Winter Open Studios at Artists-by-the-Tracks

Mark your calendars—Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 12–5 PM—when Mount Rainier’s creative community throws open its doors for the annual Winter Open Studios. The best place to begin your visit is right here at the Washington Glass School, located at 3700 Otis Street, Mt. Rainier, MD.

This year, WGS is proud to feature a special exhibition highlighting the artwork created by Military Veterans participating in the Hot Shop Heroes program. Since the fall, the Washington Glass School has hosted the second session of this powerful collaboration with the Museum of Glass (MOG) in Tacoma, WA. Over the course of the 10-week workshop, Veterans have stepped into the glass studio and into a unique journey of creative arts therapy.

Hot Shop Heroes brings Veterans together through shared making—offering a space to experiment, reconnect, and explore the expressive, transformative qualities of molten glass. In their hands, glass becomes a powerful metaphor: fragile yet resilient, vulnerable yet capable of astonishing reinvention. The resulting artworks reflect not only creative growth, but the profound healing potential of the arts. We are honored to share these works with the public for the first time during Open Studios.

While you’re here, take time to explore the full energy of the Artists-by-the-Tracks compound. Our neighboring studios—including Otis Street Arts Project, Ampersand Art Space, Janis Goodman, Sharon Robinson Studio, and many more—will also be open and welcoming visitors throughout the afternoon. It’s an opportunity to step inside working studios, meet the artists, and discover remarkable handcrafted works just in time for the holiday season.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Washington Glass School and to this vibrant celebration of local creativity and community.

Artists-by-the-Tracks

3700 Otis Street, Mt Rainier, MD, 20712

Washington Glass School Open Studio to Feature Hot Shop Heroes Veterans Exhibit

Save the Date!

Join us for the Washington Glass School Open Studio —

🗓 Saturday, December 13, 2025

🕛 Noon – 5 PM

Discover stunning new works by our resident artists and instructors, plus explore the neighboring studios of Otis Street Arts Project and Ampersand Studio — all part of Artists by the Tracks in Mount Rainier!

✨ This year features a special exhibition of artworks created by military veterans through our Hot Shop Heroes program.

Come for the art, stay for the community!

📍 3700 Otis Street, Mt Rainier, MD 20712

Glass Is the Reason for the Season!

Celebrate Creativity at the Washington Glass School Holiday Open Studios!

Jun Lee glass art print
Resident Artist Jun Lee preps her bas-relief glass panel.
fused glass bas relief glass panel based on print by Jun Lee.
Jun Lee, dimensional cast glass panel, 14″ x 14″, 2024

Join us for the Washington Glass School’s Holiday Open Studios on Saturday, December 14th, from 12-5 PM! Explore a dazzling collection of glass art and other creations by our talented Resident Artists and Instructors, just in time for holiday gift shopping or adding unique pieces to your collection.

Erwin Timmers, cast recycled glass & steel, 15″H x 20″W x 5″D, 2024

Our Open Studios is more than just an art show—it’s a chance to immerse yourself in Mount Rainier’s thriving creative community! Venture beyond our doors to discover inspiring works at nearby studios, including Otis Street Arts, Ampersand, Portico Gallery, Joe Hicks Ceramics, and Janis Goodman Studios.

📍 Location: Washington Glass School
3700 Otis Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712 (Just over the DC/MD border of Eastern Avenue)

Come for the art, stay for the inspiration. Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of creativity and craftsmanship!

Winter Open Studio Is Coming!

Winter Open Studios Set for Dec 14th! Mark Your Calendars!

Join us in the DC region’s largest one-day visual arts event! On Saturday, Dec. 14th, from Noon til 5PM, Washington Glass School and its Resident Artists, Teachers and Students will participate in the Winter Open Studios! See what we’ve been up to!
Come visit hundreds of working artist studios in the Gateway Arts District, along Route 1 from the DC line/ Mount Rainier up to Hyattsville, MD.

