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The James Renwick Alliance is hosting a presentation of how Safeway supermarkets support American Craft with their new public art project in Bethsda, MD. The process and inspirations of the artwork will be reviewed in the talk. Find out about tickets by clicking on the link!
The JRA is an independent national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scholarship and education on contemporary American craft, to supporting activities directed toward this purpose, and to encouraging connoisseurship and collecting. The Alliance assists the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in adding to its permanent collection of American craft of artistic significance and superior workmanship, supports scholarly research in contemporary American craft, sponsors public educational activities, and pursues other activities in support of the studio craft movement.
More info on the event:
Ticket cost is a tax deductible nonrefundable contribution of $15 per person and space is limited. Please RSVP to the JRA office by phone or email (301.907.3888 or admin@jra.org) by 5 p.m. on Monday, December 5 by 5 p.m.
Visit to the Glass School
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L-R Gallery Owner Jane Sauer, UrbanGlass Director Fred & Susan Sanders, Judith Schaechter, Tim Tate
This weekend’s busy social calendar included the events of the James Renwick Alliance Spring Craft Weekend.
Some of the visitors to the events dropped by the glass school for a visit – including Renwick Craft Invitational 2011 artist Judith Schaecter. Judith will be back to teach a creativity workshop for the JRA, to be held at the glass school on May 21, 2011.
Also visiting were collectors Fred & Susan Sanders – who recently had their art collection featured in American Style Magazine. Fred is the President of the Metropolitan Contemporary Glass Group and is on the Board of UrbanGlass in Brooklyn. Jane Sauer, the eponymous owner of beautiful Jane Sauer Gallery in Santa Fe, NM joined the tour thru the glass school.
The events include the Benefit dinner and auctions at the Renwick Gallery’s Grand Salon. It was a great chance to rub elbows with some glass superstars.
Michael Janis and Erin Timmers enjoy drinks at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, looking overlooking the art scene.
Erwin Timmers chatting with Lino Tagliapietra about new trends in glass.
Tim Tate & Judith Schaechter enjoy the view.
Judith Schaechter Creativity Workshop
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The Sin Eater Glass 25 x 46 x 6 inches
As part of the James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Artist Series, Judith Schaechter will teach a Creativity Workshop on May 21, 2011. Designed to help artists explore ways to break through “artists block” and expand their creative practice, participants will engage in group discussions as well as individual exercises. On Sunday, May 22, Judith Schaechter will present a lecture on her work in the Grand Salon at the Renwick Gallery. The lecture will be free and open to the public.
Lockdown Glass 21 x 31 x 6 inches
Judith Schaechter, renowned stained glass artist, is the recipient of many grants, including the Guggenheim Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Crafts, The Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, The Joan Mitchell Award, the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and a Leeway Foundation grant. Her work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Corning Museum of Glass, The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick and numerous other collections. Judith’s work was included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial, and she is a 2008 USA Artists Rockefeller Fellow.
The Minotaur (detail) Glass 38 x 25 x 6 inches
Creativity is mysterious, miraculous and utterly crucial to an artists’ practice. Because Judith Schaechter herself experienced some difficult bouts of artist’ block, she did a great deal of research into this fascinating and elusive subject. How does one become inspired? How does one choose the one idea to pursue amongst many ideas? Are there techniques to improve oneself creatively?
Ultimately, Judith divided creativity into the following: Inspiration, Perspiration (developing ideas into pieces), Practice (work habits, motivation), Audience and Beliefs.
This workshop will begin with a questionnaire, which should identify areas of interest to the participants. Judith will then share a presentation on what she has discovered. Lively group discussions and individual exercises will follow.
For more information or to register for any of these programs please e-mail: admin@jra.org
JRA Hosts "Media Day"
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The James Renwick Alliance is hosting an exciting new program series titled “Media Days”. The six craft media (metal, clay, wood, glass, fiber and jewelry) each have an in-depth educational experience consisting of a visit to four venues to learn about studio glass artists, collectors, a gallery and museum collections.
October 23 is Media Day: Glass
Event Led by: Tim Tate and David Montague.
The journey to discover glass on October 23 starts at the Washington Glass School. The day will continue with a discussion with Jerry and Gwen Paulson; following a ‘dutch treat’ lunch in Alexandria, VA at 1 p.m., participants will move to the Renwick Gallery to visit with glass collectors Paul and Elmerina Parkman. The day will conclude at the fabulous Maurine Littleton Gallery.
