Category Archives: historical glass art

Washington Glass School at 25: Nancy Kronstadt Reflects on Two Decades of Creativity and Community

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As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Washington Glass School and Studio, we invited longtime artists, students, and extended family members to share their memories of the people, projects, and moments that helped shape our community.

Nancy Kronstadt has been part of the Washington Glass School family for more than two decades. Since first discovering the studio in 2002, she has been a student, artist, supporter, and friend. Her reflections capture the spirit of those early days on Half Street SE, the joy of creative discovery, and the lasting power of an artistic community.

We are honored to share Nancy’s words below.

Washington Glass School 25th Anniversary

By Nancy Kronstadt

Artist Nancy Kronstadt poses in front of her work featured in the new DC Cedar Hill Medical Center
Nancy Kronstadt with her glass tile that is featured at DCs Cedar Hill Medical Center

I first discovered the Washington Glass School in the Fall of 2002 when I stumbled upon their booth at the Adams Morgan street festival. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the colorful glass display cast reflections everywhere. Intrigued, I spoke with several artists about the fused glass processes and went home with the upcoming class schedule. A week later, I called and signed up for the Beginning Glass Lovers Weekend.

sexy, handsome artist Michael Janis strikes a pose in front of the washington glass school street fair booth bethesda, MD circa 2005
Washington Glass School’s street fair booth (ca. 2005)

The studio on Half Street SE was somewhat primitive, although I didn’t realize it then. (Standard procedure was to fill a pitcher with water and carry it to the belt sander to fill its trough before using it.) Over the following years, I spent many Saturdays there, either in “Open Studio” or in classes — Beginning Fusion, Advanced Fusion, United Colors, Bowls Bowls Bowls, Drop through Drapes, and Glass Weaving – to name a few. Before I retired, those Saturdays at the studio became my designated afternoons of peace. I would leave my stress at the studio door and walk in excited to work on a creative, absorbing project.

washington glass school casting class at the Washington, DC Half St circ 2003.
Washington Glass School class at Half Street location (ca. 2003)

Throughout these years, the guys — Tim, Michael and Erwin — have supported my efforts, offering guidance and encouragement and helping me troubleshoot plans for a piece before I began (and sometimes after something had failed). In return, I donated a curly lock of hair to one of Tim’s pieces and took on the studio’s basic bookkeeping.

Since retiring, I have spent more time at WGS. Unlike my earlier years, when I mostly worked alone, the past six years have been spent in a wonderful shared studio environment, surrounded by the support, critique and friendship from the amazing group of resident artists. The Cedar Hill Medical Project was the perfect opportunity for the artists of WGS to work together to create something truly beautiful and special.

Nancy Kronstadt making her glass ornaments (ca. 2019)

My work does not follow a single theme; it grows from a simple wish to create something pretty and special. For more than 20 years, WGS has given me an environment that quietly and consistently encourages me to create.

Nancy

Posted in " glass studio", 25th anniversary Washington Glass School and Studio, historic glass art, historical glass art, history, nancy kronstadt | Tagged , ,

Washington Glass School Origins

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The 9/11 anniversary always puts everyone in the Washington Glass School in a reflective mood.

Washington Glass School was originally named Meltdown

Originally named “Meltdown” an original class schedule.

Washington Glass School started in 2001 (the original name of the school was “Meltdown”) with its first class scheduled for September 13th, 2001, at the Millennium Arts Center in SW Washington, DC.

After the tragedy of 9/11, Director Tim Tate and Erwin Timmers contacted the students – sure that no-one was going to go to a glass class in Washington, DC. All the students asked that the class continue – as they wanted some sense of normalcy and wanted to work at creating something. 

Artist Diane Cooper Cabe was a student in the first class. Said Diane : "Being at Meltdown during that stressful, sad time with warm-hearted folks and creative work to do helped us all heal."

Artist Diane Cooper Cabe was a student in the first class. Said Diane : “Being at Meltdown during that stressful, sad time with warm-hearted folks and creative work to do helped us all heal.” Photo circa 2002.