December Holiday Open Studio Gateway Arts District DC Maryland
Washington Glass School 3700 Otis Street, MD Rainier, MD

Gateway Open Studios Venue Map

December 9, 2023 from Noon til 5PM – Holiday Open Studios! See some of the best art and design by the area’s most talented makers! A special exhibit of sculpture made by Military Veterans in Washington Glass School’s “Hot Shop Heroes” workshop held in collaboration with the Museum of Glass will be fetured at the WGS Contemporary Gallery, 3700 Otis Street, Mt Rainier, MD 20712. Artist Talk at 1PM.

Tip: Start your tour in the numerical order listed!

Save the Date! December Open Studios Features Special Exhibit by Military Veterans

Washington Glass School invites all to our DECEMBER Open Studios, Saturday, Dec 09, 2023, from Noon to 5PM.
In addition to our exhibit of works by our artists and instructors, Washington Glass School (WGS) hosts a special exhibition of works made by our program with military Veterans – Hot Shop Heroes. WGS has partnered with Tacoma’s Museum of Glass & DC’s Veterans Affairs to provide art therapy for Veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD. This collaboration for healing and a healthy future of our community has the Veterans telling their story in glass.
The surrounding arts venues (Otis Street Arts, Brentwood Arts Exchange, Portico Gallery and Pyramid Atlantic and more) will be open too!
Washington Glass School, 3700 Otis Street, Mt Rainier, MD 20712.

WGS Contemporary Exhibit Opens Dec 15th!

Soon its that time of year….the annual WGS Contemporary Invitational, one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday arts events in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia)!

WGS Contemporary artists Tim Tate, Laura Beth Konopinski, Michael Janis, April Shelford, Patricia de Poel Wilberg, Max DeMulder, Debbi LoCicero and others will be exhibiting their artwork, along with Montgomery County’s “Outstanding Artist” – Erwin Timmers!  

Santa plans the open house logistics on his last visit to the Glass School.

Santa plans the open house logistics on his last visit to the Glass School.

From the small child to the serious art collector, the Holiday Open House fits everyone’s taste. The event features fun gift ideas and snacks, with the artists of the Washington Glass School and the surrounding arts venues and studios. Mark your calendars (in RED) for Saturday, December 15th, from noon til 5pm.

Washington Glass School Holiday Open Studio This Weekend!

holiday.open.studio.art.gateway.district.dmv.usa.glass.washington.schoolSaturday December 10, 2016 – from Noon-5pm Washington Glass School artists scheduled to exhibit: (L-R) Jennifer Lindstrom, Chris Shea, Audrey Wilson, Trish Kent, Erwin Timmers. Not shown: Tim Tate, Syl Mathis, Veta Carney, Laurie Brown, Michael Janis, George Anderton, Diane Cabe, Deb Ruzinsky.

Gateway Arts Open Studio Winter Washington Glass SchoolHere it comes again….the annual Washington Glass School Open Studios, one of the most eagerly anticipated holiday arts events in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia.)!

From the small child to the serious art collector, the Holiday Open House fits everyone’s taste. The event features fun gift ideas and snacks, with the artists of the Gateway Arts District opening their studios to the public. We invite the community to visit the Gateway Arts District and experience a unique DMV art event! Gateway Arts District Maryland District of Columbia Washington Glass School

Washington Glass School & Mount Rainier Artist Studio Winter Open Studio December 12, 2015

Visit the Washington Glass School and all the surrounding artist studios!

Visit the Washington Glass School and all the surrounding artist studios for the Holidays!

On Saturday, December 12, 2015, from Noon til 5 pm, the (always creative!) Mount Rainier artist studios will all be hosting Winter Open Studios!

Visit (and shop) in some of the most creative studios in the Washington, DC area! Participating studios include: Artbar, ReCreative Spaces, Otis Street Arts Project, White Point Studio, Orange Door Studios, Tanglewood Works, Blue Door Studios, and more! Nearby Brentwood Arts Exchange has their craft store and will have specialty beer tastings sponsored by Town Center Market.

The Washington Glass School will again feature works by our artists and instructors – including Michael Janis, Tim Tate, Erwin Timmers, Audrey Wilson, Veta Carney, John Hendersen, Trish Kent, Debra Ruzinsky, Syl Mathis, Laurie Brown, Diane Cabe, Chip Montague,Todd Piantedosi, Jennifer Lindstrom. Make a point to Celebrate the Season!mt rainier open studio winter glass