This weekend’s pâte de verre class was a great success!
Instructor Teri Swinhart (Bailey) demonstrates how to apply color frit powder into specific areas for the class.
Pâte de verre is a kilncasting method that literally means “paste of glass”. The general premise is to mix frit granules with some sort of binder such as gum arabic, then apply the glass to the inner surface of a negative mold.
Teri Swinhart demonstrates proper frit application.
The Pâte de verre students made plaster molds in which they would cast the glass.
Lively discussion on ways to kilncast glass sculpture was explored by the class. The students all loved the process and can’t wait til the firings are out of the kilns.
Peppermill Community Center public art by Washington Glass Studio and the Peppermill/Landover community.
Cassi Hayden, the Senior Visual Media Photographer for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) was at Peppermill Village Community Center covering an event recently and found the artwork (made by Washington Glass Studio) in front to be exceptionally beautiful!
Detail of the internally illuminated glass panels made with the Peppermill community as part of the public artwork.
Cassi took some shots attached high-res files for your use. All photos in this posting by: M-NCPPC/Cassi Hayden
The artwork reflects well in the glass of the new center – and on the community that inspired the creation!
Click HERE to see the public art sculpture in the daytime and how the work came to be!
Smithsonian Renwick Museum Curator-In-Charge Nora Atkinson is compelled to touch the artwork by Michael Janis and Tim Tate on her visit to Washington Glass School.
Nora Atkinson, Curator-in-Charge of the Smithsonian Renwick Museum and Robyn Kennedy, Smithsonian Renwick Chief Administrator pay a visit to the studio to have a look at the new collaborative glass installation by Tim Tate & Michael Janis.
Artist Michael Janis talks about the process and inspiration that he and artist Tim Tate used to make the stunning, collaborative artwork.
The two Renwick Museum leaders wanted a preview of the work titled, “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air” before it heads up to Chicago as part of Habatat Prime pop-up exhibit that is part of SOFA Expo in a few weeks (Oct 31-Nov 3).
Artist Erwin Timmers points out the features of his thoughtful glass sculptures to SAAM Curator Nora Atkinson and Chief Administrator, Robyn Kennedy.
And a walk thru of the Washington Glass School looking at the artists work – what great way to spend a spectacular Friday in DC.
Michael Janis describes his sgraffito glass technique to Smithsonian’s Robyn Kennedy and Nora Atkinson as they tour the work on exhibit.
The Brentwood Arts Exchange serves as an anchor for the arts-based community development of the Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District. Located in the Gateway Arts Center, the Brentwood Arts Exchange will showcase Glass works by Debbi LoCicero, one of the Resident Artists at the Washington Glass School. Opening reception for her show at Brentwood Arts Exchange is Saturday, September 7th at, 9/7- 5-8 pm.
Debbi will be exhibiting glass objects from her “Lace Series”, representing memories of special places and times in the artist’s life.
The piece, titled “We Are All Just Passing Through”, is from her Lace Series.Image is of figures that are within the sculptural cube.
Debbi said about what she feels the artwork expresses: “Memories from our past… feelings about today….. excitement about what the future holds….”
Fall Exhibition
Opening Reception Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 5 PM – 8 PM
One of the fused glass panels made for the new Laurel Library public artwork.
To many, Memorial Day, the federal U.S. holiday that takes place every year on the last Monday of May, is just another excuse for a three-day weekend. It’s also known as the day that marks the official start of summer and as a day devoted to getting great deals at the mall. However, the true meaning of Memorial Day goes far beyond barbecues and mattress sales.
The holiday began after the Civil War, and at that time was known as “Decoration Day.” While it was originally founded to honor the soldiers who died in the Civil War, today, Memorial Day is a day to honor all of the Americans who have died in military service.
Patriotic Americans should take a moment from their day of celebration and leisure to reflect on the brave sacrifices of those who have given their lives for this great nation.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. George Washington
Erwin Timmers instructs one of the lighting class students.
Erwin Timmer’s artistic lighting class these past few weeks brought some serious color to the studio – really brightening up the studio!
Over the three week class, students completed a number of lighting designs, ranging from pendant to wall sconces and table lamps. Great to see how each created functional art that reflected the tastes and aesthetics of each of the artists. This was certainly a class that put forth the effort in the design!
Vibha’s glass design was dazzling!
Students designed and made the glass as well as assembled the mounting hardware.
Louis Comfort Tiffany would have been jealous of the glass created for the light fixture.
Jerrelee loves her light fixture that relates to her artwork.
Michael Janis at the Smithsonian Museum. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal.
Washington Glass School sgraffito workshop. Photo by Miriam Rosenthal.
