRAFT

Contemporary Craft presents contemporary art in craft media by regional, national, and international artists. Contemporary Craft offers cutting edge exhibitions focusing on multicultural diversity and contemporary art, as well as a range of artist-led studio workshops, community engagement programs, and a store. Located at 5645 Butler Street in the Upper Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit www.contemporarycraft.org

Posted in 21st century glass, aacg, american craft, american glass, contemporary craft, frit powder, fulbright scholar michael janis, fused, fused glass, fused glass imagery, glass frit powder imagery, kiln fused glass, kiln-formed, kiln-formed glass, mike janis, narrative glass, neues glas, outstanding artist, pittsburgh, studio art glass, studio glass movement, top glass artist, twenty first century glass, united states, warm glass, Washington School of Glass, стекло искусство новое, فن الزجاج الجديد, 新的玻璃, 美国玻璃艺术家

Janis & Tate @ Toronto’s Sandra Ainsley Gallery

Posted on July 26, 2022 by admin |

Michael Janis & Tim Tate at Toronto’s Sandra Ainsley Gallery June 4 – July 30, 2022

Toronto, Canada’s famed Sandra Ainsley Gallery present the narrative glass artworks by WGS Co-Directors Tim Tate and Michael Janis. The show, titled “One Story is Not Enough” featured works by each artist as a solo, and a number of their collaborative wall murals.

Michael Janis’ imagery in frit powder is reflected in the gallery’s piano surface.

When Michael Janis and Tim Tate met, almost 20 years ago, they discovered a shared fascination of narrative sculpture- one that seeks to arrive at an image that is both unflinchingly candid in physical representation and psychologically evasive. Working together, they are interested in the simultaneous read of an immediately recognizable image that asks the viewer to linger over history and meanings that unfurl more slowly. Mark, line and material become an extension of touch in the act of representation. The relationship of hand to subject, negotiated through the material, can elicit a response of both visual and tactile.

“The Poetry of Everyday Objects” by Michael Janis & Tim Tate, 2021; Size:6H x 6W’; Cast Glass

With these confines they create work in many techniques, but if you stand slightly back and see their history a huge thread of interconnected stories weave through their work from day one. The beauty comes into focus and the viewer sees the edges of a world not dissimilar to this one, but so much more thoughtful.

Detail – “The Poetry of Everyday Objects”, Michael Janis & Tim Tate

They present this glimpse into that alternative world, seemingly unstuck in time somewhere between past and future.

Tim Tate, Lenticular series, 2022, each panel 41″H x 41″W, lenticular prints

Sandra Ainsley Gallery
The Warehouse
100 Sunrise Avenue, Unit 150
Toronto, Ontario Canada M4A 1B3

Posted in 21st century glass, 21st century sculpture, figurative art, fine art, fullbright scholar, fused glass imagery, glass art, glass frit powder imagery, glass sculpture, glass show, imagery in glass, kiln-formed glass, kilncast, michael janis, mike janis, narrative glass, painterly glass, sandra ainsley gallery, sgraffitto, sgrafitto, Tim Tate, top glass artist, twenty first century glass, twenty first century sculpture, united states, فن الزجاج الجديد, 美国玻璃艺术家 | Tagged canada, toronto

Open Studio Tours – Washington Glass School and OST 2020!

Posted on August 18, 2020 by admin |

Mark your virtual calendars! August 22 Open Studio Tours goes ONLINE! See what the artists in the Glass School have been doing over the past months!

Posted in functional art, fused, fused glass, fused glass class, fused glass imagery, fused glass sculpture, gateway arts district, glass art, glass class, imagery in glass, media based art, mixed media, mixed media glass, open house, open studio, OST, studio, studio art glass, studio artist, studio glass, visual arts center, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass

Washington Post Reviews Michael Janis Solo @ Littleton Gallery

Posted on October 8, 2016 by admin |

The Washington Post published the following review of Michael Janis’ solo show “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows” being exhibited at the Maurine Littleton Gallery through Oct 15. Art critic Mark Jenkins describes Michael’s skill as “extraordinary. Jenkins also enthuses that Janis’ glass artwork combines “the stateliness of stained-glass windows with the vivacity of pop art”. Have a read of the full text below:

Michael Janis. “Radiance,” 2016, glass, glass powder imagery, steel; on view at Maurine Littleton Gallery. (Michael Janis/Maurine Littleton Gallery)

By Mark Jenkins October 8, 2016

Michael Janis

If Michael Janis worked with pencil or charcoal, his draftsmanship would be impressive. But the D.C. artist draws photorealist portraits with pulverized glass, placing the powder exactly with tiny tools. Which is extraordinary.

Most of the pieces in “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows,” at Maurine Littleton Gallery, include depictions of pretty young women. These gamines, who might be ballerinas or French New Wave stars, are rendered in granulated black glass fused by heat to clear glass sheets. The pieces aren’t just black-and-clear, though. Janis overlays and underlies patches of translucent colored glass, and often adds such 3-D glass elements as butterflies or flower petals. Aqua and orange are common in this array, among other hues. In one picture, an abstract yellow-green swirl contrasts the subject’s slightly darker green eyes.

Janis employs many variations, slicing faces into three equal parts or contrasting them with panels of textured glass. There are ceramic busts garlanded with glass leaves, and portraits embellished with near-opaque peacock- or dark-blue circles. The latter combine the stateliness of stained-glass windows with the vivacity of pop art — half medieval cathedral, half 1960s Vogue.

Michael Janis: Echoes of Leaves and Shadows On view through Oct. 15 at Maurine Littleton Gallery, 1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-333-9307. littletongallery.com.

