GLASS COAST WEEKEND 2024

This week, glass universe goes south – to Florida! The Glass Art Fair takes place in Sarasota, FL from Feb 1st – 4th Ringling College of Art + Design Studio A. Habatat Galleries‘ 4-day glass art experience “Glass Coast Weekend” features six special exhibits of contemporary glass.

The event includes a pop-up exhibit of over 150 pieces at the Ringling College of Art + Design’s Studio Labs Sound Stage A. Explore four themed curated exhibitions, two solo exhibits, and visit the newly opened Sarasota Art Museum and the Basch Gallery on the Ringling College campus. Additional highlights include a Masterworks Auction, a demonstration by artist John Kiley, artist talks, a Ringling Museum mystery, Habatat-Zoom Live, the Imagine Museum’s Annual Fire and Light Gala

Hope to see you at the first HUGE glass event of the year!

Laurel Library’s Grand Opening Features Public Art Sculpture by Washington Glass Studio

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Washington Glass Studio sculpture at the new Laurel Library. Photo by Pete Duvall.

The Washington Glass Studio (WGS) has recently completed installation of a community based site specific public art commission for Prince George’s County Laurel Library. The new building was designed by Grimm + Parker Architects, with the grand opening of the new library scheduled for November 28, 2016. Features of the spectacular new library include an inset floor area in the children’s section where kids will get to peer at a replica velociraptor skeleton through the glass floor. Just a few miles away from the library site is Dinosaur Park, where scientists work to excavate fossils from the early Cretaceous period. Dinosaur imagery was also included as a theme running through the glass artwork panels.

WGS design proposal sketch

WGS design proposal sketch.

WGS was awarded the commission to make the outdoor sculpture at the front of the new library by Maryland’s Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC). The Art in Public Places Program RFQ sought out artwork that would provide world class artwork for Prince George’’s County residents and visitors. 

WGS proposal for the project was a 17’H internally illuminated glass and steel sculpture that incorporates glass panels made by the community,residents and stakeholders of the Laurel, MD community. The engineering of the steel framework involved detailed analysis of the structure and its components. WGS worked with structural engineer Holbert Apple to ensure the integrity of the design.

Detailed analysis of sculpture was part of the design development process.

Detailed analysis of sculpture was part of the design development process.

Over 100 glass inset panels were made during the series of workshops held at the Washington Glass School. The Baltimore Sun newspaper featured a story by reporter Lisa Philip about the process. 

A series of community glass quilting bees were held at the Washington Glass School for the library during the summer.

A series of community glass quilting bees were held at the Washington Glass School for the library during the summer. Photo by Lisa Philip/Baltimore Sun

 

 

The artwork’s title “Involve Me and I Learn”  is based on a phrase attributed to US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (who also opened the first US public library). The name references the engagement of the community. The neighborhood and the Laurel Library supporters had joined in making the individual glass panels in workshops at the Washington Glass School.Laurel_Library.artists.washington_glass_school.studio.sculpture.public_art.project.american.great.commission.site_specific.fused.jpg

The resulting variations in each tile’s imagery and technique embody the artist’s concept in bringing the people from the diverse community together to create a cohesive and vibrant sculpture. 

 

 

The artwork inset kiln-formed glass panels express the personality and the  individuality of everyone involved in the project.

The artwork’s internally illuminated kiln-formed glass panels express the personality and the individuality of everyone involved in the project. Photo by Pete Duvall

Project  Information

Artist: Washington Glass Studio 

Design Team: Laurie Brown, Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson. With Josh Hershman and Pierre Browning.

Structural Engineer : Holbert Apple Assoc Inc 

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Photo by Pete Duvall

Laurel Library
507 7th Street, Laurel, MD 20707

Grand Opening / Dedication – 10:30 AM, Monday, November 28, 2016 – All are invited!

Washington Glass Studio Engages Community With Laurel Library’s Public Art

Washington Glass School & Studio

Prince George’s County’s Art in Public Places promotes community interaction in the creation of the new artwork sculpture at the Laurel Library. Residents of the area are invited to the Glass School to create the glass panels in the sculpture.