 

The School started strong – with early student exhibitions covered by the Washington Post and Washington Times. Classes continued thru the years with some great glass and art instructors: Liz Mears, Lucartha Kohler, Sean Hennessey, Joseph Cavalieri, Allegra Marquart, Bert Weiss and Debra Ruzinsky. Workshops by glass superstars Judith Schaechter and Therman Statom.  

Tim Tate (L), Erwin Timmers (Center L) talk with a student about glass and steel sculpture. Circa 2001.

Tim Tate (L), Erwin Timmers (Center L) talk with a student about glass and steel sculpture. Photo circa 2001.

Many of the students and teaching assistants have went on to open their own studios and become renown artists in their own right – including Cheryl Derricotte, Jeff Zimmer, Teddie Hathaway, Audrey Wilson, Laura Beth Konopinski and (later a Co-Director of WGS) Michael Janis.

In 2003, the school was reorganized and moved to the Washington Sculpture on Half Street in SE. Renamed “The Washington Glass School” remained at that location until the city used eminent domain to clear the area (and demolish the building) to make room for the new Nationals baseball stadium.

Washington Glass School circa 2004.

Washington Glass School circa 2004.

In 2006, The Washington Glass School moved to Mount Rainier, MD, and to its current facility in 2007.

We look back on the memories of the past 18 years with a bittersweet mixture of pride, sentiment, and fondness for those days and love for those who have passed on. 

And then take a deep breath and get back on to work.

A 2002 Washington Post newspaper article about the glass program - features Cheryl Derricotte and Erwin Timmers.

A 2002 Washington Post newspaper article about the glass program – features Cheryl Derricotte and Erwin Timmers.

Posted in historical glass art, history, washington glass school, Washington School of Glass, wgs

US Library of Congress’ New Cast Sculptural Glass Doors

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Aerial view of US Capitol on the Mall, Washington, DC. Library of Congress is center bottom of photo.

The Washington Glass Studio (WGS) has started the creation of the new cast sculptural glass doors for the Library of Congress (LOC) in Washington, DC. The design of the project started in 2004, when the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) first asked WGS about advise on their initial proposal to replace the original historic bronze doors of the LOC Adams Building, as the doors required security and changes to be code-compliant. The AOC also sought to reference the artistic heritage of the original doors in this important United States building.

One of the original bronze door pairs by sculptor Lee Lawrie

The original (11′-0″H) bronze doors had functional issues and will be retained in their present hold-open position, recessed into architectural niches. The 16 sculpted bronze doors feature high-relief sculptures by American artist Lee Lawrie, whose best known work is the architectural sculpture on and around New York’s Rockefeller Center. Lawrie’s bronze doors were designed to commemorate the history of the written word, depicting gods of writing as well as real-life Native American Sequoyah. 

Lee Lawrie,  1877-1963,  American sculptor, best known for his architectural work at NY’s Rockefeller Center, especially for the free-standing “Atlas” sculpture.
Ogma and Sequoyah, sculpted bronze figures by Lee Lawrie. Door detail, Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, DC.
The original bronze figures depict:

The new door design incorporates cast glass panels mounted within a bronze framework,  incorporating current egress and security requirements. The kilnformed sculptural glass will be made from molds taken off the original door sculptures. Using clear Bullseye glass to cast, the sculpted glass panels will then be laminated to tempered glass for safety. The new glass doors will create a contemporary luminosity to the building entrances, while keeping the character of the historic landmark structure.

original bronze doors – east side  (top)
Design of new bronze and cast glass doors – west side (bottom)

The scale of the project has prompted a collaboration between Washington Glass Studio and Fireart Glass Studio in Portland, OR. The project “dream-team” includes (Bullseye Glass co-founder) Ray Ahlgren, Erwin Timmers, Michael Janis, Tim Tate and Sean Hennessey. 
Master mold caster, Sean Hennessey, has started the project, creating the molds from the existing bronze doors in-situ. Some photos of that process will be posted later.

Posted in architect of the capitol, architectural application glass, contemporary sculpture, fireart glass, fused glass sculpture, historical glass art, kiln-formed, landmark, library of congress, LOC, ray ahlgren, wgs