Posted in american glass, art, art glass, contemporary artwork, contemporary craft, fused glass imagery, kiln-formed glass, mark jenkins, michael janis, mike janis, scraffito, sgraffitto, sgrafitto, washington post

Michael Janis Featured in Glass Art Magazine Podcast

Posted on September 3, 2016 by admin |

Glass Art Magazine has a podcast series aptly named “Talking Out Your Glass” that features interviews and discussions with world-renowned glass artists. WGS’ Michael Janis joins the series as he talks about how he does his glass powder drawings and his upcoming solo show at Georgetown’s Maurine Littleton Gallery.

click above to listen to podcast

Michael’s solo exhibit titled “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows” features his new glass works and sculptures and opens Friday, September 16, 2016.

Michael.Janis.radiance.glass_art.magazine.podcast.echoes.leaves.shadows.washington_dc.maurine_littleton.scraffito.frit_powder.drawing.new.jpg

Michael Janis, “Radiance”;2016; fused glass, glass powder imagery, steel; 12.5″ x 12.5″

Michael Janis: Echoes of Leaves and Shadows

Maurine Littleton Gallery

1667 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20007

(202) 333-9307

Sept 16 – Oct 15, 2016

Opening Reception Friday, September 16, 6-8pm

Glass Art Magazine podcast link – click HERE

Posted in fused glass imagery, georgetown, glass art magazine, kiln-formed glass, maurine littleton gallery, podcast, warm glass, washington DC | Tagged book hill, talking out your glass

Drawing On Glass

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Betty Py |

Nancy Donnelly uses underglaze pencils to create fused glass drawings.

Working in the glass school, Nancy Donnelly creates fused glass drawings and sketches. Originally a painter, Nancy likes to explore ways to bring her “painterly aspects” into glass. Using underglaze crayons and pencils, Nancy works at getting a loose ‘sketch’ feel into her glass artwork.

The use of underglaze pencil allows Nancy to retain her detail and her quality of sketch in the art.

Nancy likes the expressive qualities of the sketch.

Nancy is able to capture the personality of the subject.

Examples of Nancy’s artwork can be seen in Foundry Gallery in DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood. Nancy will have a solo show there this coming October 3 – 28th, 2012.

Foundry Gallery, 1314 18th St NW, WDC

Posted in foundry gallery, fused glass imagery, Nancy Donnelly, underglaze

Michael Janis Does (Hot Glass) Houston

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Chip Montague |

Washington Glass School’s own “Magic Mike” was just down in Houston – performing for the ladies out at the Hot Glass Houston (HGH) – a Bullseye glass Resource Center in Texas.

Michael Janis exposed all his secrets during his weekend review at club Hot Glass Houston. He happily line dances and pole dances (where he got the nickname “Magic Mike”), yet remains mum about what happened at the HGH karoke night…

Michael said there were many ‘naturals’ in the class that took to the sgraffito technique instantly, and HGH’s Bob Paterson sent some photos from the class –

Michael Janis outlines frit powder sgraffito process to the class.

In the three-day workshop, the artists created imagery using frit powder, enamels, image transfer, stencils, high-fire pens and paints, and later worked at creating depth by kiln-forming a stacked image panel.

TA Cynthia Gilkey sifts frit powder to recreate her puppy Bob in glass.

Bob after his time in a kiln.

Michael demonstrates how to manipulate frit powder. Its so easy!

Hot Glass Houston kilns fill with image laden sheets of glass.

Lynda Stoy’s frit powder sketch awaits kiln firing.

Layered panel component sheets by Marilyn Dishman, Lynda Stoy and Deborah Enderle are fired to fix the frit powder on the glass and allow for further embellishment.

The class dams each layered imagery panel prior to full fuse firing.

Catherine Coffman assembles her layered panel in the kiln and creates a dam surround.

After firing.

Brooke Colvin’s romantic panel after clean up.

Liz Paul’s glass artwork references a walk thru the woods.

Michael said he had a great time in Texas, and he enjoyed hanging out with the owner Bob Paterson and TA Cynthia Gilkey – although he mentioned a karaoke night debacle, he refused to give details. Click here to jump to Hot Glass Houston’s facebook page. Click HERE to jump to Hot Glass Houston’s website.

Posted in american, bullseye glass, frit powder, fused glass imagery, hot glass houston, kiln-formed glass, scraffito, sgraffito technique, studio art glass, texas

Michael Janis Goes West!

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Chip Montague |

photos by Demetra Theofanous

An earlier WGS blog post mentions that our own master of glass imagery – Michael Janis – was heading out west to teach a series of workshops at California’s Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI).
Michael’s workshops were about integrating imagery into glass – one workshop was creating deep bas-relief and in the other workshop he taught how he does his unique frit powder drawing technique.
Below are some photos of the California workshops:

Making clear and color bas-relief samples.

The students try out working in the plaster molds.

Mark adds color to his work; a student’s work shows the cast glass bristles of a paintbrush.

BAGI Executive Director Mark Murai is amazed at the detail captured by the kilnformed glass.

Michael Janis describes what goes on inside the glass during the firing.

Michael reveals all his secrets in how to use frit powder for drawing and how the layers of glass create the depth of the work.

Michael said he had really enjoyed working at BAGI’s facilities: “It’d be my new home… it has that experimental vibe – where as an artist you can really respond and can take your work the next level.”

Click HERE to jump to BAGI’s website.

Posted in BAGI, bay area glass institute, fused glass imagery, glass, imagery in glass, kilncast, workshop

Imagery In Glass Class

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Michael Janis |

Instructor Michael Janis explains how imagery can be fused into glass.

Class 1005 – Imagery in Glass was alot of fun this weekend, a great way to celebrate the end of the blizzard weather the DC metro area has been suffering thru. The class dove right in learning how to use glass frit powder, high temperature enamels, stencils, glass paints and fused glass photo-imagery.

Michael Janis outlines the sgraffito technique