Prince George’s County, MD, recently awarded Washington Glass Studio the commission to create of one of the public art sculptures destined to become a landmark at the new Laurel Library, currently completing construction.

WGS is working with Arts in Public Places (AIPP) –  Prince George’s County Government’s public art program that contributes to the place-making and aesthetic significance of Capital Improvement Projects. AIPP creates percent-for-art initiatives that integrate works-of-art into new and (substantially) renovated County buildings as part of construction costs of the facility.

Proposal sketch by Washington Glass Studio.

Proposal sketch by Washington Glass Studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Laurel Library public art process involves community and facility stakeholders, artists, construction professionals and local government officials. Community glass making workshops have been held, and a there has been a great start on the artwork! 

The new glass artists lay out their designs.

The new glass artists lay out their designs.

The first batch of fused glass artworks is reviewed in the studio.

The first batch of fused glass artworks is reviewed in the studio.

One of the artworks references the new library’s lighted dinosaur footprints leading to the Discovery Island children’s room that will have a glass floor exposing a full-size velociraptor skeleton replica. The room will hold two children’s seating areas, one within a large dinosaur rib cage and the other decorated with volcano lava and light effects.

DC Mayor Gray to Dedicate WGS Public Art Sculpture

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites all to a Public Art Dedication of : The Community Gateway Arch

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   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 contactThe DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities:

202-724-5613 or tonya.jordan@dc.gov

Light refreshments will be served

Update on WGS Collaborative Artwork

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Above grid includes work from top, L to R: Allegra Marquart, Jennifer Lindstrom, Jackie Greeves, Robert Kincheloe, Evan Morgan, Dave Cook.

As mentioned in a posting earlier this year, the Washington Glass School’s will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary with the creation of a collaborative artwork that will be mounted on the front facade of the glass school.

WGS Director Tim Tate organizes and sets out the artwork tiles into the steel grid framework.

Copper & glass panel is collaboration between metalsmith Chris Shea and glass artist Don Daniels.

Glass panels made by filmmakers Jon Gann and Kerri Sheehan.

Installation of the glass panels will take place in the next week or so (certainly after the Hurricane Irene is has passed).

Proposed artwork location at the front of the glass school. The author of this article is depicted as leaving the studio.


Chris Shea Is Put Into A Museum

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Chris Shea forged steel, cast glass

It’s official: The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum has acquired three of Chris Shea’s cast glass-and-steel furniture pieces for their permanent collection. The two chairs and a table will be on exhibit at the Renwick in DC this Fall. Congratulations Chris!

Chris studied blacksmithing and silversmithing at the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Tennessee, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University. A professional artist and blacksmith for over 10 years, Chris designs and creates hand-forged furniture, sculpture and architectural metalwork at his studio in Brandywine, MD.


click on image to jump to a slideshow of Chris’ process.

Chris has been making a number of cast glass panels that will be featured in his newest work – the Demilune Table – hopefully to be featured on the Glass School blog!

To jump to Chris’s website – click HERE.

Glass and Steel Sculpture Development Class Working Flat Out

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The sculpture development class held at both the Washington Glass School and DC Glass Works is working hard at completing their mixed-media sculptures.


Erin Antognoli sizes and fits her fused elements into her steel framework.


Lee Ann Taylor’s artwork.


Raya Koren marks the spacing for her glass & cast aluminum elements.


Tracy Benson’s cast ants cut around her cast glass leaves.


Brenda Dean shaping small elements.


Matthew Graham’s sculpture will feature delicate glass insect wings.


Joanna Viudiz assembles her cast glass elements into her steel framework.

Faz Besharatian working on the chop saw so fast, he becomes a blur.

The class is finishing up the works for a grand unveiling – stay tuned for photos of the finished works! The finished works will be part of the Washington Glass Studio’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 11, from 2-6 pm.