Cost: $25 ($15 voluntary contribution to the James Renwick Alliance).
Transportation to each venue is the responsibility of each participant.
RSVP by Thursday, October 21st, James Renwick Alliance
301.907.3888 or admin@jra.org
History Lesson – 2003
>The Washington Glass School celebrates its 10th year anniversary in 2011, archives and photos are being searched for the nuggets of history and indicators of the path we traveled.
We often work with the school systems and offer ways to have middle school students come to the Glass School for free for an afternoon of creating cast glass tiles – a way to outreach to the schools and integrate their courses in math, science, physics, and art with a practical and hands-on application.
Tim Tate lectures the class from Stuart Hobsen, 2003.
Way back in 2003, the glass school was located in the District on Half Street, SE (the site is now part of the outfield of the Nationals baseball stadium). One of the schools that took us up on the offer was DC’s Stuart Hobson Middle School. Part of the educational section of the class was to review a quick history of studio glass art; with an emphasis on contemporary masters. One of the students mentioned during the art history lesson that his uncle sometimes paints on glass. (Tim Tate’s response: that’s great kid.)
Therman Statom
“Chair” Circa 1992
assembled glass sculpture with mixed media
53 X 48 X 32″
The class continued, with books and art magazines pulled out to show that every issue had an article or exhibition that featured Therman’s work. Jevon was taken aback at the celebrity factor of his uncle. Jevon later wrote a nice thank-you letter to the School:
Jevon Statom’s letter dated 11/19/03:
Dear Mr Tate & Staff
I want to thank you for letting my classmates
and I come to your shop. You taught me about glass.
I really appreciate you that you did all of this for free.
I am really excited that you acknowledged my uncle, Therman
Statom. I know that he was famous, but not that famous,
especially in DC. I really enjoyed the glass sculptures that
were on display, and how to find the tinted side of
glass. You have inspired me to try glass art for a while.
Sincerely
Therman’s nephew,
Jevon Statom
Tim Tate & Jevon Statom 2003
SOFA Chicago Preview Oct 2nd
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SOFA CHICAGO 2010 PREVIEW
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Flux Studios
Works of Novie Trump, Laurel Lukaszewski, Jessica Beels and Judit Varga.
3700 Otis Street Mt. Rainier, MD 20712
Artomatic Event!
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What Makes a Piece of Craft Art Truly Extraordinary?
Sun Jun 14 – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
James Renwick Alliance Education Room (4th Floor)
55 M Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003
James Renwick Alliance Awards
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The following artists won the Craft Awards of Distinction (and a complimentary one year membership in the James Renwick Alliance):
Fiber: Rania Hassan
Clay: Laurel Lukaszewski
Metal: Michael Sirvet
Glass: Phil Vickery
Wood: James Long
Mixed Media: Eric Celarier
(The Glass School lays claim to Rania, Michael, Laurel and Phil as adopted children)
Sending a Thanks to the James Renwick Alliance & Congratulations to all to all the artists at Artomatic!
Craft V Art – the final battle!
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Washington Project for the Arts Presents:
Tug-of-War Blurring the line between Art and Craft
A panel discussion and interactive event Wednesday, April 22nd 5:30 – 7:30pm @ WPA headquarters’ 2023 Massachusetts Ave. NW
(in conjunction with the James Renwick Alliance & Smithsonian’s Craftweek DC )
Washington Project for the Arts will participate in the JRA & Smithsonian’s first annual Craftweek DC by hosting a lively discussion on the subject of “Art vs. Craft”. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 22nd from 5:30 – 7:30pm at the WPA headquarters in Dupont Circle.
Curator and art critic, Jeffry Cudlin, will moderate a panel discussion between members of both the art and craft communities in DC- revealing their thoughts on what differentiates the two ‘sides’. The discussion provides a framework for understanding the concepts and breaking down the divide between what is considered fine art and craft.
When all is said and done, panelists and audience members will be invited to participate in the very first Art vs. Craft tug-of-war on a nearby grassy knoll (rain or shine).
The tug, a metaphor for the discussion, is a fun way to illustrate the way some artists dance between both realms while others live on one side or the other.