TheJames Renwick Alliance(JRA) is an independent national non-profit organization that celebrates the achievements of America’s craft artists and fosters scholarship, education and public appreciation of craft art. The JRA is the exclusive support group of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American ArtMuseum, the U.S. national showcase of contemporary American craft. Washington Glass School Co-DirectorMichael Janiswas named “Distinguished Artist” by the JRA. The weekend’s eventsincluded a sgraffito glass workshop with Michael held at the Washington Glass School and Michael Janis presented at the Smithsonian Museum’s Turner Auditorium outlining his career, process, and artwork. The talk at the museum was broadcast live and the Smithsonian staff promised that it would be available online soon. The final event was the JRA hosted dinner on Sunday evening – it was a very busy exciting weekend for the WashingtonGlassSchool!
Congratulations to Michael – well done and well deserved!
London, England’s ZeST Contemporary Glass Gallery is hosting BLAST! 2012, the 10th anniversary exhibition of Cohesion Glass Network. Cohesion Glass Network is an initiative supported by the UK’s Sunderland City Council as a way to create a business network for glassmakers and artists.
Tim Tate
To celebrate this landmark, ZeST Gallery has invited eight of Cohesion’s founding members to exhibit their latest artworks and provided the opportunity to select an artist to be a “partner” and show work alongside them.
Roger Tye
These eight artists are Criss Chaney, Dominic Fonde, Zoe Garner, Ruth Lyne, Joanne Mitchell, Claudia Phipps, Roger Tye and Cate Watkinson. They have selected partners whose work they admire, or find complementary to their own, or in some cases they have joined forces to create unique collaborative work, exploring and developing themes and concepts held in common. Some, but not all, of the partner artists are Cohesion members, and all but one of the partners are artists working in glass.
Michael Janis
Cohesion artist Joanne Mitchell chose Washington Glass Studio artist Tim Tate. Cohesion’s Roger Tye is paired with WGS’ Michael Janis. Michael and Tim were both at Cohesion’s studios while in the UK on their Fulbright assignment.
The exhibition features a diverse selection of glass art, including wall-mounted and installation artwork, as well as vessels and sculpture, and embodies a broad spectrum of processes and techniques. The pairings within the show create an exciting dynamic of glass, artistic and otherworldly narratives.
Carrie Fertig
Artist pairings include: Criss Chaney with Robyn Townsend
Michael Janis’ narrative imagery made from crushed frit powder is the cover story in the May/June issue of Glass Art Magazine.
The May / June issue of Glass Art Magazine features a WGS two-fer, with a feature on the ecologically sustainable designs by the “King” of recycling, Erwin Timmers, AND a cover spread on the dreamlike glass panels by Michael Janis.
The Erwin Timmers’ review delves in depth into how Erwin makes sculpture from recycled and diverted waste materials .
“Working Green“, the article by Colleen Bryan, features the leader of the eco-art movement Erwin Timmers , and reviews his environmental philosophy and how Erwin practices his passion in his approach to his artwork and medium. Some great photos by Pete Duvall of Anything Photographic of Erwin’s beautiful glass sculpture work are showcased among the 5-page spread.
Glass Art Magazine Editor Shawn Waggoner writes about Michael Janis’ artwork in the latest issue.
In the cover article “Pushing Powder – Michael Janis’ Glass Frit Drawings“, editor Shawn Waggoner writes about how Michael Janis‘ imagery touches on the subconscious, and that his narrative glass artwork seems to ask questions rather than answer them. Her article also discusses how Michael was able to have his work became part of the US Art in Embassies permanent collection (now on exhibit in Europe), comments about his work from Corning Museum’s curator of Modern Glass, and Michael’s recent Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Sunderland, England, where, as a Fulbright Specialist, he was teaching at the UK’s National Glass Centre.
Click HERE to jump to the Glass Art Magazine website.
If you sign up as a subscriber to Glass Art Magazine – there are subscriber benefits – such as links to articles online on how Michael Janis’ and Tim Tate’s Fulbright Scholarship to the UK’s University of Sunderland worked out and more! Click HERE to jump to the online magazine.
Vanderbilt University’s Critical Care TowerNurse Stations
Ardent readers of the Washington Glass School blog will remember earlier posting about theVanderbilt University, where the University’s new Critical Care Tower installed kilnformed glass panels.The project has expanded and additional floors were designed to incorporate more of the kilnformed glass panels in new areas, each with the floating leaf motif.The leaf is the symbol of Vanderbilt University and the oldest part of the Vanderbilt campus is known for its abundance of trees and green space. The campus was designated as a national arboretum in 1988. The imagery of swirling leaves were always part of the design of thecustom glassarchitectural panels. Mick Coughlan and Erwin Timmers worked on the creation of the new series of glass panels – some shots of the panels in progress:
Mick Coughlan gives the glass set into the kiln one last clean. The deep-relief dry plaster kiln casting method is used to create the panels.
Erwin Timmers edge polishes the glass panels. Dousing everything with water.
After the edge polishing Mick & Erwin’s glass edge grinding, impromptu dryers (aka hot kilns) sported wet clothing.
The students all loved the process and can’t wait til the firings are out of the kilns.
