Michael Janis & Tim Tate at Toronto’s Sandra Ainsley Gallery June 4 – July 30, 2022
Toronto, Canada’s famed Sandra Ainsley Gallery present the narrative glass artworks by WGS Co-Directors Tim Tate and Michael Janis. The show, titled “One Story is Not Enough” featured works by each artist as a solo, and a number of their collaborative wall murals.
Michael Janis’ imagery in frit powder is reflected in the gallery’s piano surface.
When Michael Janis and Tim Tate met, almost 20 years ago, they discovered a shared fascination of narrative sculpture- one that seeks to arrive at an image that is both unflinchingly candid in physical representation and psychologically evasive. Working together, they are interested in the simultaneous read of an immediately recognizable image that asks the viewer to linger over history and meanings that unfurl more slowly. Mark, line and material become an extension of touch in the act of representation. The relationship of hand to subject, negotiated through the material, can elicit a response of both visual and tactile.
“The Poetry of Everyday Objects” by Michael Janis & Tim Tate, 2021; Size:6H x 6W’; Cast Glass
With these confines they create work in many techniques, but if you stand slightly back and see their history a huge thread of interconnected stories weave through their work from day one. The beauty comes into focus and the viewer sees the edges of a world not dissimilar to this one, but so much more thoughtful.
Detail – “The Poetry of Everyday Objects”, Michael Janis & Tim Tate
They present this glimpse into that alternative world, seemingly unstuck in time somewhere between past and future.
Tim Tate, Lenticular series, 2022, each panel 41″H x 41″W, lenticular prints
Sandra Ainsley Gallery The Warehouse 100 Sunrise Avenue, Unit 150 Toronto, Ontario Canada M4A 1B3
Smithsonian’s American Art Museum McEvoy Auditorium will feature Michael Janis starting at 2pm Sunday, May 4th.
Michael Janis was recently featured in American Craft Magazine as “one of a select number of artists in the world creating sgraffito glass art.” The Creative Glass Center of America dubbed him a “Rising
Star of the 21st Century.” His mastery of this difficult technique shows itself in the dreamlike images which he creates by “drawing” with frit powders upon glass which is then fused into painterly panels of
subtle depth and luminosity. This architect-turned-glass-art-star will be made a James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Artist on the weekend of May 3-4. On Sunday, Michael Janis will present a slide lecture on his work and career at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Perlow Stevens Gallery in Columbia, MO is exhibiting new works by glass and mixed media artist Laura Beth Konopinski, from January 5 – March 30, 2013.
Artist reception will be held January 12th from 6-9pm.
Laura received a BFA with glass emphasis from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with professor Lou Krueger (photography). Laura has worked in facilities such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center and the Corning Museum of Glass, which has allowed her to explore the many ropes of the glass-making processes. During 2011, Laura Beth relocated toColumbia, Missouri to begin assisting in the studio of glass artist, Susan Taylor Glasgow while concurrently working on a local farm.Since living in Missouri, she has continued to make glass artwork and has recently integrated her interest of organic materials.
“Everyone’s Spine” Laura Beth Konopinski
Laura’s works incorporate techniques that combine sandblasted imagery complimented with enamels.
“Withholding the Pain of Discovery” Laura Beth Konopinski
Laura states that her works “address concerns of how human emotion relates with the biological world and what that means with a sense of rationale…The transparency and optical qualities of glass provides a canvas that can be dimensionally distorted and layered in depth to emphasize the parallels between these worlds. I create a place that lends itself for an examination of physical components alongside my perception.”
Coming soon is the Master Painting on Glass class – make sure you don’t miss the chance to learn from glass guru Bert Weiss!
Master Class: Painting On Glass with Bert Weiss
Instructor: Bert Weiss Dates: President’s Day Weekend – February 18, 19 & 20th, 2012 Time: 10 am – 4pm each day Tuition: $400
Led by master artist Bert Weiss, this three-day glass painting technique class features multiple projects designed to give the student a better understanding of lass painting and its enormous potential in fused glass. Bert’s techniques allow you to use vibrant colors without worrying about glass compatibility. The course will show you how to mix metallic oxide colorants with glass and create oil paint like-washes. This course is suitable for all levels of experience. Students do not need to bring anything, all the tools and materials are provided for the course – just wear suitable old clothes and sturdy shoes… oh, and bring a lunch! Bert Weiss studied traditional glass painting with Albinus Elskus and has developed and improved his techniques for the past 40 years. Bring any questions you may have had about glass fusing; within 10 minutes Bert should be able to troubleshoot!
Class 1204 – Master Class: Painting On Glass with Bert Weiss
Instructor: Bert Weiss Dates: President’s Day Weekend – February 18, 19 & 20th, 2012 Time: 10 am – 4pm each day Tuition: $400 Click HERE to jump to the WGS class website page.
An earlier WGS blog post mentions that our own master of glass imagery – Michael Janis – was heading out west to teach a series of workshops at California’s Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI). Michael’s workshops were about integrating imagery into glass – one workshop was creating deep bas-relief and in the other workshop he taught how he does his unique frit powder drawing technique. Below are some photos of the California workshops:
Making clear and color bas-relief samples.
The students try out working in the plaster molds.
Mark adds color to his work; a student’s work shows the cast glass bristles of a paintbrush.
BAGI Executive Director Mark Murai is amazed at the detail captured by the kilnformed glass.
Michael Janis describes what goes on inside the glass during the firing.
Michael reveals all his secrets in how to use frit powder for drawing and how the layers of glass create the depth of the work.
Michael said he had really enjoyed working at BAGI’s facilities: “It’d be my new home… it has that experimental vibe – where as an artist you can really respond and can take your work the next level.”
Instructor Michael Janis explains how imagery can be fused into glass.
Class 1005 – Imagery in Glass was alot of fun this weekend, a great way to celebrate the end of the blizzard weather the DC metro area has been suffering thru. The class dove right in learning how to use glass frit powder, high temperature enamels, stencils, glass paints and fused glass photo-imagery.
Michael Janis outlines the sgraffito technique
Michael is assisted by artists Chris Shea and Dave Pearcy.
Hands on practice is the best way to learn any new process. all photos by Tracy Lee
