9th Annual Glass National

Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA present the 9th Annual Glass National, an exhibition highlighting the depth and breadth of contemporary functional and sculptural glass artworks being created throughout the country. The Glass National is a unique opportunity to view and experience a variety of styles and techniques encompassing the glass artwork field today.

Kate Barfield, “Tribute to Ms Ms. Mailou Jones”.

Made as a tribute to the Black DC painter, Ms. Mailou Jones, Kate Barfield said…” I wanted to capture her angular shapes, curves & POW! of color into glass”.

This year’s juror, Kristina Logan, reviewed over 80 artworks and selected 34 which incorporate a combination of a contemporary spirit and technical mastery of the material. Glass National is a unique opportunity to view and experience a variety of styles and techniques encompassing the glass artwork field today.

April Shelford, “Gravity’s Loom”

Congratulations to WGS Artists Kate Barfield and April Shelford! Your works are amazing!

9th Annual Workhouse Glass National
November 4, 2023 to January 14, 2024

Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA

7th Annual Glass National @ Lorton Workhouse

Kate Barfield, Urban Season, 2020, Cast Glass, 17 in x 17 in

The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA has opened their 7th Annual Glass National — an exhibition highlighting contemporary functional and sculptural glass artworks being created throughout the country.

April Shelford, Almondine, 2020, Glass, 8 ½ in x 8 ½ in 2 in

This year’s juror, Jack Wax -Professor of Glass @ VCU, reviewed over 80 artworks and select 28 which incorporate a combination of a contemporary spirit and technical mastery of the material. Glass National is a unique opportunity to view and experience a variety of styles and techniques encompassing the glass artwork field today. Three Resident Artists from Washington Glass School – Trish Kent, April Shelford and Kate Barfield – were selected to be part of the exhibit! Congratulations All!

The exhibit is on view at the Workhouse Arts Center Vulcan Gallery from October 23, 2021 – January 9, 2022. Reception: January 8th, 2022, 6 – 8 PM. The gallery is currently open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11:00am – 6:00pm and Sunday Noon – 5:oopm. The Workhouse Arts Center is located at: 9518 Workhouse Way Lorton, VA 22079

Trish Kent, The Divided States of America #3, 2020, Glass, mixed media, 19″x 14″

Jurors’ Statement:

There is quite an idiosyncratic nature to the application and implementation of individual “choice” in the jurying of a small exhibition of “artworks.”

I find this especially true when the parameters set forth limit the “words” that I person may “speak.” That is a novel that is circumscribed in advance to never employ the letter E certainly can “say” many things…but can it in the end range quite as far or as deep as a book without such constraints? We all make “rules” for ourselves in our studios, other-wise we’d quickly be overwhelmed by the entire world being invited in through the door! And…I know as well that certain of us welcome working under the onus of restraint. It is somehow freeing! Yo-yo Ma chooses not to play all of the instruments in the orchestra but to truly master but one.”

Trish Kent studio visit video – click to watch.

Sent to the Workhouse! – 5th Annual Glass National 2019

5th Annual Glass National
On view October 26, 2019 – January 12, 2020
Vulcan Gallery, Building W-16

The Workhouse Arts Center
9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA 22079
Reception: Saturday, November 9, 6 – 8 p.m.

Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center (WAF) will have its 5th Annual Workhouse Glass National Exhibition 2019. This annual Workhouse Glass National Exhibition is a juried exhibit of functional and/or sculptural glass artworks.  The Workhouse Arts Center wants to promote and display the breadth of contemporary glass artwork being created throughout the USA and Canada. The juror, Wesley Fleming, selected over 110 images of glass art to select 44 pieces of art which incorporate a contemporary spirit as well as a technical mastery of the material.  The show is a rare opportunity to see a variety of styles and techniques which encompass the field of contemporary glass arts.

Patricia De Poel Wilberg; "Envelop"

Patricia De Poel Wilberg; “Envelop” The artist said of the work: “It deals with how we are part of Nature – in it and enveloped by it. How being part of the beauty of nature is nurturing and empowering”

Glass National Juror : Wesley Fleming
Wesley Fleming has received international recognition for his intricate glasswork which brings fantastic realism of the microcosmos to life. As an ambassador for smaller denizens of the earth, his passion for nature sparks awe and curiosity in others. He has taught in Japan, Germany, England and domestically at Penland and Corning, among others. In addition to numerous shows, he has work in the permanent collections of Corning Museum of Glass, Kobe Lampwork Museum and the Racine Art Museum.

Juror Statement

When viewing entries of competitions and group exhibits, I often wonder how the juror(s) possibly selected such work.  The process of choosing accepted entries and particularly selecting the prize-winners was both interesting and educational!

I come from a craft-centric background with no art school experience, so this forms my foundational understanding and appreciation of glass objects.  I sincerely appreciate idea and narrative behind the making of a piece, but a piece must be well-made and well-presented first and foremost. Otherwise it can be hard to look past issues to see the bigger picture, especially when a tiny photo (rarely with a second image or detail view) was all I could see when jurying. I wish I could view the actual exhibit to see how different the selected pieces are in-person – hence my reason for asking Best of Show award to be by audience choice.

It was a real honor to jury the 5th Annual Workhouse Glass National competition, and my congratulations to the makers of the selected entries! Many I viewed were very close to winning an award, but only four entries could be selected. Great work!!!

Diane Cooper Cabe

Diane Cooper Cabe

 

Workhouse Glass National 2019

Exhibition Dates: October 26, 2019-January 12, 2020
Opening Reception: November 9, 2019 from 6pm.

The Workhouse Arts Center
9518 Workhouse Way
Lorton, VA 22079

Glass National 2017 Opens at Lorton Workhouse Center

Veta Carney, "Max", mixed media, cast glass. Photo by Pete Duvall.

Veta Carney, “Max”, mixed media, cast glass. Photo by Pete Duvall.

The Workhouse Arts Center is proud to announce its 3rd Annual Glass National exhibition. Glass National is a juried exhibition which promotes and displays the breadth of contemporary glass artwork being created throughout the USA and Canada by highlighting both functional and sculptural works. This year’s juror was installation, video and glass artist, Charlotte Potter.

Juror, Charlotte Potter
Charlotte Potter has focused the field of performance glass in her work as the Glass Studio Manager and Programming Director at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA. An avid educator, Potter is the mentor of the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio Assistantship program and has taught glass and new media courses at Penland School of Crafts and Oxbow. 

Glass National 2017
On View October 28 – January 14, 2018
Reception November 11, 6pm-8pm

W-16, Vulcan Gallery
9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA, 22079
Phone: 703-584-2900
Website: workhousearts.org